Rise of a National Economy: Introduction
The American mindset changed after the War of 1812. Americans increasingly believed their nation had a special destiny. In the years following the war, U.S. leaders became more assertive in their diplomatic dealings with other nations. The United States acquired Florida and had broken Native American power east of the Mississippi. The republic, no longer an experiment, now looked to consolidate its influence.
Integral to America's expansion was the development of a national economy. In the years following the war, technological developments and transportation innovations fostered the growth of commercial networks linking the different regions of the country. The government, meanwhile, took an active role in promoting the business and manufacturing enterprises. The resulting economic expansion made possible the United States' emergence as a continental power.
In this section, you will learn how Americans forged a national economy in the first half of the nineteenth century.
