❧

The Rise of a Mass Democracy

(1824-1840)

John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it. ~ Andrew

Jackson, 1832

❧❧ Mass Democracy: Andrew Jackson wins popular

vote in 1824, but does not become president. Wins enough in 1828 to become president. Period of democratic growth – democracy of the masses – as property qualifications for voting have diminished

❧ Tariff Issues: Sectionalism becomes a problem with the Tariff. South Carolina almost secedes, Jackson almost sends federal troops to SC. Another Henry Clay bandaid on the states rights vs federal power issue.

AP Focus

❧❧ Indian Removal: “5 Civilized Tribes” of southeast and

Sauk & Fox of Illinois are defeated by law and guns, and moved westward. No more active tribes east of Mississippi River

❧ Revival of Two-Party System: Whig party forms in 1830s to combat Jackson and Democrats

❧ 1836: Van Buren inherits Jackson’s poor financial decisions as an economic depression hits the country

❧ US annexation of Texas is put on hold to preserve free-state / slave-state balance.

AP Focus

❧❧ Four “Republicans” running against each other❧ Andrew Jackson wins popular and electoral votes,

but not enough electoral votes to win presidency❧ Presidency decided by House of Representatives❧ Speaker of House Henry Clay had much in common

with John Quincy Adams…who the House chose as president

❧ Clay made Secretary of State, Jacksonians outraged❧ “Corrupt Bargain”

Election of 1824

❧❧ Son of John Adams, and was a great diplomat,

but ineffective president❧ Last of the old breed of elitist New Englanders❧ Nationalist policies (opposed to sectionalism)❧ Wanted to raise tariff to pay for American

System infrastructure improvements❧ Land policy: be fair to the Indians❧ South and West hated Adams’ policies❧ “billiard-bald”

John Quincy Adams

❧❧ “A man of the people” – most support in S and

W❧ Dirty campaign – signaling emergence of

political parties❧ Campaign ad: “General Jackson’s mother was

a common prostitute brought to this country by British soldiers

1828: Jackson elected President

❧1828 Election

❧ Jackson swept the South and West; Adams retained the old Federalist stronghold of the Northeast.

❧ Jackson’s inroads in the Northeast were decisive. He won 20 of NY’s electoral votes and all 28 of PA.

❧ If those votes had gone the other way, Adams would have won -by a margin of one vote.

❧Jackson’s background

❧ War hero from War of 1812

❧ Illegal invasion of Florida resulted in US gaining Florida

❧ No college education❧ Could hardly spell❧ Had killed a lot of

people❧ “Jackson can fight,

Adams can write”

❧❧ The real beginnings of the American patronage

system that would plague the government for the majority of the 19th century

❧ For party support, the illiterate, incompetent, and criminals were given high positions within government

❧ Promise of patronage encouraged party loyalty❧ AP Question: When would the Spoils System

finally be put to an end? What Act of Congress?❧ +2 Quiz points to be earned…

Spoils System

❧❧ Tariff = protection of American industry, add a tax

to imports so that American products are less expensive to buy

❧ Benefits the North as they are manufacturers❧ South has to buy manufactured products❧ They now pay slightly more for American products

(northerners can raise prices to be just below tariff-increased prices of imports)

❧ They have to deal with foreign tariff retaliation with their exported raw materials

❧ For the Southerner, everything gets more expensive

1828: Tariff of Abominations

❧❧ Tariff issue was really a scapegoat for Southern

fear❧ If Washington could pass laws that hurt them

economically, what if one day slavery is outlawed?❧ Missouri Compromise put a bandaid on the slavery

issue❧ Recent pressure from London to ban slavery in

West Indies also increased fear among Southern plantation owners that abolitionism would catch on in US

Why so upset?

❧

The South Carolina Exposition

❧ Exposition authored by Vice Pres John C. Calhoun of S. Carolina

❧ Had to be anonymous❧ Proposed Nullification❧ Expansion on VA & KY

Resolutions❧ States have right to

declare an “unconstitutional” law as Null and Void within their borders

❧He looks crazy!

❧❧ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbeZ8_MM

-fQ❧ Arizona Proposition 122❧ http://www.kpho.com/story/27299577/asu-law-

professor-says-prop-122-is-unconstitutional

Fast-forward: 2014

❧❧ 1832: Washington lowers tariff, but not

enough to pacify the south❧ South Carolina legislature declares Tariff to be

null and void. ❧ Threatened to secede from Union if

Washington tried to collect❧ Jackson prepared for war to keep Union

together❧ Compromise: bill that would reduce tariff

significantly: Compromise Tariff of 1833

1832: “Nullies” and new tariff

❧❧ To save face, Congress passes Force Bill, which

states that if South Carolina tries to nullify tariff (which they now won’t, since there is a compromise), the president can send the army and navy to collect it

❧ South Carolina officially repeals their law nullifying the tariff

❧ The hero here was _______________ for saving the Union

❧ States rights vs. Federal power issue just put on hold for a while

❧ Right now it is about the tariff, later it will be about slavery

The Force Bill

❧❧ Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw,

Seminole❧ Cherokee best example of assimilation to

American lifestyle and culture❧ Created a written language and newspapers❧ Became farmers❧ Some even owned slaves❧ Adopted Christianity❧ Created a Constitution with a government of

three branches, checks and balances

The Five “Civilized” Tribes

❧

Sequoyah and written Cherokee

❧❧ 1828: Georgia declares Cherokee government

illegal❧ Cherokees appealed to the Supreme Court,

which upheld their rights❧ Jackson wanted to open lands to white

settlement❧ Jackson said: John Marshall has made his

decision, now let him enforce it.”❧ President = head of executive branch =

responsible for enforcing laws

That’s great, but white Americans want to live on that

land…

❧

1830: Indian Removal Act

❧ Congress passes Indian Removal Act

❧ Transplanting of ALL Indian tribes east of Mississippi, to “Indian Territory” (now OK & KS)

❧

Black Hawk’s War (1832)

❧ Led Sauk and Fox warriors in Illinois vs. US

❧ Defeated and removed to Indian Territory

❧ Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis both fought in this war

❧

Seminole Wars (1835 – 1845)

❧ Seminoles who refused to move west moved into Everglades

❧ Guerilla warfare against US troops

❧ 1837: Chief Osceola captured under banner of peace

❧

The Trail of Tears (1838 – 1839)

❧❧ Fall and winter forced march of 15,000 Cherokees

from Georgia to Indian Territory❧ 4,000 died along the way from starvation and

cold❧ Survivor Quote: One each day, and all are gone.

Looks like maybe all dead before we get to Indian country, but always we keep marching on. Women cry and make sad wails. Children cry, many men cry, and all look sad when friends die, but they say nothing and just put heads down and keep on toward west. [My mother] speak no more, we bury her and go on.

The Trail of Tears (1838 – 1839)

❧❧ Bank of US was privately owned, but acted like

a branch of government❧ Controlled much of US gold and silver, a

source of credit and stability❧ Bank foreclosed on many western farms❧ Profit, not public service, was priority❧ Nicholas Biddle – tremendous power

Second Bank of the United States

❧❧ There was not an Indian tribe named “The Bank”❧ This was Jackson against the 2nd Bank of the US❧ 1832 Daniel Webster and Henry Clay try to renew

bank charter❧ Even though bank did not expire until 1836, Clay

wanted to make it an issue now so that it factored in next election… in which he would run for president

❧ Hoped to damage Jackson’s reputation

1832 Bank War

❧

❧❧ If he vetoed the bank charter, he would surely

lose Northern votes❧ If he signed the renewal, he would lose

support in West❧ Renewal bill passes through Congress, vetoed

by Jackson❧ Jackson felt the bank was not Constitutional❧ Problem: Supreme Court has already ruled

on this!❧ McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819

Bank Renewal Vetoed

❧

Plain sewing done here

❧ Cartoon depicting Henry Clay trying to sew Andrew Jackson’s mouth closed

❧❧ A scorching veto❧ Amplified power of presidency – he decided to veto

the bank because he found it “harmful to the nation”❧ Essentially claiming the power of Congress and the

Supreme Court for himself❧ Congress should represent the will of the people❧ Supreme Court rules on constitutionality (and

already had in 1819 on this issue!)❧ Henry Clay made copies of Jackson’s veto, he

thought the common man would be upset, but they actually liked it

Jackson’s Veto

❧❧ First time a 3rd party enters the fray: Anti-

Masonic Party❧ Great piece of “outside info” for a DBQ / LEQ❧ What are some other famous 3rd parties?

❧ First time parties have a “platform” or list of issues and their stance on each

❧ Clay had more money but Jackson destroyed him in the voting

Election of 1832

❧❧ Jackson started to take all federal deposits from the

Bank (which was going to expire in 1836)❧ Nicholas Biddle calls in loans from other banks, raises

interest rates, all to keep National Bank running❧ Led to financial ruin, a boom and bust cycle❧ Emergence of “wildcat” banks that flooded the country

with unreliable paper money (the US dollar did not become the ONLY paper currency until 1863)

❧ Jackson’s decree – Specie Circular – declares all public land must be purchased with hard currency (gold)

❧ This leads to financial panic and crash of 1837

Jackson kills the Bank

❧❧ Jackson’s opponents – called him King Andrew I –

coalesced as the Whig Party❧ Whigs in London had opposed British monarchy

during time of Revolution❧ Whigs were formed of everyone who opposed

Jackson: Clay & American system, states rights supporters from South, Anti-Masonics and Evangelicals, northern industrialists and merchants

❧ Claimed to be the defender of the common man

The Whigs

❧

King Andrew I

❧The Eighth President

❧❧ Defeated Henry Clay and Whigs in 1836

election❧ Hand picked by Jackson, also inherited all of

his problems❧ Rebellion in Canada 1837 almost triggered war

with British❧ Antislavery agitators in the North❧ Opposition to annexation of Texas❧ Economic Panic of 1837

Martin Van Buren

❧❧ Caused by overspeculation of western lands,

failures of wheat crops, Jackson’s Specie Circular, European economic crisis… all converging at same time

❧ Riots in streets of New York City, factories closed, hundreds of banks collapsed

❧ Van Buren called for “divorce” of government and banking, by establishing independent treasury

❧ Passed in 1840, then repealed 1841, then on again off again until Civil War

Panic of 1837

❧❧ After Mexico became independent in 1821, they

invited frontier Americans to settle area to be a buffer zone against Indian attacks

❧ Led by Steven F. Austin / Don Estévan F. Austin❧ By 1835 about 30,000 Americans had immigrated

to Texas, outnumbered tejanos 10:1❧ Davy Crockett, David Bowie, Steven F. Austin, Sam

Houston❧ They were supposed to assimilate to Mexico – be

Catholic, not hold slaves, abide by Mexican law – but did not

Texas

❧❧ 1835 the Texans (or Texicans) revolted against Mexico❧ After General Santa Anna wiped out Texans at Alamo,

Texans forced him to surrender at San Jacinto❧ 1836: Texas becomes independent from Mexico,

quickly petitions USA for annexation❧ 1837: Van Buren rejects petition❧ Northerners suspected this was a scheme to introduce

another slave state and upset balance in Congress❧ Really wasn’t a conspiracy, but adding Texas would

have upset the balance

Remember the Alamo

❧❧ Van Buren was a pretty unremarkable,

borderline bad president, so it’s no surprise that he didn’t get reelected

❧ Whigs ran William Henry Harrison, who owned a 16 room mansion on a 3,000 acre farm, but they portrayed him as a log cabin country boy, and he won

❧ Tippecanoe and Tyler too❧ Good thing they mentioned Tyler because

Harrison died 4 weeks into office

Election of 1840

❧

❧❧ Important Change #1:❧ 1840s: Triumph of democratic populist style❧ Aristocracy was tainted, log cabins were in❧ Being perceived as clean, well-dressed,

grammatical, intellectual were negatives when it came to national elections

❧ Sturdy American, course trousers, coonskin cap, no collar – this was in

Change over time: Politics

❧❧ Important Change #2:❧ Formation of durable Two-party system❧ In Era of Good Feelings, Jeffersonians had

absorbed policies of Federalist opponents❧ But now, Both Jacksonian Democrats (also

called Democratic-Republicans) and Whigs grew out of Jeffersonians

Change over time: Politics

❧❧ Democrats [less government involvement]:

❧ liberty of individual❧ Federal restraint in social and economic issues❧ States’ rights (despite SC almost seceding)

❧ Whigs [more government involvement]: ❧ government should help achieve harmony of

society❧ National bank, protective tariffs, public schools❧ Prohibition of liquor, abolition of slavery❧ Tariff/taxes to pay for improvements

The Two Parties