elections1840and1844

Adapted from Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley H. S. Chappaqua, NY

Adapted from Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley H. S. Chappaqua, NY

DEMS --> Martin Van Buren

Jackson’s Hand picked successor in 1836

Financial Panic early in term

Van Buren refuses Whig request for financial help

•WHIGS --> William Henry Harrison

War HeroHard Cider“Log Cabin”

WHIGS --> John Tyler, VP

Afterthought Added to ticket to get Southern support

“Tippecanoe, and Tyler,

Too!”

“Tippecanoe, and Tyler,

Too!”

William Henry Harrison Campaign Song

““Tip and Tye”Tip and Tye”(Words and Music by "A member of the Fifth Ward Club“, published 1840)

What has caus'd this great com-mo-tion, mo-tion, mot-ion our coun-try through, It is the ball that's rol-ling on, For Tip-pi-ca-noe, and Ty-ler too, For Tip-pi-ca-noe, and Ty-ler too, And with them we'll beat lit-tle Van, Van, Van is a us'd up man, And with them we'll beat lit-tle Van.

Election of

Election Significance

1.1st Triumph of populist democracy

2.Aristocracy is out; Democracy is in

3.Politicians must cater to masses

Leading Issues

1.Texas and related issues

2.California

3.Oregon Country – US v. Britaina. “54º 40’, or Fight!”b. Dispute in Pacific

Northwest

Dems --> James Knox Polk“Young Hickory”

Pro-Expansion

Whigs --> Henry Clay

Doesn’t take firm stand on TX

Liberty Party--> James Birney

Anti-slavery 62,000 votes (mainly from Clay, making him lose NY & Presidency)

“Texas Coming In”

1844 Election Results

Election Significance

1.Outgoing President Tyler sees a “mandate” and annexes TX before leaving

“JAMES K. POLK”by They Might Be Giants

In 1844, the Democrats were splitThe three nominees for the presidential candidateWere Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionistJames Buchanan, a moderateLewis Cass, a general and expansionistFrom Nashville came a dark horse riding upHe was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump!

“JAMES K. POLK”by They Might Be Giants

Austere, severe, he held few people dearHis oratory filled his foes with fearThe factions soon agreedHe's just the man we needTo bring about victoryFulfill our Manifest DestinyAnd annex the land the Mexicans commandAnd when the votes were cast the winner wasMister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump!

“JAMES K. POLK”by They Might Be Giants

In four short years he met his every goalHe seized the whole southwest from MexicoMade sure the tariffs fellAnd made the English sell the Oregon TerritoryHe built an independent treasuryHaving done all this he sought no second termBut precious few have mourned the passing ofMister James K. Polk, our eleventh president“Young Hickory,” Napoleon of the Stump!

1. Lower the tariff - 32% to 25%

2. Resolve the Oregon boundary dispute

3. Restore the independent treasury - 1846

4. Acquire California

Goals of Polk’s Administration