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A Democratic Revolution

Chapter 10

Rise of Popular Politics

“New Democracy”

franchise 1810s – many states: all white men

only place in world

laborers, small farmers

new western states

Election of 1824

Republican Candidates

John Quincy Adams

Sec. of State

MA

William H. Crawford

Sec. of Treasury

GA

Henry Clay

Speaker of the House

KY

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Andrew Jackson

Senator

TN

John C. Calhoun

Sec. of War

SC

dropped out

supported Jackson

Advantages

Adams successful Sec. of State

New England votes

Clay American System – 1816

support from West

Advantages

Crawford support from South

opposed Am. System

Jackson war hero

“plain, solid Republican”

Results

Jackson – 99 votes

Adams – 84 votes

Crawford – 41 votes

Clay – 37 votes

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House Decision

Top 3 candidates

Crawford had a stroke

Jackson vs. Adams

“Corrupt Bargain”

Clay – Speaker of House hated Jackson

supported Adams

Adams-Clay meeting

Adams won vote

Clay becomes Sec. of State

vs.

Duel Duel

John Randolph publicly attacked Clay/Adams alliance

Clay challenged him to a duel

no bloodshed

no formal proof of “bargain”

Adams’ Presidency

national university in DC

observatory

uniform weights & measures

supported American System little support from South, others

little approved by Congress

Death of Revolutionaries

July 4, 1826

Thomas Jefferson

John Adams “Thomas Jefferson still survives”

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Tariff Battle

1824 – 35% protect N. England mfg. / textiles

1828 – 45-50% raw materials, textiles, iron goods

Tariff of Abominations

South hated 1828 tariff

$100 million / year

blamed Adams

Adams Lost Support

1828 tariff

Indian policies – GA Creeks

out-of-date political style

no patronage

Election of 1828

Adams National Republican

Jackson – “Old Hickory” “Democrats”

Mudslinging

“Revolution of 1828”

1824 – 25% of eligible voters

1828 – over 50% of voters

Jackson won

support from West, South

“common people” “snobs to the mobs”

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Jackson

grew up in Carolinas

moved to TN

war hero

1st President from the “West”

White House brawl

opposed American System

increased Presidential power

Jackson’s Gov’t

“Kitchen Cabinet” – unofficial

spoils system – rotation in office patronage

loyalty to party

dismissed 1/5 of public officials

corruption

Jackson fights American System internal improvements

• vetoed 4 bills

tariff

bank debate

Sectional Controversy

Webster-Hayne Debate – 1830 debate began over western

expansion

Senate Debate

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Hayne condemned New

England

supported nullification

states’ rights

Robert Hayne - SC

Webster defended New

England

condemned nullification

Daniel Webster - NH

Impact of Debate

both viewed as victor

Webster’s reply published school readers

Jackson supported “Union”

Tariff Debate

Southern fears interference with slavery

states’ rights

Effects on South artificial inflation

reduced trade / cotton

South’s Response

attacked the tariff

1832 – slightly reduced tariff

South Carolina Exposition John C. Calhoun (VP)

“nullification” of 1828, 1832 tariffs

Jackson’s Response

nullification was unconstitutional

Force Bill – 1833 use force against SC if needed

“Bloody Bill”

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Tariff of 1833 – compromise Henry Clay

reduce tariff over 8 years – 1816 level

SC repealed nullification

nullified the Force Bill

Bank War

2nd Bank of US kept banks sound

shut down reckless banks

1836 – charter to expire

Nicholas Biddle – “Czar Nicholas” loans to friends

corruption

financially sound; promoted expansion

Clay, Webster - recharter in 1832 to help win election

Jackson vetoed bill as expected unconstitutional

dangerous to liberties

anti-American

Election of 1832

Democrats – Jackson

Nat. Rep. – Clay

Anti-Masonic – Wm. Wirt

Jackson won 219 to 49 more widespread support

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Bank Destroyed

Sec. of Treasury – Roger Taney

withdrew specie from 2nd BUS

deposited in “pet banks”

1836 – Specie Circular

1836 – bank died

Indian Affairs

5 Civilized Tribes

assimilation

adopted US lifestyle

Georgia Sequoyah – writing system in 1821

1827 – written constitution

plantations with slaves

GA gov’t revoked rights and gov’t

Cherokee Tribe

S. Court addressed Indian rights 3 times (ignored by GA)

Worcester v. Georgia - 1832 states have NO authority over

Indian affairs

Jackson

ignored S. Court

removed fed. troops – protection

1830 Indian Removal Act

all east of MS transplanted OK, KS

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Resistance

Sauk, Fox (IL, WI) led by Black Hawk

rebellion crushed in 1832

Seminole (FL) Everglades – 7 years

led by Osceola

some never left FL

Trail of Tears

1838

Forced removal of Cherokee

1200 miles

4000 died

Chief Justice Roger Taney

replaced Marshall

partially reversed many Marshall decisions

more powers to states

Whig Party

1834

opposition to “King Andrew I”

based on British party

led by Clay and Webster

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Diverse Group

supporters of Am. System

states’ rights supporters

industrialists, merchants

evangelical Protestants

former Anti-Masons

Election of 1836

Democrats

Martin Van Buren

hand-picked successor

“The gov’t is best which governs least”

Whigs

4 candidates

William Henry Harrison most prominent

war hero

Results

Van Buren won

170 to 73

Whigs won 49% of popular vote showed popularity

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Panic of 1837

2 prominent British banks failed recalled American loans

drained gold and silver from US

speculation

Bank War

Results

Factories closed

banks failed

deep recession

Whigs proposed: bank credit, higher tariffs, internal

improvements

Divorce Bill

Independent Treasury

1840

Van Buren

actually delayed recovery

Commonwealth v. Hunt – 1842 MA

right to form unions

Van Buren – 10 hour workday fed. employees

Labor Movement

Election of 1840

Whigs

William Henry Harrison

“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”

Am. System

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Democrats

Martin Van Buren

hurt by recession

“Log Cabin Campaign”

public campaigns parades, mass meetings

Van Buren portrayed as fancy aristocrat

Harrison “log cabins and hard cider”

Results

Women more involved

80% voter turnout

Harrison won 53% of popular vote

234 to 60 Electoral vote

Whig majority in Congress

Short Term President

Harrison died of pneumonia 1 month after inauguration

Tyler took over

Tyler’s Rule

Democrat opposed Jackson

vetoed Whig bills tariff and bank

cabinet resigned

expelled from Whig Party