Era of Good Feelings: Period of National Unity

Election of 1816

Candidatesa. Republican party caucus selected James Monroe over William H. Crawford 65 - 54, continuing the "Virginia Dynasty," and Daniel D. Tompkins (NY) was nominated for Vice-President.b. Nationally Monroe was opposed by Rufus King , Federalist

ResultsThe discrediting of the Federalist party gave Monroe a 183-34 electoral votes four abstentions.

Monroe carried all states except for Mass, Conn and Delaware.

Presidential Tour (May- September 1817)

•President Monroe toured the eastern seaboard north of Baltimore and as far west as Detroit, a symbol of the triumph of national feeling over party animosity.

• Americans, especially in New England, warmly received the President so that the Boston Colombian Centinel referred to the times as the era of good feelings .

• The designation is superficial and misleading because the seeds of sectionalism were sown during this administration.

• Although no formal political parties existed, new party factions arose during this period and new controversies were created as magnified in the circumstances surrounding the election of 1824.

Jackson and the First Seminole War A fort in Spanish-held East Florida, built by the English during the War of 1812, had become a refuge for runaway slaves and hostile Indians.

Command of the forces along the Georgia and Florida border was transferred to Andrew Jackson (December 1817), with orders to pursue hostile elements, usually Negroes and Indians, across the border as far as the Spanish posts.

Jackson wrote Monroe in the Rhea Letter that if given the word that Florida was desirable to the US, he could accomplish the task in sixty days.

When nothing was said from Washington about the letter, Jackson interpreted this as approval and proceeded to seize several Spanish posts.

During the campaign, Jackson captured, court-martialed and executed 2 British traders, Alexander Arbuthnot and Robert Ambrister , for aiding the enemy.

A debate in the US Congress, however, led by anti-Jackson forces, especially Henry Clay in the House, produced unfavorable reports against Jackson but no proceedings were made against him.In the southwest, however, popular approval of Jackson's Seminole campaign, which brought all of East Florida under US military control, kept Monroe from taking action against Jackson.

Jackson's raid strengthened Monroe's hand diplomatically, because while Jackson moved militarily against Spanish Florida, Secretary of State John Adams was negotiating with Spain’sForeign Minister Luis de Onis.

Panic of 1819 Commodity inflation, wild

speculation in western lands, overextended investments in manufacturing, mismanagement of the Second Bank of the US, collapse of foreign markets and contraction of credit, led to the first real American economic depression.

The Congressional order in 1817 to resume specie payments strained the resources of state banks, caused many failures and created hardships for debtors, especially in the southwest.

To end wild land speculation, Congress canceled the easy credit terms of the land law of 1800, but kept the price at $1.25 per acre for a minimum of 80 acres.(a) "Squatters" often settled on and improved government land, not yet for sale.(b) Their champion was Sen Thomas Hart Benton (MO)

Widespread resentment against the National bank was created in the West, where it was referred to as "The Monster" by Benton from Missouri.

Dartmouth College vs Woodward February 1819

In 1816 the Republican dominated New Hampshire legislature altered the royal charter (1769) of Dartmouth College, switching the administration to a state appointed board of trustees.

The old board of trustees sued the secretary of the university asserting that the legislative act was unconstitutional, in violation of the obligation of contracts.

• After the state court upheld the legislature, the

Supreme Court under Marshall held that the charter constituted a contract, ruling the legislative act unconstitutional.

• The decision placed charters of existing private corporations outside the jurisdiction of states that chartered them, encouraged business growth, but led to abuses of corporate privileges.

African Slave Trade 1820 A law in March 1819 paid a$50

bounty for information on illegal importation of Negro slaves into the US or seized at sea.

The president was empowered to return all such slaves to Africa.

1820 the foreign slave trade was declared piracy which could result in forfeiture of vessels and death penalty for all US citizens engaged in importing slaves.

Missouri Compromise March 1820Both Missouri and Maine applied for statehood by the end of 1819 when the US had eleven slave (VA, MD, DE, KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, MISS, LA) and eleven free (MASS, CO, RI, VT, NH, NY, NJ, PA, OH, IN, IL) states.

While the slave-holding South had 81 votes in the House to the North's 105, a political balance was maintained in the Senate between 1802-19 by admitting alternately a free and a slave state.

South realized its political future lay in the Senate.

Talmadge Amendment: Rep. James Talmadge 's (NY) bill prohibited further introducing slaves into the Upper Louisiana territory and freed at age 25 all children born of slaves in MO after statehood. Passed in the House but not in the Senate.

Taylor Amendment January 1819When the organization of Arkansas Territory came before Congress, Rep John W. Taylor (NY) moved that slavery not be allowed in the territory.

The amendment was defeated before Arkansas territory was created with its northern boundary at 36 30' with no restrictions on slavery.

The debate over Missouri

Sen Rufus King (NY) stated that Congress was empowered to forbid slavery in Missouri and should do so as a condition to admittance.

MISSOURI COMPROMISE

Sen William Pinckney (MD) replied that since the union was composed of equal states, Congress could not restrict Missouri's freedom of action.

Thomas Amendment (a) In February 1820 at the same time that Maine petitioned to become a state, Alabama was admitted as the 22d state.

Senator Jesse B. Thomas (IL) introduced a

compromise measure to permit Missouri as a slave state, and Maine as a free state but to prohibit slavery in the Louisiana Purchase (excluding Missouri) above the 36 30 line

The Senate agreed to admit Maine as a free state if Missouri were admitted as a slave state, but the House passed a measure similar to the Taylor amendment.

In the deadlock that resulted, a congressional conference removed the Taylor amendment, inserted the Thomas amendment and the House passed this compromise measure 90-87.

The decisive vote was made final by the defection of Northern legislators whom John Randolph described as doughfaces .

Maine was effectively admitted as the 23d state in March and Missouri was admitted in August, when Congress approved its state constitution which permitted slavery but after it struck out a provision which excluded free Negroes and mulattos

Missouri Compromise

Cumberland Road Bill Veto May 1822

Construction of the National Road or Turnpike stopped with the panic of 1819.

Congress voted to repair roads, establish toll gates and collect tolls.

Although supporting a national system of internal improvements, he vetoed it because Congress lacked jurisdiction without a proper constitutional amendment.

Monroe Doctrine December 1823

Great Britain was not sympathetic to the republican governments in Spain's former new world provinces, it did not want a revival of or extension of Spanish or French power in the New World, hoping to keep open to British commerce the rich markets of Latin America.

Quadruple Alliance (France/Austria/Russia/Prussia) agreed at the Congress of Verona (November 1822) to act to restore the Spanish authority of King Ferdinand VII, who in 1820 had been forced to accept a constitutional monarchy.

France was authorized to invade Spain, but no action was taken on its request to intervene in South America.

England moved to come to an understanding with the United States over the issue, having had difficulties before over Cuba.

Britain proposed joint Anglo-American action against the intervention by the Holy Alliance in the New World.

US minister to Britain referred the offer to Monroe who consulted with Jefferson and Madison, both supporters of close cooperation with Britain

Secretary of State Adams believed the US should act alone to assert its strength and independence in order to create an American system in the Western Hemisphere

MONROE DOCTRINE

He also believed that Britain could not be trusted to be disinterestedBritain desired a US renunciation of plans to take Cuba in exchange for their cooperation.

French were not a threat in South America because Britain controlled the Atlantic Seas, seeing Russian designs in the Pacific as a greater threat.

Polignac AgreementBritain secured from France a renunciation of all intentions to conquer or annex the Spanish-American colonies.

The desire for a joint Anglo-American conference waned.

Monroe announced the US policy in his annual address to Congress (1823), (essentially John Q. Adams' ideas on foreign affairs in the western hemisphere).

The Monroe Doctrine non-colonization: The American continent

should no longer be seen as subjects of future colonization by European powers;

non-intervention : Because the political system in the Americas was essentially different from the Europeans,

the US would consider dangerous to its peace and security any attempt by a European power to extend their political system to any point in the Western hemisphere;

Monroe Doctrine The US would not interfere with

existing colonies or dependencies of European powers in the New World, with the internal affairs of European nations, nor take part in European wars of solely foreign interest.

At the time of its announcement, the world's powers took little note of it, but it served as the classic definition of US role in international affairs, although its major significance emerged only after the middle of the 19th century.

Henry Clay's American System – March 30, 1824

To win support for a protective tariff in 1824, Clay defined an American system

• It combined the protective tariff with a national system of internal improvements to expand the domestic market and lessen US dependence on overseas sources

Election 1824

• William Crawford of Georgia was supported by traditional Democratic-Republicans such as Jefferson and Monroe. A stroke that he suffered in the campaign cost him votes.

• John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts was supported by New Englanders and many people of the upper class. He was conservative and lacked tact and charisma.

• Andrew Jackson of Tennessee was a military hero. He appealed to Westerners, small farmers, and laborers.

• Henry Clay of Kentucky developed the

American System, a plan which tried to provide something for all sections of the country. He was known as a compromiser.

• Jackson received the greatest number of electoral votes, but not a majority.

• Since no candidate received a majority of the Electoral College votes, the House of Representatives had to determine the president.

• The House of Representatives voted 13 states for Adams, 7 for Jackson, and 4 for Crawford.

• Clay threw his support to John Quincy Adams.

• Clay’s awarding by Adams of the position of Secretary of State angered Jackson and his supporters. They felt that the election was stolen from them.

Election 1824

• The “Era of Good Feeling” was definitely over.

• Jackson’s supporters never forgave Adams and Clay because of the “corrupt bargain”.

• Seeds for two new political parties were set.

• The followers of Jackson became known as Democrats.

• The supporters of Adams and Clay became known as the National Republicans or ‘Whigs”.

Gibbons v Ogden 1824 It involved Congress's power to

regulate interstate and foreign commerce.

In 1807, Robert Fulton successfully invented a practical steam-propelled craft which operated up the Hudson at the speed proscribed by NY law, and obtained a monopoly of steam navigation on the state's waters.

Many challenged the monopoly.

One challenge involved Aaron Ogden who had a state-required Fulton-Livingston license and Thomas Gibbons who had a federal coasting license and ran a competing boat line. New Jersey –New York

New York courts upheld the state monopoly given to Fulton-Livingston

.Daniel Webster, speaking for Gibbons, interpreted commerce broadly and argued that the states had concurrent power over commerce between the states.

Marshall, speaking for the court, defined commerce expansively, beyond mere exchange of goods, to include persons and steamboats.

Concurring Justice William Johnson, a nationalist (SC), added that the power to regulate interstate commerce was the exclusive right of the national government -- Congress is supreme in all aspects of interstate commerce over state powers which could not limit Congress

John Q. Adams 1825-29

Civil Service Policy

Adams did not employ the usual practice of rotating Federal appointive offices (patronage) usually aimed at political opponents, which cost him means of building political party.

Renominated any officeholder that did not warrant removal for official misconduct or incompetence, which resulted in no more than twelve removals.

Many incumbents in the Jackson-Calhoun faction worked against Adams.

Revival of the Tariff Issue-1824

Tariff of 1824 did not stop British competition with wool-growing and woolen textile interests

Northeastern interests introduced a bill in 1827 to substantially raise import duties to make the importation of those articles virtually prohibitive.

Although the Bill passed the House, VP Calhoun cast the decisive vote in the Senate, agreeing with anti-tariff forces.

Southern Opposition: dependent on the world market for the disposal of its agricultural commodities, opposed a protective tariff because it caused an increase in manufactured goods.

Thomas Cooper in a speech in Columbia SC, condemned the economic ambitions of the North as a menace to Southern equality in the Union and suggested that the South would reevaluate its role in the Federal Union -- facing either submission or separation

Tariff of Abominations May 1828

The dominant Jacksonian faction in the 20th Congress exploited the tariff issue to discredit Adams, expecting New England vote to back Adams and Southerners to agree with Jackson;

The Jacksonians submitted a tariff (31 January 1828) with such high duties that no section was expected to vote for it;

Adams would get blamed for the defeat of the measure and protectionists in the Pennsylvania steel industry would be alienated from Adams;

Middle state-Southern alliance voted down every attempt to amend the tariff, expecting it to be defeated;

The measure passed the House, however, 105-94 and the Senate, 25-21, raising the tariff to its highest level before the Civil War. Because it embodied the principle of protective tariffs, New England's legislators voted for it despite its deficiencies, to the Jacksonian's surprise;

Western and Middle State Jacksonians voted for the measure as well to deprive the Clay-Adams faction of a campaign issue.

South Carolina Resolves -- SC's legislature passed 8 resolutions, calling the tariff unconstitutional, oppressive and unjust and were joined by protests from MS, GA and VA.

South Carolina Exposition and Protest

(1) With the resolutions was a lengthy essay written but not signed by John C. Calhoun, espousing the theory of state sovereignty and minority rights.

(2) Calhoun formally abandoned nationalism, maintaining that states possessed the right to determine if acts of Congress were constitutional or not, states' rights doctrine .

(3) With it, Calhoun identified himself with the particularist views of his state and section.

Broadening of Democracy

Many states (NJ in 1807; MD in 1810) began removing property-holding and taxpaying qualifications for voting,

Trend continued with the admission of new western states after 1815, like IN (1816), IL (1818), AL (1819) and Maine (1820), whose constitutions permitted white male suffrage.

Many older states liberalized their constitutions between 1816 and 1830, like CN (1818), Mass by amendments (1821) and NY (1821) which removed property qualifications.

Religious qualifications for voting and office holding also were removed by amendment.

Other trends

A trend toward counting population rather than taxpayers began.

An increase in popularly elected offices occurred.

The selection of presidential electors was gradually transferred from state legislatures to the people.

By 1828, only SC and DE still chose electors through state legislatures.

Election of 1828

Democrat-Republicans: Andrew Jackson , nominated by Tennessee's legislature (October 1825), resigned his Senate seat to run for president.

VP John C. Calhoun was placed on the ticket with Jackson.

National Republicans in Harrisburg PA nominated John Quincy Adams for a second term and added Richard Rush (PA) for Vice president.

Democrats attacked on personal grounds and their opponents retaliated in kind.

The "corrupt bargain" charge was used effectively against Adams and Clay.

Jackson was hailed as a frontier military hero, champion of the common man and supporter of the "American system."

Election 1828 Results Jackson 647,231 popular (178

electoral) votes to Adams 509,097 popular (83 electoral) votes

Calhoun was reelected Vice-president with 171 electoral votes.

Crucial states of Pennsylvania and New York both went for Jackson.

In New York, Jackson received

140,763 votes to Adams 135,413, with the support of Martin Van Buren and William L. Marcy , NY leaders who had gained control over the old Republican machine and maintained power by using the "spoils system."

Andrew Jackson 1829-37 7th President Inauguration

Jackson pledged himself to economy in government, a proper regard for states' rights, a "just and liberal" Indian policy and a revamping of Federal civil service.

He did not refer to the tariff, internal improvements, currency or Bank of the US.

Western frontiersmen mingled with Washington society at the inaugural ball, signaling arrival of the common man

Kitchen Cabinet After taking office Jackson

suspended the practice of holding cabinet meetings, relying on a small group of unofficial political confidants for advice on policy.

These "lower cabinet" meetings known as the "Kitchen Cabinet," included Amos Kendall , Isaac Hill , William B. Lewis , Andrew J. Donelson and Duff Green .

After the Cabinet was reorganized in 1831, Jackson relied on it for counsel.

Eato n A ff air

Split in the cabinet between Calhoun's supporters and Van Buren's supporters magnified in Washington social feud involving a barmaid, Peggy O'Neale , who in 1829 had become the second wife of Secretary of War John H. Eaton .

Calhoun's wife and other cabinet

wives refused to receive her, Jackson's support of Mrs. Eaton soon became a political issue.

When issue was raised in a cabinet meeting, only one to support Peggy Eaton besides the President was the widower, Martin Van Buren.

Van Buren resigned, for a Cabinet reorganization; Eaton also offered his resignation

Jackson then asked for the resignation of the Treasury Secretary, Secretary of the Navy, and Attorney General, all gave resignations.

Jackson appointed Van Buren Minister to England, although the Senate rejected it (his critics believing that it would end his career) role of Calhoun and Eaton governor of Florida.

Cabinet was reorganized to promote harmony, leaving only Postmaster General William T. Barry from the original cabinet.

Maysfield Road Veto 1830In his annual message, Jackson addressed the constitutional objections over internal improvements and recommended the distribution of the surplus revenue among the states according to their Congressional apportionment, allowing the states to use the funds at their own discretion.

When Congress authorized a government subscription of stock ($150,000) in the Maysville, Washington, Paris and Lexington Turnpike Road Company, to construct 60 miles, Jackson vetoed it on strict constructionist.

Because the road lay within a single state, Kentucky, and had no connection to an established system of improvements, the government had no jurisdiction.

A constitutional amendment would sanction Federally-subsidized roads and canals, if desired.

By vetoing the measure, Jackson made concessions to the South without abandoning his general support for internal improvements.

Who is from Kentucky that Jackson disliked?

Webster-Hayne Debate January 1830Attempts to temporarily restrict western public land sales, led by Sen Sam A. Foot (CO), were challenged by Western Senators esp. Thomas Hart Benson (MO) and Robert Y Hayne (SC)

Advocating strict constructionism and states' rights views over Federal interference, Hayne stated the very life of our system is the independence of the States, and that there is no evil more to be deprecated than the consolidation of this government.

Sen Daniel Webster (Mass) answered Hayne and their exchange eventually concern the origin and nature of the Constitution and the Union.

Hayne supported state sovereignty and nullification.

Webster, denying the validity of constitutional doctrines, expounded on the nature of the Union

A disagreement between the states and the national government is settled by the Federal courts, the amending process or regular elections.

Hayne countered: Federal government was a compact between the states, and that each party was the rightful judge of infringements upon its rights.

Questions of sovereignty are not subject to judicial consideration

Webster-Hayne (cont.)

Webster countered that the Constitution was not a compact but was established as a popular government with a distribution of powers binding upon the national government and the states.

Webster ended with Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable

Jefferson Day Dinner 13 April 1830

At a dinner arranged by Benton and Hayne to align Democrats with Jeffersonian principles and to signify the alliance between the West and the South, numerous toasts alluded to the propriety of state sovereignty and nullification.

Jackson's well-phrased toast stated Our Union: It must be preserved . (later amended when printed to read Our Federal Union . . .

John C. Calhoun responded: The Union, next to our liberty, most dear . May we always remember that it can only be preserved by distributing equally the benefits and burdens of the Union ..

This illustrated growing differences between Jackson and Calhoun

Nullification Crisis 1832

Jackson agreed with the Tariff of 1828 ("of Abominations") and protectionism but to support South, he recommended tariff revision.

Tariff of 1832 (33%), while somewhat

milder, retained the principle of protectionism but was used by South Carolina nullifiers to win a decisive victory in state elections

Southerners opposed Western land development as much as New England manufacturers, because rich new lands attracted wealth from the washed out soils, but neither section sought solutions to their lack of growth, only defended their power.

The South blamed the tariff also for their declining wealth, not overproduction.

Ordinance of Nullification During 1830-31, nullification forces gained

strength in South Carolina, although Unionist sentiment could not be overcome.

Calhoun’s letters to the governor: nullification was constitutional and legitimate means of redressing acts deemed harmful to state.

His theory was based on:

Sovereignty lay in the people of the states, not the people in the Union.

Gov. Hamilton Jr called for a special session of the SC legislature which authorized a convention, which met in Columbia, SC in November

Convention adopted an ordinance by a vote of 136-26, nullifying the tariffs of 1828 and 1832.

NULLIFICATION CRISIS

South Carolina Ordinance prohibited the collection of duties within the state effective 1 February 1833;

required a test oath for all state officeholders except legislators;

forbade appeal to the Supreme Court of any case in law arising from the ordinance

use of Federal force was grounds for secession.

The state legislature appropriated funds for a state military force.

Jackson's responseSecretary of War ordered to alert the forts in Charleston Harbor & Winfield Scott was given command of army forces in South Carolina.

Jackson's December message to Congress recommended a reduction of the tariff.

Jackson issued his Proclamation to the People of South Carolina , among his most important state papers.(1) Nullification was an impractical absurdity .(2) The sovereign and indivisible Federal government was supreme.(3) No state could refuse to obey the laws of the land or could leave the Union.(4) Disunion by armed force is treason.

South Carolina's ResponseSen. Robert Y. Hayne elected governor, Calhoun was elected Senator in his place and therefore resigned the vice-presidency, the first to do so

Crisis Comes to an End-Civil War AvertedCounter proclamation call for general convention of states to consider relations between the Federal and state governments, but many states condemned nullification and secession.

Force Bill January 1833Jackson ask Congress for authority to enforce militarily the revenue laws, if needed.

Henry Clay forged a compromise tariff, which passed both houses in 1833.

Crisis Ends -- late January 1833Learning that a compromise tariff was being sought, SC suspended nullification ordinance

A state convention in March adopted a face-saving ordinance which declared the Force Bill null and void, allowing both sides to claim victory.

Compromise Tariff 1833 return to 1816 rate (20%)

Bank Veto July 1832

Under management of Nicholas Biddle , the Bank of the U.S. prospered and expanded, aided business, stabilized currency & curbed inflation.

Policy of branch drafts force state and local banks to contract their note issues, making the bank unpopular among debtors especially in the South and West

(1) Southern states' rights groups questioned the bank's constitutionality.

(2) State banks sought government deposits.

(3) Van Buren and his NY supporters disputed Philadelphia's financial leadership.

(4) Biddle's domination of conservative Bank policies made him a target for anyone resenting monopolies, corporations and a moneyed aristocracy.

Jackson revealed an intent to eliminate the national Bank.

He questioned its constitutionality, asserting that it had not established a sound and uniform currency.

Clay advised Biddle to apply early for renewal of its, forcing issue on Jackson before the presidential elections;

Recharter bill passed the Senate (June) and House (July), Jackson vetoed it as an indictment against monopoly and special privilege, making the Bank the major issue in the presidential campaign of 1832 .

Jackson maintain each branch of government was independent of the others and bound to support the Constitution as each understands it and not as others understand it.

Senate failed to override his veto on 13 July.

Election of 1832 - Use of a National Nominating Convention

Beginnings of Splinter Political PartiesWorkingmen's Party – began 1828 in Philadelphia:

free public education and the protection of mechanics against competition from prison contract labor.

Split by Jackson-supporters of Van Buren.

Anti-Masonic Party Reporter William Morgan mysteriously disappeared after preparing an expose of Freemasonry, an investigation did not solve the mystery of his disappearance, but revealed that most NY officeholders were Masons

Opponents of Jackson, also a Mason, use the popular reaction against Freemasonry to form an Anti-Jackson political party.- declined after 1836 and was absorbed by the Whigs.

Democrats, as they were now formally called, in Baltimore renominated Andrew Jackson for a second term and Martin Van Buren for Vice-President but Southerners forced the adoption of a two-thirds rule -- nominees had to have 2/3 of the delegate vote before receiving the nomination.

National Republican convention in Baltimore nominated Henry Clay for President and John Sergeant (PA) for Vice-President.

Anti-Masons in BaltimoreDislike for secret societies spread to other states and a national convention of Anti-Masons nominated William Wirt (MD) president and Amos Ellmaker (PA) for vice-president.

FIRST third party in the U.S.! the first party to hold a national nominating convention! first to announce a platform!

Specie Circular July 1836The use of paper currency was expanded by Biddle's banking policies, causing inflation and land speculation to increase.

In 1823 the average Bank notes issued was $4.5 million but by 1831 it increased to $19 million

Credit and currency more abundant in the West and South, causing land sales to skyrocket ($2,623,000 in 1832 to $24,877,000 in 1836).

Jackson ordered the issuance of the Specie Circular which provided that after 15 August 1836, only gold, silver or Virginia land scrip would be accepted by the government in payment for public lands, although paper money was permitted until 15 December for parcels of land up to 320 acres purchased by actual settlers or residents of the state in which the save was made.

The purpose -- to repress "alleged frauds" from "the monopoly of the public lands in the hands of speculators and capitalists" and the "ruinous extension" of bank notes and credit

Effects: Public-land sales were reduced in the West, the circular taxed the inadequate resources of the state "pet" banks, drained specie from the East, led to hoarding, and weakened public confidence in the state banks.

After Jackson defended the circular in his annual message in December 1836, and recommended that land sales be limited to actual settlers, Congress passed a measure that rescinded the Specie Circular, but it was pocket-vetoed by Jackson.

The Specie Circular was repealed May 1838.

Jackson's Indian Policy

In 1830 Congress made provision for the removal of Indians. Under a series of treaties beginning in 1791, Cherokees in Georgia were recognized as a separate nation with their own laws and customs.

White settlement on their lands in GA and on neighboring Creek lands and encroachment on Choctaw and Chickasaw lands in MS and AL created tensions.

When gold was discovered on Cherokee lands, the Georgia legislature in 1830 voided the previous laws, from which Cherokees sought relief from the courts.

Cherokee Nation vs Georgia - the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction because the Cherokees were "a domestic dependent nation," not a foreign state.

Worcester vs Georgia - the court ruled that the national government had exclusive jurisdiction over Cherokee territory, a decision defied by Georgia.

Jackson supported Georgia stating “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it” making supporters of state’s rights think he supported them so SC moved against the Tariff of Abominations

Election of 1836

The name Whig , adopted in 1834, came to designate the coalition of political groups led by Clay, Webster and Calhoun, who opposed Jackson;

National Republican supporters of Clay, Adams, the "American System”

states' rights groups opposed to Jackson's stand on nullification;

former Jackson supporters who were alienated by his Bank policy;

Southern planters and Northern industrialists; and,

gradually after 1836, the remnants of the Anti-Masonic party.

Loco-Focos Faction, called "loco-focos," fought the financial interests that applied for bank and corporation charters; Its name was derived from the new self-igniting friction matches, called "loco-focos"

• – Candidates

(a) They advocated the abolition of monopolies, and special privileges(b) They desired hard money, elections by direct popular vote, direct taxes, free trade and Jeffersonian strict construction.

Democrats in Baltimore May 1835 unanimously nominated was Martin Van Buren for President and added Richard M. Johnson (KY) for vice president.

Whigs, unable to agree upon a single candidate, decided to nominate several strong local candidates to throw the election into the House of

Representatives.

Election 1836(1)Hugh L. White was chosen by anti-Jackson Democrats in Tennessee, and found support in Illinois and Alabama.(2) Supreme Court Justice John McLean, nominated by an Ohio caucus, withdrew in August.(3) Daniel Webster was nominated by a Massachusetts legislative caucus

Anti-Masons in Harrisburg PA (December 1835) nominated William Henry Harrison (OH) for president and Francis Granger (NY) for vice-president

Van Buren pledged to continue in the footsteps of Andrew Jackson.

All other candidates represented anti-Jackson factions throughout the country.

Only time in US history, since none of the 4 vice-presidential candidates received a majority of the electors, the vice-presidential election was thrown into the Senate, where Richard M.Johnson received 33 votes to 16 (February 1837).

Panic of 1837 The reckless land speculation and the specie circular resulted in a serious downturn in the US economy which worsened as Van Buren took office.(1) The price of cotton fell by one-half in New Orleans.(2) New York's unemployed demonstrated against high rents and inflated food and fuel prices and one mob broke into food warehouses and sacked their supplies.(3) Several banks, beginning in New York, suspended specie payments.(4) Public land sales fell from 20 million acres (1836) to 3 1/2 million acres (1838).The effects of the panic persisted until 1842-43 particularly in the South and West.

•

Independent Treasury Act

Van Buren supported a specie currency, criticized state-chartered banks, and desired a scheme to establish Treasury depositories independent of state banks.

Numerous bank failures aroused dissatisfaction with using state banks as depositories for public funds, creating sentiment for an Independent Treasury.

In July 1840, Congress debated an independent treasury bill to establish Federal depositories independent of state banks and private business.

The House did not pass it because of a split in Democratic ranks, which did not occur in the Senate, out of fear of Whig nationalist tendencies.

A reorganization of the 26th Congress in which Democrats gained control of the House, when Calhoun's faction united with Democrats, to pass the measure in June

The Independent Treasury gave the government exclusive care of its own funds, requiring progressive enforcement of the legal-tender clause until all federal payments and disbursements were made in hard money after 30 June 1843.(5) The Act was repealed in 1841.

•

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ELECTION OF 1840

• William Henry Harrison was the Whig presidential candidate (hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe).

• Martin Van Buren was the Democratic incumbent

president.

• Known as “log cabin and apple cider” election. • Whig campaign slogan was “Tippecanoe and

Tyler too”.

• It emphasized Harrison’s military background and supposed poor background and Tyler’s Southern background.

• Harrison was the oldest president elected before

Ronald Reagan. • Harrison gave the longest inauguration speech. • He served the shortest term of any president. • John Tyler became the first vice-president to

assume office after the death of the president.