The Age of Jackson

Chapter 9

Democracy of the Common Man Inauguration

March 4, 1829 – Americans from all regions Party continues at the White House

Changing Electorate Ohio - guaranteed all white males right to vote Massachusetts -at convention many complain

that rich are more represented than the poor Daniel Webster “power naturally and necessarily follows

property”

New York -conservatives argue that tax payers is not enough that for that property requirements should exist for Senators

property qualification abolished Rhode Island

Dorr rebellion (reform) Want expanded suffrage

two constitutions / two governments

Dorr arrested Trying to take RI arsenal

leads to reform

Limits South

laws passed favoring traditional planters and politicians People often times had to vote out loud

intimidation bribes

Trends number of voters increased far more rapidly than did the

population as a whole change in method of choosing presidential electors 1800 legislation chose electors in ten of the states, by the

people in six 1828 electors chosen by the people in every state but SC 1824 fewer than 27% of adult white males voted 1828 58%

President Jackson Personal

Not a philosopher or Renaissance Man

simple theory to democracy “equal protection and equal

benefits “ “favor no region or class”

assault on “citadels” of eastern aristocracy

firm commitment to the subjugation of African Americans and Native Americans

Issues Office holding philosophy (Issue #1)

belonged to the people, not the entrenched office holders

“spoils system” officials appoint followers From caucus to convention for party nominations

(Issue #2) caucus is a body of elected officials making a decision convention is a assembly of commoners

Political Parties Changes

for more than thirty years, political parties are considered evil

by 1820’s and 30’s parties are thought of as desirable and essential to democracy

parties give each political faction a sense of purpose attuned to the will of the people check and balance

Beginnings (Martin Van Buren “Bucktails” “Albany Regency”) Anti-Jackson forces began to call themselves the

Whigs Jackson’s followers began to call themselves

Democrats

Nullification Crisis (issue #3) Southern Pride

Calhoun is Jackson’s VP (from SC) Economy struggling in South

soil exhausted “tariff of abominations”

southerners begin mentioning secession

Calhoun in a tight spot comes up with nullification as a

remedy Nullification = state can override an

unconstitutional law idea stemmed from Jefferson’s and

Madison’s Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

The Peggy Eaton Factor

Van Buren helps carry NY in 1828 elected gov. the same

year resigns from governor’s

post to work as Jackson’s Secretary of State in 1929

The Peggy Eaton Factor Cont’d

Tavern company Peggy O’Neale was the

attractive daughter of a Washington tavern keeper

“took lodgings” with both Andrew Jackson and his friend Senator John Eaton

O’Neale was married, and the mother of two

O’Neale’s husband dies in 1828

Peggy O’Neale marries Senator Eaton shortly thereafter

The Peggy Eaton Factor Cont’d Calhoun’s wife

many administration wives refuse to receive Peggy Eaton as a member of Washington society

this outrages Jackson (remembering that the stress of politics killed his wife)

believes it is Peggy Eaton’s modest social background that is of offense to the elitist women

Jackson demands that members of his cabinet accept Mrs. Eaton into their social world

Calhoun’s wife refuses the president’s demand and Calhoun follows his wife

Webster-Hayne debate

Robert Y. Hayne young Senator from SC argued that the North

East was oppressing both the South and the West

Daniel Webster Senator from

Massachusetts attacked Hayne (and

Calhoun) for threatening the integrity of the union

Webster-Hayne debate Cont’d Two issues

Hayne (and Calhoun) end up arguing for nullification Webster “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and

inseparable!” President Jackson’s response

at banquet in honor of TJ “Our Federal Union – It must be preserved” and while

delivering this speech, he looked directly at Calhoun Calhoun, reportedly, trembled and responded “the

Union – next to our liberty most dear”

The Removal of the Indians (Issue #4) White Attitudes towards the Tribes

concept of “noble savages” being replaced with hostility principal whites should not be expected to live in close

proximity to “savages” desire for land and protection

Legal History only the federal government had authority to negotiate with

the Indians over land Supreme Court (under John Marshall) rules that the Native

Tribes are “nations within a nation” court further rules that tribes are sovereign nations, but

also dependent ones

The Black Hawk War Sauk and Fox Indians fight last battle for the old North

West in 1831-1832 “Black Hawk” Black Hawk refuses to obey treaty ceding lands in Illinois

to USA Rival tribe had signed it for them

Roughly 1000 tribe members move back onto the disputed territory

White leaders vow to exterminate “invaders” and attacked even as Black Hawk attempted to surrender

Sauk and Fox Indians fled West and Whites (and Sioux) slaughtered them as they fled

Black Hawk sent on tour

The “Five Civilized Tribes” Cherokee, Creek, Seminole,

Chickasaw and Choctaw most had established settled

agricultural societies and successful economies

Cherokee had written language and formal constitution policies of the “Cherokee Nation”

Some whites even argued that the Cherokees should be allowed to keep their lands

Jackson overrides the Court When the state of Georgia

tried to expel the Creek Indians with it’s territory, President Adams objected.

Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi passed similar laws supported by President Jackson and US Congress Indian Removal Act of 1830

Cherokees attempted to stay In Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

and Worcester v. Georgia the Supreme Court supports the tribe

Andrew Jackson laughs and replies, “John Marshall made his decision... Now let him enforce it.”

Trails of Tears Jackson sends General Winfield

Scott and an army of 7,000 to round up the Cherokee and move them west

From Georgia to “Indian Territory” (Oklahoma) by foot

started in the winter of 1838 “Even aged females, apparently

nearly ready to drop in the grave, were travelling with heavy burdens attached to their backs, sometimes on frozen ground and sometimes on muddy streets, with no covering for their feet.” Thousands, roughly 1/8 died

before or soon after reaching their destination

Between 1830 and 1838 virtually all of the “Five Civilized Tribes” were expelled

Seminoles fight and are never officially defeated or relocated

Meaning of Removal Tribes ceded over 100 million acres, and in return

they got $68 million and 32 million acres of land that was much less hospitable

policy adopted by westward settlers largely mirrors that of original British “transplantations”

but evidence all through North America of tribes and whites living together peacefully fur trading posts in the Pacific Northwest pueblos of New Mexico parts of Texas and California Lewis and Clark Canada

The Removal of The National Bank (issue #5) Federal vs. State Power inconsistent and

convenient Exercising federal power

rebellious states (tariff of abominations) Indian Removal

Limiting federal power Maysville Road veto extravagant expenditures

Biddle’s Institution Bank Growth

centered in Philadelphia branches in 29 other cities most powerful financial institution in the nation

Biddle’s Institution Cont’d Bank Growth Cont’d

by law, bank was the only place that the federal government could deposit it’s own funds

government owned one fifth of bank’s stock dependable medium of exchange

Opposition “soft money”

wanted more currency in circulation state bankers

Hard money gold and silver only basis of money condemned banks that issued bank notes Andrew Jackson

Biddle’s Institution Cont’d Support

North-eastern aristocracy Daniel Webster Henry Clay

Political handiwork charter set to expire in 1836 Webster and co. persuade Biddle to apply early for new

charter plan is to make Jackson veto it and cause the public to be

angry for 1832 election Jackson veto’s proposal, but the public doesn’t respond

with as much anger Jackson beats Clay in 1832 election

Biddle’s Institution Cont’d Destroying the “Monster”

Jackson’s original secretary of Treasury refuses to sign the order and was fired

The replacement also has reservations, and is fired Jackson hires his friend Roger B. Taney to the post and they

begin placing government deposits into state banks (aka “pet banks”)

Nicholas Biddle tries to slander the President called in loans raised interest rates

Biddle’s plan backfires, Jackson grows stronger Taney would succeed John Marshall as chief justice of the

Supreme Court Now what?

lost a valuable financial institution fragmented and unstable banking system cause problems in the economy for the next century

Democrats vs. Whigs

Democrats steadily expanding economic opportunities for

white males limited role of gov’t, create opportunities and

avoid obstacles defending union attack centers of corrupt privilege drew on support of

smaller merchants and workingmen of northeast southern planters suspicious of industrial growth westerners who favored an agrarian society

Whigs expand power of federal gov’t encouraged industrial and commercial development embraced progress, cautious about expansion drew support from

wealthy merchants in Northeast wealthy planters in the South rising commercial class in the West

Election of 1836 “Great Triumvirate”

(Clay, Webster, Calhoun) Whigs have trouble deciding who should run, thus decide

to run three Democrats run Van Buren (hand picked by “King

Andrew”) Votes are not split enough and Van Buren wins

President Van Buren Politically savvy and gifted, but not as popular as Jackson from 1835-1837, only period in history US is Debt Free Panic of “1837”

Before leaving office, Jackson passes policy known as “specie cicular” states that payment for public lands can only be made with gold or silver coins or currency backed by gold or silver

Sparked a financial panic that would haunt Van Buren “Panic of 1837”

Worst depression in US up to that point... lasted five years Independent Treasury System

gov’t would place it’s funds in an independent treasury at Washington and sub treasuries in other cities

No private banks would have the government’s money government and banks are “divorced”

President Van Buren

Other events

Harrison beats Van Buren in 1840 elections

penny press Log Cabin Campaign

Dies within a month of taking office

Tyler takes over... not a genuine Whig, alienates party members

war with Canada Creole affair almost sends us

back to war with G. Britain trade with China