The Election of The Election of Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson

March 24, 2010March 24, 2010

Project HistoryProject History

Hard Times After the Panic Hard Times After the Panic of 1819of 1819

Estimated that 1/3 of population Estimated that 1/3 of population effectedeffected

1819 New York Society for Prevention of 1819 New York Society for Prevention of Pauperism estimated 8,000 paupers in Pauperism estimated 8,000 paupers in city of 120,000---1820--13,000city of 120,000---1820--13,000

1818 3.5 million acres sold---1819 .8 1818 3.5 million acres sold---1819 .8 millionmillion

1815 Pa land $150 an acre---1819 $351815 Pa land $150 an acre---1819 $35

Effects of Panic of 1819Effects of Panic of 1819

Heighten sectionalism--each section Heighten sectionalism--each section became more self-interested--South became more self-interested--South became more opposed to protective became more opposed to protective tariff--manufacturing areas want tariff--manufacturing areas want greater protectiongreater protection

Sharpen class antagonisms--discredit Sharpen class antagonisms--discredit elites--engendered a kind of political elites--engendered a kind of political restivenessrestiveness

John C. Calhoun in 1820John C. Calhoun in 1820

““There has been within these two years There has been within these two years an immense revolution of fortunes in an immense revolution of fortunes in every part of the Union; enormous every part of the Union; enormous numbers of persons utterly ruined; numbers of persons utterly ruined; multitudes in deep distress; and a multitudes in deep distress; and a general mass of disaffection to the general mass of disaffection to the government, not concentrated in any government, not concentrated in any particular direction, but ready to seize particular direction, but ready to seize upon any event and looking out upon any event and looking out everywhere for a leader.”everywhere for a leader.”

American Ambivalence American Ambivalence Moral note enters American politics--theme Moral note enters American politics--theme

of moral decay, corruption, dishonesty, of moral decay, corruption, dishonesty, indolence and extravagance condemnedindolence and extravagance condemned

Dual nature--attracted to speculative Dual nature--attracted to speculative enterprise--but feelings of guiltenterprise--but feelings of guilt

During pre-panic times latent fears and During pre-panic times latent fears and suspicions of banks suppressed--seen as suspicions of banks suppressed--seen as creative engines of enterprisecreative engines of enterprise

After economic collapse--many saw it as After economic collapse--many saw it as God’s way of punishing errant people--God’s way of punishing errant people--people who had expected riches without people who had expected riches without workwork

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin Franklin recommends frugality, thrift, Franklin recommends frugality, thrift,

and hard work and promises results of and hard work and promises results of moral and material rewardsmoral and material rewards

Yet emphasis upon material values--Yet emphasis upon material values--equating wealth with moral rectitude equating wealth with moral rectitude

Follower of Poor Richard might forget Follower of Poor Richard might forget necessary relationship between hard necessary relationship between hard work and richeswork and riches

Wealth based upon speculation, riches Wealth based upon speculation, riches without work considered sinful by most without work considered sinful by most AmericansAmericans

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Niles RegisterNiles Register

““It seems to me that the It seems to me that the whole paper system is whole paper system is nothing more than a nothing more than a contrivance of knaves to contrivance of knaves to cheat honest men….”cheat honest men….”

Political Reaction to PanicPolitical Reaction to Panic

Most states passed stay laws or Most states passed stay laws or minimum appraisal laws protected minimum appraisal laws protected debtor from having to sell property debtor from having to sell property for debt at deflated pricesfor debt at deflated prices

Some states establish state banks or Some states establish state banks or loan offices in order to expand loan offices in order to expand money supply--paper money they money supply--paper money they issued had to be accepted by issued had to be accepted by creditors for debtcreditors for debt

KentuckyKentucky

Election of 1820--majority of Election of 1820--majority of legislature pledged to relieve peoplelegislature pledged to relieve people

Legislature chartered Bank of the Legislature chartered Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky--made Commonwealth of Kentucky--made loans of paper money--received for loans of paper money--received for taxes and public debtstaxes and public debts

If private creditor not receive bank If private creditor not receive bank paper--debtor could delay debt for 2 paper--debtor could delay debt for 2 yearsyears

Kentucky 2Kentucky 2 Bank of Commonwealth of Kentucky notes worth 50% Bank of Commonwealth of Kentucky notes worth 50%

face value---creditor forced to accept it at face valueface value---creditor forced to accept it at face value Political battles in state between Relief and Anti-Relief Political battles in state between Relief and Anti-Relief

parties (comprised of planters, businessmen and most parties (comprised of planters, businessmen and most powerful lawyers)powerful lawyers)

Kentucky Court of Appeals struck down relief legislationKentucky Court of Appeals struck down relief legislation Relief Party controlled legislature and dissolved court Relief Party controlled legislature and dissolved court

and set up new courtand set up new court Bitter fights in Kentucky between Old Court (anti-relief) Bitter fights in Kentucky between Old Court (anti-relief)

and New Court (relief) partiesand New Court (relief) parties Relief Party strong supporters of Andrew Jackson---Relief Party strong supporters of Andrew Jackson---

Amos Kendall and Frank BlairAmos Kendall and Frank Blair

Andrew Jackson 1767-Andrew Jackson 1767-18451845

Born in S.C. ---captured by English Born in S.C. ---captured by English during American Revolutionduring American Revolution

British officer demanded Jackson clean British officer demanded Jackson clean boots. Jackson said: “Sir, I’m a prisoner boots. Jackson said: “Sir, I’m a prisoner of war, and claim to be treated as of war, and claim to be treated as such.” Officer slashed him with a swordsuch.” Officer slashed him with a sword

Jackson lost his brother and mother to Jackson lost his brother and mother to smallpox during warsmallpox during war

After war---life of dissipation and hell-After war---life of dissipation and hell-raising--studied law in law officeraising--studied law in law office

Andrew Jackson 2Andrew Jackson 2

Moved to Nashville in 1787---held a Moved to Nashville in 1787---held a number of state offices in 1790s as number of state offices in 1790s as well as serving a short time in the well as serving a short time in the House of Rep and US Senate.House of Rep and US Senate.

But from early 19th century down to But from early 19th century down to war of 1812 lived life of planterwar of 1812 lived life of planter

Given command of Tennessee militia Given command of Tennessee militia and then made major general in U.S. and then made major general in U.S. forces forces

Battle of New OrleansBattle of New Orleans

Jackson led forces that defeated British in Jackson led forces that defeated British in New Orleans in January, 1815New Orleans in January, 1815

2,057 English dead, 13 Americans2,057 English dead, 13 Americans Jackson voted thanks by Congress and Jackson voted thanks by Congress and

given gold medalgiven gold medal Martin Van Buren of NY wrote leg thanking Martin Van Buren of NY wrote leg thanking

Jackson “an event surpassing the most Jackson “an event surpassing the most heroic and wonderful achievements which heroic and wonderful achievements which adorn the annals of mankind.”adorn the annals of mankind.”

Niles RegisterNiles Register ““Glory be to God that the barbarians Glory be to God that the barbarians

have been defeated and that at have been defeated and that at OrleansOrleans the intended plunders have found their the intended plunders have found their grave! Glory to Jackson…Glory to the grave! Glory to Jackson…Glory to the militia…Sons of freedom---saviors of militia…Sons of freedom---saviors of Orleans--benefactors of your country and Orleans--benefactors of your country and avengers of its wrongs, all hail! Hail avengers of its wrongs, all hail! Hail glorious people--worthy, thrice worthy, glorious people--worthy, thrice worthy, to enjoy the blessing which heaven in to enjoy the blessing which heaven in bounteous profusion has heaped on your bounteous profusion has heaped on your country.”country.”

Battle of New OrleansBattle of New Orleans

Battle of New OrleansBattle of New Orleans

Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson

Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson

Election of 1824Election of 1824

Five candidates: Adams, Calhoun, Five candidates: Adams, Calhoun, William Henry Crawford, Clay and William Henry Crawford, Clay and JacksonJackson

Crawford caucus candidateCrawford caucus candidate Jackson’s nomination---flukeJackson’s nomination---fluke Once nominated Jackson’s candidacy Once nominated Jackson’s candidacy

gained popular supportgained popular support

Election of 1824 2Election of 1824 2

Jackson only candidate with national Jackson only candidate with national support---Crawford (South), Clay (West) support---Crawford (South), Clay (West) and Adams (Northeast) Calhoun withdrewand Adams (Northeast) Calhoun withdrew

Jackson won plurality of popular vote--but Jackson won plurality of popular vote--but no one had maj in electoral collegeno one had maj in electoral college

Top three candidates forwarded to H of R--Top three candidates forwarded to H of R--Jackson, Crawford and AdamsJackson, Crawford and Adams

Clay threw support to Adams and was Clay threw support to Adams and was appointed Secretary of Stateappointed Secretary of State

Dissolution of Jeffersonian Dissolution of Jeffersonian Republican PartyRepublican Party

Jackson supporters charge “corrupt Jackson supporters charge “corrupt bargain” between Clay and Adamsbargain” between Clay and Adams

Election of 1824 brought dissolution Election of 1824 brought dissolution of old Jeffersonian Republican Partyof old Jeffersonian Republican Party

After 1824--Adams supporters began After 1824--Adams supporters began calling themselves National calling themselves National Republicans and Jacksonians---Republicans and Jacksonians---Democratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans

Why was Jackson so Why was Jackson so PopularPopular

One historian has written a book-- One historian has written a book-- Andrew Jackson: Symbol of an AgeAndrew Jackson: Symbol of an Age

Why was he so popular---man of Why was he so popular---man of tremendous will, couragetremendous will, courage

Indiana newspaper “There is not to be Indiana newspaper “There is not to be found in this wide universe a man so found in this wide universe a man so pure, spotless and exceptional in his pure, spotless and exceptional in his moral and political character as Andrew moral and political character as Andrew Jackson. But he has no leading man in Jackson. But he has no leading man in his favor. This is his only crime.”his favor. This is his only crime.”

Why was Jackson so Why was Jackson so Popular 2Popular 2 Seen as advocate of democracy, untainted Seen as advocate of democracy, untainted

by corruption of old political systemby corruption of old political system Second George Washington--and like Second George Washington--and like

Washington represents certain virtues of Washington represents certain virtues of the old republicthe old republic

““Washington the people’s choice was Washington the people’s choice was elevated to the Presidency by the people--elevated to the Presidency by the people--the prosperity of the country proved the the prosperity of the country proved the wisdom of his administration. Jackson, the wisdom of his administration. Jackson, the people’s choice is now before you--will you people’s choice is now before you--will you complete the parallel.”complete the parallel.”

Campaigning for 1828Campaigning for 1828 Martin Van Buren key figure--1826 “we will Martin Van Buren key figure--1826 “we will

support no man who does not come forward support no man who does not come forward on the principles and in the form in which on the principles and in the form in which Jefferson and Madison were brought Jefferson and Madison were brought forward.”forward.”

Principles: states rights, strict construction Principles: states rights, strict construction of the constitution---appeal to radicals of of the constitution---appeal to radicals of former Crawford faction--Coalition of “plain former Crawford faction--Coalition of “plain Republicans of the North with the planters Republicans of the North with the planters in the South”in the South”

Establish Jackson Committees across Establish Jackson Committees across country and newspaperscountry and newspapers

Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren

Election of 1828Election of 1828 Campaign one of most scurrilous in Campaign one of most scurrilous in

American historyAmerican history Jackson and wife Rachel charged with Jackson and wife Rachel charged with

living in sin and bigamy living in sin and bigamy ““Ought a convicted adulteress and her Ought a convicted adulteress and her

paramour husband to be placed in the paramour husband to be placed in the highest office of this free and Christian highest office of this free and Christian land? What effect, think you, fellow land? What effect, think you, fellow citizens, will it have upon the American citizens, will it have upon the American youth?”youth?”

Rachel JacksonRachel Jackson

Election of 1828 2Election of 1828 2 Jacksonians charged Adams was a pimpJacksonians charged Adams was a pimp ““Why is Adams on ticklish grounds? Why is Adams on ticklish grounds?

Because he stands of slippery Clay.”Because he stands of slippery Clay.” ResultsResults

– Jackson 178 electoral votes to Adams 83Jackson 178 electoral votes to Adams 83– Popular vote Jackson 647,000 to Adams Popular vote Jackson 647,000 to Adams

508,000508,000– Jackson swept all states south of Potomac Jackson swept all states south of Potomac

and west of NJand west of NJ– 1,150,000 votes cast---increase of 800,000 1,150,000 votes cast---increase of 800,000

over 1824over 1824

Washington in Jackson EraWashington in Jackson Era

Jackson’s InauguralJackson’s Inaugural