The Jackson EraThe Jackson Era1824-18451824-1845

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian Democracy

1816-1824 the United States had only 1816-1824 the United States had only one political party—Jeffersonian one political party—Jeffersonian Republicans.Republicans.

Differences arose among various groupsDifferences arose among various groups In 1824, James Monroe declined to run In 1824, James Monroe declined to run

for a third term.for a third term. Four candidates from the Republican Four candidates from the Republican

Party competed for the presidency—all Party competed for the presidency—all very different and from different statesvery different and from different states

The Election of 1824The Election of 1824Key PlayersKey Players

William H. Crawford—William H. Crawford—congressman congressman from Georgia; was in poor healthfrom Georgia; was in poor health

The Election of 1824The Election of 1824Key PlayersKey Players

General General Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson– a a favorite sonfavorite son candidate candidate (received backing (received backing

from his home state rather than the national party); from his home state rather than the national party); – from Tennessee—NOT a Washington Politician from Tennessee—NOT a Washington Politician – hero of War of 1812, hero of War of 1812, – Raised in poverty Raised in poverty – claimed to speak for “Americans who had been left out claimed to speak for “Americans who had been left out

of Politics” of Politics”

The Election of 1824The Election of 1824Key PlayersKey Players

Henry ClayHenry Clay– From KentuckyFrom Kentucky– A A favorite sonfavorite son candidate candidate– Was for internal improvements, high Was for internal improvements, high

tariffs, and a stronger national banktariffs, and a stronger national bank

The Election of 1824The Election of 1824Key PlayersKey Players

John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams– From MassachusettsFrom Massachusetts– Son of former president John AdamsSon of former president John Adams– Received support from merchants of the Received support from merchants of the

Northeast Northeast

Election of 1824Election of 1824The ResultsThe Results

Jackson received most popular votes and Jackson received most popular votes and received 99 electoral votes which gave received 99 electoral votes which gave him him pluralityplurality (largest single share) (largest single share)

No candidate received the No candidate received the majoritymajority (more than half) of the electoral votes(more than half) of the electoral votes

The constititution stated that when no The constititution stated that when no candidate receives the majority, the candidate receives the majority, the House of Representatives elects the House of Representatives elects the president president

Election of 1824Election of 1824The ResultsThe Results

Clay met with Adams and agreed to Clay met with Adams and agreed to use his influence as Speaker of the use his influence as Speaker of the House to defeat Jackson.House to defeat Jackson.

In return, Clay would become the In return, Clay would become the secretary of state (seen as a stepping secretary of state (seen as a stepping stone to the presidency)stone to the presidency)

Jackson’s followers accused them of a Jackson’s followers accused them of a “corrupt bargain” and stealing the “corrupt bargain” and stealing the election election

The Adams Presidency The Adams Presidency

The “corrupt bargain” tainted Adam’s The “corrupt bargain” tainted Adam’s presidencypresidency

Adams wanted: stronger navy Adams wanted: stronger navy government funds for scientific government funds for scientific expeditions, and federal government to expeditions, and federal government to direct economydirect economy

This horrified the people who supported This horrified the people who supported limited federal governmentlimited federal government

Congress turned down many of Adams Congress turned down many of Adams proposals proposals

The Election of 1828The Election of 1828

Key Players: Andrew Jackson and Key Players: Andrew Jackson and John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams

One of the most vicious campaigns in One of the most vicious campaigns in American historyAmerican history

Two parties: Democratic-Republicans Two parties: Democratic-Republicans (supported Jackson); National (supported Jackson); National Republicans (supported Adams)Republicans (supported Adams)

The Election of 1828The Election of 1828

Jackson’s Democratic Republicans Jackson’s Democratic Republicans favored states’ rights and mistrusted favored states’ rights and mistrusted a strong central governmenta strong central government

Adams’ National Republican’s Adams’ National Republican’s wanted a strong central government, wanted a strong central government, supported federal endeavors like supported federal endeavors like road building and a national bankroad building and a national bank

The Election of 1828The Election of 1828 During the campaign both parties resorted During the campaign both parties resorted

to to mudslingingmudslinging (attempts to ruin the (attempts to ruin the opponent’s reputation with insults)opponent’s reputation with insults)

Adams– accused of betraying the peopleAdams– accused of betraying the people Jackson—vicious campaign to bring up Jackson—vicious campaign to bring up

embarrassing incidents such as his order embarrassing incidents such as his order to execute several soldiers who were to execute several soldiers who were deserters in the War of 1812deserters in the War of 1812

Other “new” election elements were Other “new” election elements were slogans, rallies, buttons and other events slogans, rallies, buttons and other events to raise enthusiasm to raise enthusiasm

Jackson TriumphsJackson Triumphs

Jackson won the election in a Jackson won the election in a landslidelandslide (overwhelming victory) (overwhelming victory) with 56% of the popular vote and with 56% of the popular vote and 178 electoral votes 178 electoral votes

Jackson’s PresidencyJackson’s Presidency Jackson promised “equal protection and equal Jackson promised “equal protection and equal

benefits” for all Americans –at least all white benefits” for all Americans –at least all white American men. American men.

In early years there was limited In early years there was limited suffragesuffrage (right to (right to vote) given to men who owned property or paid vote) given to men who owned property or paid taxestaxes

During Jackson’s presidency, white male During Jackson’s presidency, white male sharecroppers, factory workers, and many others sharecroppers, factory workers, and many others were brought into the processwere brought into the process

By 1840, more than 80% of white males voted in By 1840, more than 80% of white males voted in the electionsthe elections

Women, African Americans and Native Americans Women, African Americans and Native Americans still could not vote (and had very little rights at all)still could not vote (and had very little rights at all)

The Spoils SystemThe Spoils System

““To the victors belong the spoils.” To the victors belong the spoils.” In other words, because the In other words, because the

Jacksonians had won the election, the Jacksonians had won the election, the had the right to the spoils—benefits of had the right to the spoils—benefits of victory—such as handing out jobs to victory—such as handing out jobs to supporterssupporters

The practice of replacing government The practice of replacing government employees with the winning employees with the winning candidates supporters became known candidates supporters became known as the as the spoils systemspoils system

The Tariff DebateThe Tariff Debate Americans disagreed strongly on the issue of Americans disagreed strongly on the issue of

tariffstariffs (fee paid by merchants who imported (fee paid by merchants who imported goods)goods)

1828 Congress passed a very high tariff on 1828 Congress passed a very high tariff on goods from Europegoods from Europe

Citizens in the NE welcomed the tariff because Citizens in the NE welcomed the tariff because it encouraged American manufacturingit encouraged American manufacturing

Southerners hated the tariff—They called it Southerners hated the tariff—They called it the Tariff of Abominations. It forced the Tariff of Abominations. It forced consumers to buy American, but it also meant consumers to buy American, but it also meant higher prices.higher prices.

The South ProtestsThe South Protests Vice President John C. Calhoun supported Vice President John C. Calhoun supported

the southerners. the southerners. He argued that states had the right to He argued that states had the right to

nullifynullify (cancel) a federal law that it (cancel) a federal law that it considered against state interestsconsidered against state interests

Some Southerners wanted to Some Southerners wanted to secedesecede (break away) and form their own (break away) and form their own governmentgovernment

Drawing on ideas from Madison and Drawing on ideas from Madison and Jefferson, Calhoun argued that since the Jefferson, Calhoun argued that since the federal government was a creation of federal government was a creation of states then the states had final authority states then the states had final authority

The Webster-Hayne DebateThe Webster-Hayne Debate

Robert Hayne—young senator from South Robert Hayne—young senator from South Carolina—defended the idea that states Carolina—defended the idea that states had a right to nullify acts of the federal had a right to nullify acts of the federal government, and even secedegovernment, and even secede

Senator Daniel Webster strongly Senator Daniel Webster strongly disagreed. He argued that nullification disagreed. He argued that nullification could only mean the end of the Union. could only mean the end of the Union. Webster closed with this statement, Webster closed with this statement, “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!”and inseparable!”

The Nullification CrisisThe Nullification Crisis Jackson’s stance: “Our federal union….must Jackson’s stance: “Our federal union….must

be preserved!”be preserved!” State supporters were shocked and State supporters were shocked and

disappointeddisappointed Calhoun responded: “The Union—next to Calhoun responded: “The Union—next to

our liberty, most dear.”—meaning that the our liberty, most dear.”—meaning that the fate of the Union must take second place to fate of the Union must take second place to state’s liberty to overrule the Constitution. state’s liberty to overrule the Constitution.

Calhoun realized that Jackson would not Calhoun realized that Jackson would not change his views, not long after, he change his views, not long after, he resigned the vice presidencyresigned the vice presidency

The Nullification ActThe Nullification Act

South Carolina (Calhoun’s home South Carolina (Calhoun’s home state) declared that it would not pay state) declared that it would not pay the “illegal” tariffs of 1828 and 1832. the “illegal” tariffs of 1828 and 1832.

South Carolina legislatures South Carolina legislatures threatened to secede from the Union threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government tried to if the federal government tried to interfere with their actions.interfere with their actions.

Force BillForce Bill To ease the crisis, Jackson supported a To ease the crisis, Jackson supported a

compromise proposed by Henry Clay to lower the compromise proposed by Henry Clay to lower the tariff over several years. tariff over several years.

Early in 1833, Jackson persuaded congress to Early in 1833, Jackson persuaded congress to pass the pass the Force Bill—Force Bill—this bill allowed the this bill allowed the president to use the United States military to president to use the United States military to enforce acts of Congress. enforce acts of Congress.

In response, South Carolina accepted the new In response, South Carolina accepted the new tariff, but they still voted to nullify the Force Acttariff, but they still voted to nullify the Force Act

South Carolina and the rest of the South would South Carolina and the rest of the South would remember that the federal government would not remember that the federal government would not allow a state to go its own way without a fight! allow a state to go its own way without a fight!