RISE OF MASS POLITICS: JACKSONIAN

AMERICAOseas Romero

AP US HistoryStafford High School

John Quincy Adams

Some believed he allowed too much political control to be held by elites.

Some objected to his support of national economic development on constitutional grounds. Adams believed a strong, active central government

was necessary. A national university. An astronomical observatory. A naval academy.

Many Americans saw Adams’ vision of a might nation led by a strong president as a threat to individual liberties.

His land policies gave westerners another reason to dislike him.

He attempted to curb speculation for public lands his opponent accused him of denying their individual rights and freedoms to expand westward!

He supported the land rights of Native Americans against white settlers. 1825 govt. officials negotiated a treaty with a group of

Creek Indians to cede their land rights to GA. The Creek Indians appealed to Adams to renounce the

treaty. Congress sided with the governor of GA.

King Mob: Age of the Common Man or an American Tyrant

The election of Jackson heralded an age of inclusiveness for regular White American Males. The elites of the United States were terrified of

this Era of the Common Man did not mean

equality or economic equality for all, but it did begin a transformation of American politics like never before

Even before Jackson became President, voter laws began to change and expand In the West all adult white males had the right

to vote and gave them the opportunity to hold office Did this so they could become states quicker

With more people voting, more political clout and power Eventually the older states would follow usually with

positive effects Dorr Rebellion-denounced Rhode Island’s constitution,

which limited voting rights to small groups of property owners. Defeated, but did help expand suffrage

Electing the President Changes

Voting became so much more important when the process of choosing a President changed By 1828, electors were chosen by popular

votes Increased political participation by more than

double By 1840, 80% of people who could vote voted

Democracy in America - Alexis De Tocqueville

Helped Spread the idea of American democracy to France and Europe

Tocqueville examined the daily lives of groups of Americans and their cultures.

Warned of future disaster if white males refused to extend liberty to women, African Americans, and Indians

Change in Politics

The higher voter turnout in turn resulted a strengthening of party organization and party loyalty Americans viewed political parties as evils that are

best to be avoided, but things would be set in motion that would change this

Martin van Buren led a group known as the Bucktails Would challenge established political leadership in

the state of New York Claimed that an institutionalized party based on

popular vote at large, would ensure genuine democracy

Democracy for the Common Man

According to Jackson, democracy should give “equal protection and equal benefits” to all white male citizens Show no favor to any region over another Take down all citadels of eastern aristocracy

Awarded his friends and allies political positions within the federal government Spoils System

Why more democracy?

White male suffrage increased Party nominating committees. Voters chose their state’s slate of Presidential

electors. Spoils system. Rise of Third Parties. Popular campaigning (parades, rallies, floats, etc.) Two-party system returned in the 1832 election: Dem-Reps Natl. Reps.(1828) Whigs

(1832) Republicans (1854) Democrats (1828)

Election of 1828

Jackson’s campaign was engineered by Senator Martin Van Buren of NY He wanted to recreate the old Jeffersonian coalition of: Northern farmers and artisans. Southern slave owners. Farmers with small land holdings.

He created the Democratic Party from the remains of Jefferson’s old party: Created a national committee that oversaw local and

state party units. Mass meetings, parades, picnics.

A lot of political mudslinging on both sides.

Eaton and van Buren

John Eaton is chosen as the new Secretary of War Just like Jackson before, he was marred by a

marriage scandal Eaton’s wife was accepted by the wives of the

other cabinet members led by Calhoun’s wife Jackson demanded that she be accepted, but

Calhoun refused Van Buren, now secretary of state, was a shrewd

politician He befriended the Eaton’s and quickly became

Jackson’s right hand man Was to be Jackson’s heir instead of Calhoun

Crisis of Nullification: A Prelude

The Tariff of Abomination resulted in a decimation of the South Carolinian farm lands South Carolina blamed Adams and the Federal government

Wanted secession Calhoun was the most prominent politician from the state,

his political future depended on the outcome of this crisis Theory of nullification

Federal government was a creation of the states The states and not the courts or Congress were the decision

makers when it came to deciding the constitutionality of federal laws If the state concluded an act of Congress was unconstitutional it had the

right to declare the federal law null and void within the state

1830—Jefferson Day Dinner Jackson: “Our Union: It must be preserved” Calhoun: “The Union. Next to Liberty, the most dear

Crisis

In 1832, South Carolinians called a state convention They voted to nullify the tariffs of 1828 and 1832

Would also forbid any collections of duties within the state They made Robert Hayne, governor and Calhoun, who had

resigned as Vice President, the new Senator No state had supported South Carolina’s bid for secession

Henry Clay, now a senator, proposed a gradual drop in the tariffs

Jackson also initiated a force bill Both were passed the same day

Theory of Nullification was alive and well Could not do it alone

Indian Removal

Everyone knew Jackson’s attitude towards Indians Hatred and disgust

The prevailing thought at the beginning of the 18th century saw Indians as “noble savages” Court rulings helped fuel this thoughts

Black Hawk War Black Hawk and his followers refused to recognize the

legality of an agreement made by another tribe They marched across the Mississippi River and occupied

vacant lands in Illinois White Militias were not kind

When Black Hawk was captured, Jackson paraded him across the country as a threat to all others who might defy them

“Five Civilized Tribes”

Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Recognized as agricultural societies and successful

economies Many whites recognized their right to exist peacefully with

them Many more however wanted their lands for themselves The states and soon the federal government began to

successfully pressure the tribes to leave their lands and head west The Supreme Court did not agree with the actions of Jackson

and the states like seen in Worcester v. Georgia Jackson famously said, “John Marshall has made his decision…Now

let him enforce it.” The Supreme Court could not do anything

Jackson was in control and what would follow would be one of the worst stains on American history

Trail of Tears

Jackson ordered the forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation, which began in 1838. The forced relocation had been happening since 1830 of all the civilized tribes Indian Intercourse Act of 1834

Named the “The Trail Where They Cried” by the Native American’s, Jackson claimed that they, Native Americans, could only be protected if they lived beyond the reach of oppression by whites Jackson was trying to justify his actions by claiming he was

helping the Native Americans Seminoles were the only tribe that were able to resist

Fought the Seminole War, led by Osceola Were able to hold off the American Army long enough to where

they just gave up and let them stay

Removal

How could a moral, Christian society do this to a people? All the important Indian societies were now west of the

Mississippi More than 100 million acres of Indian lands were now in the

hands of white settlers Expansion would continue

Manifest Destiny was now taking root

There could be no coexistence with Indians, because unlike the slaves Indians Were neither intelligent, had industry, moral habits, or

desire for improvement There was no place for them in the United States of America

These beliefs helped them justify the policies that almost destroyed an entire civilization

Jackson and the Bank

Jackson believed that all vestiges of aristocracy were evil and had to be done away with The 2nd Bank of the United States

Concentrated federal power over the people and their economic lives

By law the Bank was the only placed that the fed govt. could deposit its funds Led by Nicholas Biddle, president of the Bank since

1823 Allowed the bank to do

General banking Provide credit Issue bank notes Exercise restraint on state banks

Opposition of the bank came from two places Soft Money-wanted more currency in circulation

Bank notes unsupported by gold and silver was the best way to do this Backed by state banks Rapid economic growth

Hard Money- currency had to be backed up by gold and silver No one should issue paper currency, devalued worth

Against speculation Jackson was a supporter

Blamed the 1st Bank of the United States for his failures earlier in life Made it known that he would not re-charter the Bank

Biddle turns to his friend, Daniel Webster, to be the legal counsel of the Bank Daniel Webster brings the support of many

important people, chiefly Henry Clay Tell Biddle to run for Congress in 1832

Brings up a vote to re-charter the bank It passes and Jackson vetoes it

Forces the Bank to be a central issue in the 1832 campaign

Clay runs for President under the National Republicans The Bank War failed to gain him overwhelming

support Jackson and van Buren win the election

Jackson instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to remove all government deposits from the bank. He refuses, Jackson fires him The new one also refuses, Jackson fires him as well

Picks Roger Taney, the current attorney general to the position Put the money in pet banks around the country

Biddle did not give up Decided to call in loans and raise interest rates

Would cause financial distress People would blame Jackson and his policies

This also made Biddle unpopular. Went to far and his allies began to leave him In the end his tactics made it impossible for the bank to be re-

charted

The Taney Court

After Jackson won against the Bank, he went against the Supreme Court Marshall dies in 1835

Appoints Roger Taney to Chief Justice Taney supported and promoted the general welfare of

the country, which takes precedence over the rights of contracts and property It is necessary to advance the well-being of the

community Cornerstone of Jacksonian ideals

The key to democracy was an expansion of economic opportunity Could not occur if the old corporations kept a monopoly

on everything

King Andrew I

Those that opposed Jackson, named themselves Whigs Jackson envisioned a future with steady expanding

economic and political opportunities Government should be limited and remove

obstacles of opportunity Regular people loved this idea

Whiggery wanted expand power of the federal government Encourage industrial and commercial development

Consolidate economic system An industrial future; rising to world prominence

Merchants, plantation owners, farmers, and the rising commercial class of the West supported the Whigs Internal improvements, expanding trade, and

rapid economic progress. Most important item was to win the

election. Both parties tried to find ways of doing this

Anti-Masonary Attacked Jackson on his own platform

Whigs vs Democrats Whigs:

Less concerned about the widening gap between rich and poor. Opposed “liberal capitalism” because they believed it would lead to economic

chaos. Strong national govt. to coordinate the expanding economy was critical. Opposes Indian removal. Favored tariffs. Supported a National Bank

Democrats Felt the widening gap between rich and poor was alarming. Believed that bankers, merchants, and speculators were “non-producers” who

used their govt. connections to line their own pockets. Govt. should have a hands-off approach to the economy to allow the little guy a

chance to prosper. For Indian removal. Oppose tariffs. States’ rights. Oppose federal support for internal improvements. Opposed the National Bank.

Who Supports Who

Irish and German Catholics supports Jackson Shared many of the same values and habits

Protestants supported Whigs Constant development of the mind and country

National Leadership Henry Clay

Great Compromiser Daniel Webster

Great Orator John Calhoun

Ex Vice President The Great Triumvirate

Specie Circular 1836

Speculators created “wildcat banks” that fueled the runaway inflation.

Buy future federal land only with gold or silver. This move shocked the system.

Jackson’s goal to curb the land speculation.The Specie Circular caused the following

Banknotes loose their value. Land sales plummeted. Credit not available. Businesses began to fail. Unemployment rose.

Martin Van Buren

Van Buren was Jackson’s handpicked successor

Whig strategy Run four candidates to force election to the House

It fails Panic of 1837 begins with his Presidency

Not fair to him but the panic will be made harder by a bad global economy He will get the blame

Van Buren tries to help by funding independent subtreasuries Whigs block subtreasuries in 1840

Whigs Take the White House

Whigs fully organized by 1840 William Henry Harrison is the candidate

Portrayed as a common man Log Cabin John Tyler was the running mate

Attract states-rights Democrats Harrison and Tyler beat Van Buren

Revival of American system seemed like the appropiate response to the economic crisis Harrison was a supporter of this

What does this mean?

Political Parties offered a clear choice Whigs- positive liberal state

Government should support and protect industries that help economic growth

Democrats- negative liberal state Government should not interfere in the economy