Age of Jackson, 1824-1840

Rise of a Democratic Society

1830s America

American PlanMen & women from all classes sitting at common tables, stagecoaches, steamboats, etc.

Alexis de Tocqueville & other foreign visitors were amazed at informal manners & democratic attitudes

Political changes & reforms 1824-1840, lower & middle class white males began voting in large numbers

Universal male suffrageBegun by new western states, eastern states followed

Party nominating conventionsReplaced “King Caucus”

Popular election of the presidentState voters choosing electors instead of legislature

Political Changes & reforms

Two-party system

More elected offices

Popular campaigning

Spoils system & rotation of officeholdersAffirmed democratic idea that one man was as good as another

Helped build a strong 2-party system

Election of 1824Breakdown of caucus system resulted in 4 Republican candidates

John Q. Adams, Henry Clay, William Crawford, & Andrew Jackson

Jackson won popular vote, but lacked enough electoral votesHouse of Representatives had to chooseCorrupt Bargain

Henry Clay backed John Q. Adams, he won & appointed Clay as Sec. of State

John Quincy AdamsAlienated Jacksonians

Corrupt Bargain

Asking Congress for internal improvements money & other things considered unconstitutional by Jacksonians

Tariff of 1828“Tariff of Abominations” by southerners

Revolution of 1828

Election of 1828

Jackson vs. John Q. Adams

Mudslinging from both sides

Jackson carried every state west of the Appalachian Mountains

President Andrew Jackson

“Common Man”Born in a frontier cabinHero—Battle of New OrleansWealthy planter & slave ownerChewed tobaccoFought several duelsFirst president since Washington w/o a college degree

President Andrew JacksonDefender of the common man against abuses of power by the rich

Opposed federal spending & a national debt

Narrowly interpreted Congressional powers/vetoed more than predecessors

Maysville Road

“Kitchen Cabinet”

Peggy Eaton Affair

Wife of Jackson’s Sec. of WarTarget of gossip from other cabinet members’ wivesAccused of being an adulterer; not invited to partiesJackson attempted to force cabinet wives to accept herMost of his cabinet resignedVice President John C. Calhoun resigned a year later

Indian Removal Act, 1830

Forced the resettlement of thousands of Indians

By 1835, most eastern tribes had complied

Cherokee Indians

Georgia ordered Cherokees to move west

Cherokees challenged Georgia in courtCherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)

Cherokees not a foreign nation & could not sue

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)Laws of GA no force within boundaries of Cherokee territory

Jackson: “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.”

Trail of Tears1838, army forced 15,000 Cherokees out of GA

4000 died along the way

Nullification CrisisS.C. voted to nullify “Tariff of Abominations”John C. Calhoun: Nullification Theory

State had a right to decide to obey a federal law or declare it null & void

Webster-Hayne Debate, 1830Daniel Webster (MA) & Robert Hayne (SC) debated nature of federal union

Webster attacked idea that states could defy or leave the Union

Andrew Jackson’s toast“Our federal union, must it be preserved.”John C. Calhoun’s response

“The Union, next to our liberties, most dear!”

Nullification CrisisSouth Carolina convention voted to nullify Tariff of 1828 & Tariff of 1832

Resolution banning the collection of tariffs in South Carolina

Jackson’s reactionTold sec. of war to prepare militaryPersuaded Congress to pass Force Bill giving him authority to take military actionIssued Proclamation to the People of South Carolina stating nullification and disunion were treason

Nullification Crisis

Jackson recommended that Congress lower the tariff

Congress passed a new tariff which was lower

South Carolina backed down

National BankNicholas Biddle, president

Arrogant, many thought he abused power & served the wealthy, incl. Jackson

Jackson believed it unconstitutional1832, election year, Henry Clay forced the bank issue

Congress passed a bank-recharter billJackson vetoed the billClay’s plan backfiredVoters approved; Jackson won 3/4s of electoral vote

Two-Party SystemDemocrats

supported Jackson

Resembled Republican party of Jefferson

Favored: local rule, limited government, free trade, equal economic opportunity (white males)

Opposed: monopolies, a national bank, high tariffs, high land prices

Southerners, westerners, small farmers, urban workers

Two-Party System

WhigsWhigs supported Henry ClayResembled the Federalist partyFavored:

Clay’s American System (a national bank, federal funding of internal improvements, protective tariff)

Opposed:Immorality, vice, & crime, which some blamed on immigrants

New England & mid-Atlantic & upper-Middle-Western states; protestants of old English stock; middle-class urban professionals

Jackson’s Second Term

Pet BanksAfter killing national bank, Jackson & Sec. of Treasury Roger Taney transferred the funds to state banks

Specie CircularRequired all purchases of federal lands be made in gold or silver

Attempt to stop inflation of land prices

Bank notes lost value & land prices fell

Panic of 1837 & a depression ensued

Election of 1836

Jackson chose not to runPersuaded Democrats to nominate Martin Van BurenWhigs nominated 3 different candidates hoping to throw the election into the House of RepresentativesMartin Van Buren 58% of electoral vote

Log Cabin & Hard Cider Campaign 1840

Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison & John Tyler

“Tippecanoe & Tyler too”

Made a big deal about Harrison’s humble origins

Log cabin buttons, hats, etc.

Hard cider to voters

Name calling: Martin Van Ruin

Whigs carried North, South, & West

Harrison died of pneumonia 1 month later