The Rise of a Mass Democracy 1824-1840

Chapter 13

John Quincy Adams

*Son of John Adams

*Strong support in New England

Henry Clay

*Speaker of the House

*Strong support in the West

Andrew Jackson

*War Hero

*Strong support in the West

William Crawford

*Strong support in the South

Election of 1824

Election of 1824 (Results)

Results…

• Andrew Jackson’s appeal to the masses allows him to easily win the popular vote

• However, Jackson failed to win a MAJORITY of the electoral vote

• Under this scenario, the election of the president goes to the House of Rep.

• Guess who is in the HOUSE OF REP.????

Clay and the “Corrupt Bargain”

• As Speaker of the House, Clay had the power to dramatically influence who was selected

• Clay did not like any of the candidates; hated Adams the least

• Thanks to Clay’s support, Adams wins the presidency.

Clay and the “Corrupt Bargain”

• A few days later, Clay was named Secretary of State

• Sec. of State – road to the presidency

• Jackson accuses Clay and Adams of making a “corrupt bargain” (bribe)

• Where is the evidence?

• “Common folk” outraged

• Significance:

A Yankee Misfit in the White House

• John Q. Adams – successful Sec. of State., horrible president

• Adams has the deck stacked against him…Why?

• Adams shuns his supporters by not rewarding them with govt. jobs

• Nationalism wearing off…

Republicans Split…

• Jackson’s political campaign for 1828 began very early…1825

• Republicans split into 2 camps

• National Republicans (Adams)

• Democratic-Republicans (Jackson)

Jackson’s Supporters…

Andrew Jackson

• War hero

• Frontiersman

• Champion of the “common man”

John Q. Adams

• Corrupt

• Aristocrat

• Undermined the “will of the people” (corrupt bargain)

Mudslinging!!!

• Jackson’s mother described as a prostitute, wife an adulteress

• Adams had purchased “gambling furniture” (pool table)

• Jackson, gaining heavy support in the South and West, wins the election; election indicates a political shift away from the eastern seaboard

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Map 13.1: Presidential Election of 1828

Old Hickory in the White House

• Not to be played around with – Survived numerous duels

• Orphaned at early age

• First president from the West

• The Hermitage

• A true “commoner”?

• Inauguration Day

The Spoils System

• Rewarding political supporters with public office

• Supported by Jackson; believed that it was best to bring in “new blood”

• Spoils system gave way to corruption, inefficiency

• The promise of patronage and the two party system

The “Tariff of Abominations”

• Nation split along sectional lines when it comes to tariffs

• Southerners were hostile to tariffs; Northerners welcomed them

• Tariff of 1828 AKA Tariff of Abominations

• South sees the tariff as discriminatory • “Picking up the bill”

Southern Reaction…

• Abolitionism picking up steam around the world

• South uses the tariff as an opportunity to TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE ENROACHMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVT.

• How does this relate to slavery?

• South Carolina leads the way in protesting the tariff

• The South Carolina Exposition by John C. Calhoun

• Asserts the doctrine of nullification

The Showdown

• SC begins to pursue nullification of the tariff

• Tariff of 1832 – lower, not low enough

• SC nullifies; threatens secession

• Jackson refuses to permit disunion

The Showdown

• Battle lines drawn, compromise or war?

• Jackson threatens military action

• Henry Clay steps forward with a compromise (So what else is new…)

• Tariff of 1833 – reduces tariff over a period of 8 years

• Congress passes Force Bill

• Nullified by SC

Native American Policy…

• Jackson committed to westward expansion

• One problem…

• Federal policy toward natives up until this point: Make a treaty then violate it

• Assimilating the Native Americans

• “Five Civilized Tribes”

Not Good Enough…

• Jackson’s attempt to “rescue” the Indians

• Jackson proposes “voluntary” removal of Indians to west of the MS River

• 1830 – Indian Removal Act

• Resistance?

Indian Resistance

• Jackson believed that removal was best for both parties; Indians could now preserve their native cultures

• Seminoles in FL – Seminole Indians and runaway black slaves retreat to Everglades

• Waged a guerilla war for 7 years against American forces

• 1,500 soldiers killed

Florida State Seminoles

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Map 13.2: The Removal of the Southern

Tribes to the West

The Bank War

• Jackson did not trust big business

• HATED THE BANK OF THE UNITED STATES

• Why?

• Jackson believes the BUS has too much power over the nation’s finances (unconstitutional)

Nicholas Biddle – A.J.’s nemesis?

The Bank War

• Bank not accountable to the people (Jackson is a “man of the people” so naturally he wants to get rid of it)

• Bank War erupts in 1832 when Daniel Webster and Henry Clay present bill calling for the renewal of the BUS charter

• Charter was not set to expire until 1836; However, Clay saw an opportunity make it a campaign issue for the upcoming 1832 election

Clay the Trickster..

• Clay planned on ramming a recharter bill through Congress and then sending it to AJ

• Scenarios:

• If AJ accepts, he alienates his base in the West

• If AJ rejects, he alienates the wealthy in the East

Jackson Responds…

• Jackson vetoed the bank bill

• AJ declares bank unconstitutional!

• Remember McCullough v. Maryland?

• AJ completely ignores the Constitution, other branches of govt.

• President as the “senior

partner”

Election of 1832

• Clay vs. Jackson

• Third party: Anti-Masonic Party

• Conspiracy Theory 101

• Jackson a Mason!!

• Firsts: Nominating convention, platforms, third party

Election of 1832

• Clay “insured” by BUS

• Role of media

• Jackson wins big; 219 to 49

• People have spoken

Burying the Bank…

• Bank set to expire in 1836; Not soon enough for King Andrew!!!

• 1833 – Jackson decides to remove federal deposits from the BUS; “bleeding” the bank dry

• Jackson’s cabinet does not agree with Jackson on the issue

• Solution: Replace the cabinet!!!

Consequences…

• Disappearance of the BUS left a hole in the American economy

• Boom and bust

• “Pet” and “Wildcat” banks

• Over-printing of paper money leads to __________.

• Specie circular – all public lands must be purchased with “hard money”

• American economy begins decline right as Jackson leaves office

The Birth of the Whigs

• Jackson’s followers claim the name of “Democrats”

• Opposition to Jackson = “Whigs”

• Conservative yet progressive in their support of an active govt. in CERTAIN things

• Internal improvements, market economy

• Whigs now claim to be defenders of the “common man”

Election of 1836

• Martin Van Buren = Jackson’s VP

• Van Buren the “Yes Man”

• Whig strategy = Spread out the votes

• Whig “favorite son” – William Henry Harrison

• Close popular vote but Van Buren wins

Big Trouble for the Little Magician

• Smart – Wrong place wrong time

• Big shoes to fill

• Inherited Jackson’s enemies

• Abolitionist movement growing, annexation of Texas, economic depression

Depression…

• Panic of 1837

• Causes: Rampant speculation, wildly fluctuating currency values, crop failures

• Worldwide: Failure of British banks, European economic instability

• Connection to today?

Depression

• American banks collapse by the hundreds (Where is a bailout when you need one?)

• Factories close, high unemployment, etc.

• Whigs to the rescue!!! Propose higher tariffs, expansion of bank credit, internal improvements

• Van Buren’s response:

Van Buren’s Response

• Van Buren wanted to create an independent treasury by severing all govt. ties with banks

• Independent Treasury Bill (1840)

G.T.T.

• Spain given Texas in 1819 in exchange for Florida

• After winning independence, Mexican govt. grants land to Stephen F. Austin

• Austin and the families that accompanied him were expected to become “Mexicanized”

• Ignored

G.T.T.

• Davy Crockett

• Jim Bowie

• Sam Houston

• Friction increases between Mexicans and Texans

• Mexico emancipates slaves; calls for end to American colonization

• American response: Make me

The Lone Star Rebellion

• Stephen F. Austin seeks to reconcile differences; arrested by Mexican govt.

• 1835 – Santa Anna wipes out right of Texans, raises army

• 1836 – Texas declares independence; names Sam Houston C.I.C.

Remember the Alamo

• Alamo

• Significance: Americans mad, rally to aid of Texans

What is the connection?

Independence

• Santa Anna defeated

• Treaty: removes Mexican troops, recognizes Rio Grande as border

• 1837 – Texas petitions for annexation

• Northerners oppose annexation

• Why?

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The Texas Revolution, 1835-1836

Election of 1840

• Van Buren vs. William Henry Harrison

• “Old Tippecanoe”

• The log cabin and cider = symbols of Whig campaign

• “Rich Man” (Van Buren) vs. “Common Man” (Harrison)

• “Tippecanoe, and Tyler too.”

• Democrats get dose of their own medicine

• HARRISON WINS ELECTION

Changing Political Landscape

• Populist politics

• Two-party system