The Jacksonian Era

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The Triumph of Democracy

• Property and Democracy– By 1840, more than 90 percent of adult white men

were eligible to vote.

– By 1860, all but one state had eliminated property requirements for voting.

The Triumph of Democracy• As suffrage is seen as male, women’s

participating in politics is seen as inappropriate by males

• Still, widest suffrage in the world

• But Western Democracy is only one form compared to, e.g., Native American forms of participation.

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Pt.2

The Triumph of Democracy

• Tocqueville (French observer) on Democracy

– Visited in 1830s, wrote Democracy in America:

– Democratic political institutions came to define the nation’s sense of its own identity.

– Tocqueville identified democracy as an essential attribute of American freedom.

The Triumph of Democracy

• An Information Revolution: the Penny Press– Steam power helped the proliferation of the printing

press.– Reduction in printing costs also resulted in

alternative newspapers by 1840.

• The Limits of Democracy– The “principle of universal suffrage” meant that

“white males of age constituted the political nation.”

The Triumph of Democracy?

• The Limits of Democracy– How could the word “universal” be reconciled

with barring blacks and women from political participation?

• A Racial Democracy– Despite increased democracy in America, blacks

were seen as a group apart.– Blacks were often portrayed stereotypically.

“Dandy Jim,” a piece of sheet music from 1843

African Americans:Stereotyped as

MINSTRALCharacters

Nationalism vs Discontents

• Pres. Madison’s American System– A new manufacturing sector emerged from the

War of 1812.

– 1815 Pres. Madison proposed a plan for government-promoted economic development that became known as the “American System.”

– But 2 years later, he vetoed it!

Pres. Madison’s American System

– The American System included:• New national bank• Tariffs• Federal financing for better roads and canals (“internal

improvements”)

Nationalism and Its Discontents• The American System

– By 1817 President Madison became convinced that allowing the national government to exercise powers not mentioned in Constitution would prove dangerous to individual liberty and southern interests.

– So he vetoed his own earlier idea,

The Bank of the United States

• Banks and Money– The Second Bank of the United States was a profit-

making corporation that served the government

– On other hand, Local banks promoted economic growth.

– The Bank of the United States was supposed to prevent the over issuance of money (which would cause inflation.)

The Panic of 1819

• Banks and Money– The Bank of the United States participated in a

speculative fever that swept the country after the War of 1812.

The Panic of 1819

– Early in 1819, as European demand for American farm products returned to normal levels, the economic bubble burst.

– The Panic of 1819 disrupted the political harmony of the previous years.

• Americans continued to distrust banks.

McCulloch v. Maryland Decision 1819

– The Supreme Court ruled in McCulloch v. Maryland that the Bank of the United States was constitutional.

– Significance: Marshall Court establishes precedent: rejected “strict constructionist” reading of Constitution.

– Affirmed implied powers in the constitution under the “necessary and proper” clause. (Also called “the elastic clause”)

The Missouri Controversy

– James Monroe’s two terms as president were characterized by the absence of two-party competition (“The Era of Good Feelings”).

– The absence of political party disputes was replaced by sectional disputes.

– Missouri petitioned for statehood in 1819.• Debate arose over slavery.

The Missouri Compromise 1820

• The Slavery Question– The Missouri Compromise was adopted by

Congress in 1820.

• Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state and, to maintain sectional balance, Maine was admitted as a free state.

• Congress prohibited slavery north of the 36° 30' latitude in remaining Louisiana Purchase territory.

Map 10.1 The Missouri Compromise, 1820

The Slavery Question

– The Missouri debate highlighted that the westward expansion of slavery was a passionate topic that might prove to be hazardous to national unity.

– It will undo the nation after the US-Mexican War (1846-1848) by the 1850s.

The U.S. and the Latin American Wars of Independence

– Between 1810 and 1822, Spain’s Latin American colonies rose in rebellion and established a series of independent nations.

– In 1822, the Monroe administration became the first government to extend diplomatic recognition to the new Latin American republics.

The U.S. and the Latin American Wars of Independence

– In some ways, Latin American constitutions were more democratic than the U.S. Constitution.

– They allowed Indians and free blacks to vote.

The Monroe Doctrine

– Fearing that Spain would try to regain its colonies, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams drafted the Monroe Doctrine.

• 1) No new European colonization of the New World.

• 2) The United States would abstain from European wars.

• 3)Europeans should not interfere with new Latin American republics.

Elections 1824-1840

• A) Election of 1824 -J. Q. Adams

• B) Election of 1828 – A. Jackson

• C) Election of 1832 – A. Jackson

• D) Election of 1836 - M. Van Buren

• E) Election of 1840 -Harrison/Tyler

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A) Election of 1824• John Q Adams* v. Andrew Jackson

• (No Federalists, all Democratic Republicans)

• No candidate receives majority, House of Representatives decides

• 2nd Party American System

– Mass participation & PARTY loyalty v. old personal loyalty & run by patricians

– Mass campaigns

– Giant national men’s clubs 27

Pt.3

Andrew Jackson in the Wings

• The Election of 1824– Andrew Jackson was the only candidate in the 1824

election who had national appeal.– John Quincy Adams got Presidency.

– (None of the four candidates received a majority of the electoral votes.

• The election fell to the House of Representatives.• Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams.)

– Clay’s “corrupt bargain” gave Adams the White House. This was a smear.

Map 10.3 The Presidential Election of 1824

The Nationalism of John Quincy Adams

– John Quincy Adams enjoyed one of the most distinguished pre presidential careers of any American president.

– Adams supported the American system

John Quincy Adams in an 1843 daguerreotype

Nation, Section, and Party

• Liberty Is Power: Adam’s view:

– Adams held a view of federal power far more expansive than most of his contemporaries.

• He stated that “liberty is power.”

– His plans alarmed many.

– Whig-ish ideas before he was a Whig

Nation, Section, and Party

• Martin Van Buren of the Democratic Party– Adams’s political rivals emphasized:

• Individual liberty• States’ rights• Limited government

– Martin Van Buren viewed political party competition as a necessary and positive influence to achieve national unity.

The Election of 1828

– By 1828, Van Buren had established the political apparatus of the Democratic Party.

– Andrew Jackson campaigned against John Quincy Adams in 1828.

– A far higher percentage of the eligible electorate voted in 1828 than before.

– Jackson won a resounding victory.

Broadside from the 1828 campaign

Map 10.4 The Presidential Election of 1828

Political Ideology

• The Second American Party System

• Democrats vs. Whigs (founded 1833)

• (First was Federalists and Democrats [Democratic-Republicans])

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Politics in “The Age of Jackson”

– Politics had become a spectacle.

– Party machines emerged.• Spoils system

– National conventions chose candidates.

Democrats vs. Whigs

– Democrats and Whigs differed on issues that emerged from the Market Revolution.

– Democrats favored no government intervention in the economy.

– Whigs supported government promotion of economic development through the American System.

Public and Private Freedom:Democrats vs Whigs

– The party battles of the Jacksonian Era reflected the clash between public and private definitions of American freedom and their relationship to governmental power.

– Democrats supported a weak federal government, championing individual and states’ rights.

– Whigs believed that a strong federal government was necessary to promote liberty & the Market Economy.

Politics and Morality:Democrats vs Whigs

– Democrats opposed attempts to impose a unified moral vision on society.

– Whigs argued that government should promote morality to foster the welfare of the people.

Democrats vs. Whigs• Democrats: base: rural, Southern, urban workers.

• favored expansion, Indian removal Reduced expenditures• Reduced tariffs• Abolished the National Bank

• Whigs: base: New England, Middle Class.

• support “American System”,

• support Bank.

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Pt.4

Sectional Leaders

• 1) Daniel Webster: Massachusetts

– Supported high (protective) tariff

– Supported Northern commercial interests

• 2) John C. Calhoun: South Carolina

– Supported expansion of slavery

• 3) Henry Clay: Kentucky

– Supported the American System & sectional compromise.

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Pt.4

Henry Clay - Kentucky

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Daniel Webster - Massachusetts

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Effects of the Transportation Revolution

• Farmers dependent on the National economy & at mercy of market prices & the middleman

• Strengthened influence of the North

• Increased migration to West

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Pt.5

Andrew Jackson: Personal History

• Born March 15, 1767 • Fought in the

Revolutionary War at age of 13

• Entire family died due to war (either killed in battle or of disease)

• Plantation owner -owned over 100 slaves

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General Andrew Jackson

• The Creek War: Battle of Horseshoe Bend

• Was to avenge attack on Fort Mims by Red Sticks

• Assembled army of militia and native American tribes

• After defeating Red Sticks, he dictated the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which forced the Creeks to cede 23 million acres of land to the U.S., including land that belonged to many of the Creek who fought for him.

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General Andrew Jackson

• War of 1812: • Battle of New Orleans:• Was major-general in federal army • Successfully defended from British

attacks• Most popular victory• (Even though battle was after war

had ended) • It made him a national hero. 49

President Andrew Jackson

• President from 1829-1837

• Feared large and powerful government

• No government involvement in economy

• Tariff of Abominations: a tax as high as 1/3-1/2 of value on textiles and iron

• Nullification crisis• Tariff Act of 1833

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“Tariff of Abominations”– Tariff of 1828– South Carolina was Anti “Tariff of Abominations”

• Doctrine of NULLIFICATION– Opposition led by John C. Calhoun of South

Carolina.

– Remember South Carolina: Barbados transplantation style, rice, powerful planter elite

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Pt.4

The Age of Jackson

• South Carolina and Nullification– Jackson’s first term was dominated by a battle to

uphold the supremacy of federal over state law.• Tariff of 1828

– South Carolina led the charge for a weakened federal government in part from fear that a strong federal government might act against slavery.

The Age of Jackson

• The Nullification Crisis– Jackson considered nullification an act of disunion.

– When South Carolina nullified the tariff in 1832, Jackson responded with the Force Bill.

– A compromise tariff (1833) resolved the crisis.– Calhoun left the Democratic Party for the Whigs.

C) Election of 1832

• Andrew Jackson* (Democrat) v. Henry Clay (National Republican)

• William Wirt (Anti-Masonic Party—first 3rd Party)

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Pt.3

Henry ClayAndrew Jackson

Jackson & Indian Removal

– The expansion of cotton and slavery led to forced relocation of Indians.

• Indian Removal Act of 1830• Five Civilized Tribes

– The law marked a repudiation of the Jeffersonian idea that civilized Indians could be assimilated into the American population.

Indian Removal

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

• The Supreme Court and the Indians– The Cherokee went to court to protect their rights.

• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia• Worcester v. Georgia

– John Ross led Cherokee resistance.– Trail of Tears– The Seminoles (in Florida) fought a war against

removal (1835–1842).

A lithograph from 1836 depicts Sequoia (Cherokee)

Map 10.5 Indian Removals, 1830-1840

The Trail of Tears (winter 1838-39)

• Congress passed the Indian Removal Act (1830)

• Cherokees fought back by use of law

• Won in Supreme Court• Jackson ignored

decision (“now let him [the Chief Justice] enforce it.

• Cherokees and other Indian tribes were forced west

• “Trail of Tears” where the Cherokee being herded by thousands of American troops to Oklahoma.

Indian Removal:The Trail of Tears

• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) & Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

• Chief Justice John Marshall v. Jackson

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• Georgia couldn’t force Cherokee to give up their land

• Jackson refuses to enforce the Supreme Court decision – Defies it.

The 2nd National Bank

• Jackson refuses to renew charter through his vetoes

• Opponents so angry, it leads to the formation of a new party, the Whigs

• 1816 2nd Bank (chartered for 20 years)

– Private institution w/ government charter, sold bonds, made commercial loans, controlled currency through curbing inflation

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The Bank War and After

• “Biddle’s Bank”– The Bank of the United States symbolized the

hopes and fears inspired by the market revolution.

– Jackson distrusted bankers as “nonproducers.”

– The Bank, under its president Nicholas Biddle, wielded great power.

National Bank Fight

• Opponents:– Land

speculators and farmers: Didn’t mind inflation and feared the wealthy elite

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• State bank directors: • After the Panic of 1819, many haad blamed

the Banks.

Pt.6

President Jackson & the Bank

• The Second Bank of the U.S.

• Created to expand economy. Held federal money, sold bonds, and made commercial loans

• Controlled over state banks and stabilized currency

• The Bank Wars• Jackson denounced the

bank as being unconstitutional, harmful to states rights, and was benefiting only to the rich

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President Jackson & the Bank

• Feared that the elites would use for their own advantage

• Bank tried to recharter in 1832 (election year), got approved, but was vetoed by Jackson

• Jackson took out the $10 million from the bank and invested in state banks

• Second Bank loses money and charter, and collapses and disappears

• Greatest political victory

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The Downfall of Mother Bank

The Bank War and After

– Using language resonating with popular values, Jackson vetoed a bill to renew the Bank’s charter.

• The Pet Banks and the Economy– Jackson authorized the removal of federal funds

from the vaults of the national bank and their deposit in state or “pet” banks.

An anti-Jackson cartoon from 1832

The Bank War and After

• The Pet Banks and the Economy– Partly because the Bank of the United States had

lost the ability to regulate the currency effectively, prices rose dramatically while real wages declined.

– By 1836, the American government and the Bank of England required gold or silver for payments.

The Times, an 1837 engraving that blames AndrewJackson’s policies for the economic depression.

A Daily Insult to Native America?

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Conclusion

• The Expansion of the franchise (rite to vote) to all white male citizens was a crucial step towards full democracy.

• Andrew Jackson was an important President.

• Does that mean he is a hero to valorize for the next generations?

74?

Election of 1836

• Martin Van Buren* (Democrat) v. Sectional candidates (Whig)

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Pt.3

The Panic of 1837

– With cotton exports declining, the United States suffered a panic in 1837 and a depression until 1843.

• Van Buren in Office– Martin Van Buren approved the Independent

Treasury to deal with the crisis.

The Election of 1840

– The Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison in 1840.

– Harrison was promoted as the “log cabin” candidate. (In fact he was wealthy.)

• His running mate was John Tyler.

– Selling candidates in campaigns was as important as the platform for which they stood.

E) Election of 1840• Wm. Henry Harrison* (Whig) v. Martin Van

Buren (Democrat)• “Tippecanoe & Tyler too” slogan referring

to burning of Prophet’s Town• Harrison dies & VP Tyler takes presidency

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Pt.3

President Tyler

• His Accidency– Harrison died a month after taking office.

– Tyler vetoed measures to enact the American System.

– A Whig who was anti whig!

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Chapter 10: Democracy in America, 1815-1840