“Popularity, I have always

thought, may aptly be

compared to a coquette—the more you woo

her, the more apt is she to elude your embrace.”

Background/Family• Born on March 29, 1790 in Charles City County, Virginia• His father was John Tyler, Sr. and his mother was Mary Armistead Tyler• His father, John Tyler, a governor of Virginia and a judge of the U.S. district court• Had five sisters and two brothers• When Tyler was seven years old, his mother died from a stroke, and when he was twelve he

entered the preparatory branch of the College of William and Mary, enrolling into the collegiate program there three years later. Tyler graduated from the college in 1807, at age seventeen.

• Although his denominational affiliation was Episcopalianism, John Tyler was, in practice and belief, a Deist. Tyler was a strong supporter of religious tolerance and separation of church and state.

• Was married March 29, 1813, to Letitia Christian (1790-1842) and again on June 26, 1844, to Julia Gardiner (1820-1889)

• In January 1862 John Tyler died of a stroke

Political Rise• December 17, 1816-March 3, 1821: member of the U.S. House of Representatives form Virginia's

23rd district • December 10,1825-March 4, 1827: 23rd Governor of Virginia• March 4, 1827-Febuary 29, 1836: Served as United States Senator of Virginia• Tyler was elected as a Jacksonian to the United States Senate in 1827• He was reelected as Senator in 1833 and served from March 4, 1827, to February 29, 1836, when

he resigned.• March 3, 1835-December 6, 1835: President pro tempore of the Untied states senate (second-

highest-ranking official of the United States Senate and the highest-ranking senator)• Was chair of the Committee on the District of Columbia as well as the Committee on

Manufactures• 1836: Tyler was named as a vice-presidential candidate. He finished third• 1838: After leaving the U.S. Senate, Tyler served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates

from Williamsburg.• 1839: elected Speaker of the House of Delegates• March 4, 1841-April 4, 1841: 10th Vice President of the United States• April 4, 1841-March 4, 1845: 10th president of the United States• Political party: Whig, Independent ,Democratic

Domestic Policy Issue

• Following the Panic of 1837, he twice vetoed Clay's legislation for a bill resurrecting the Bank of the United States

• Congress passed two bills calling for higher tariffs; he vetoed them both

• The Tariff of 1842 -Tyler did sign a tariff bill which provided for upward revision, taking the average rates back to the level of 1833 before the recent reductions had been implemented. This protected northern manufacturers.

• March 1, 1845 Tyler signed the Texas statehood bill into law- Republic of Texas was annexed.

Foreign Policy Issues• 1842- Tyler ratified the Webster-Ashburton Treaty which set

up a clear Maine-Canada border

• 1842- issued the Tyler Doctrine guaranteeing the independence of the Hawaiian Islands, essentially putting the Islands off limit to European colonization

• Tyler ended a costly and bloody war against the Seminole Indians. After defrauding the Indians of their remaining lands in 1833, the U.S. had waged an inconclusive war against Chief Osceloa. Tyler was able to announce the end of hostilities in 1842.

• Recognizing the coming importance of the Asian Pacific region to trade, he sent a key diplomatic mission to China. This resulted in commercial and consular relations with the country, giving the U.S. the same trading concessions as the British

• Tyler could claim a successful foreign policy presidency, due largely to the efforts of Secretary of State Webster, who served from 1841 to 1843.

Successes and Failures • Failure 1836: finished 3rd in the vice presidential election• Success- 1841: was elected 10th president( the first vice president to succeed upon presidency upon the death of a president)• Success- 1842: Ended the costly Seminole Indian wars which stopped hostilities toward

Seminole Indians• Success- 1842: the Webster-Ashburton Treaty which established the boundary of Maine and

Canada• Success- 1842: the annexation of Texas• Success- 1842: Reorganized the Navy to establish the nucleus of the present Naval

Observatory and to promote a national telegraph system– which became the center of the Weather Bureau

• Success- 1842:Ended Dorr’s Rebellion in Rhode Island• Success- 1844: Negotiated treaty with China to open ports for first time• Failure- Clarified the position of the cabinet as being responsible to the president rather than

merely a body of constitutional advisors.

John Tyler, "His Accidency"

D E T E R M I N E D John Tyler was dubbed by his detractors as the ‘Accidental President’, and was also renown as ‘His Accidency’. When President William Harrison died exactly 30 days after assuming office John Tyler was now in charge. Everything suddenly changed. Opinions of John Tyler were erratic and politically, he had nothing but enemies. Tyler simply dismissed the concerns and calmly stated his presidential rights. Even after all the negativity, John Tyler continued on and was ambitious.

Impact

• President John Tyler would not serve well as a president today because he is described as being very stubborn. He did not want to compromise his positions with Congress.

• A President now would have to understand and take into consideration others ideas and points of view. He can’t just do what he wants.

Life After Presidency• 1860: With the Civil War looming, Tyler

tried to avert the conflict by chairing a "Peace Convention" between representatives of both northern and southern states. Unfortunately, no agreement could be reached between Tyler and President-elect Abraham Lincoln, and the Richmond Convention collapsed in failure.

• 1861: Tyler then became a leading proponent of southern secession and he was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives.

• 1862: Days before the first meeting of the Confederate House of Representatives, John Tyler died, denounced in the North as a traitor.

Bibliography• Bailey, Thomas A., Lizabeth

Cohen, David M. Kennedy. The American Pageant. 13 ed. Boston Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006.

• “Impact and Legacy.” millercenter.org. Web. 20 Jan 2010.

• “John Tyler.” wikipedia.com. Web. 19 Jan 2010

• “John Tyler.” whitehouse.gov. Web. 19 Jan 2010

• “John Tyler.” historycentral.com. Web. 18 Jan 2010

Brandie Lucano Frank Maciel Jasmin Diaz