The Impact of Andrew Jackson■Jackson’s personality & policies

alienated many leaders & led to the formation of America’s current two-party system:–The economic recession hurt

the Jacksonian Democrats under Van Buren

–The anti-Jackson Whigs took advantage of these flaws to make a run at the presidency

The 1st Two-Party SystemDemocratic-Repubs

■ Thomas Jefferson■ States’ rights &

individual liberties ■ Strict interpretation

of the Constitution■ Strongest support

in South & West ■ Supported by

planters & farmers

Federalists■ Alexander Hamilton■ Strong central gov’t

& economic planning■ Loose interpretation

of the Constitution■ Strongest support

in the North■ Supported by urban

workers, merchants, & the wealthy

Leader of the party?

Beliefs about gov’t?

Interpreting the Constitution?

Strongest regional support?

What type of American supported the party?

The 2nd Two-Party SystemDemocrats

■ Pro-Jackson coalition in 1824

■ States’ rights, agrarian farming, & Western expansion

■ Laissez-faire & opposition to banks

■ Supported by rural South & West, some urban workers

Whigs■ Anti-Jackson

coalition in 1834■ Strong central gov’t,

urban industry, & commercial growth

■ National & state-directed economy

■ Supported by NE, NW, merchants, & some planters

The heirs to Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans

The heirs to Hamiltonian Federalists

Both parties had national (rather than exclusively regional) appeal

Who formed the party?

Beliefs about gov’t & the economy?

Who should direct the economy?

What type of American supported the party?

The Van Buren Presidency

Take notes on the Van Buren video

The Rise and Fall of Van Buren■VP Martin Van Buren was

hand-selected as the Democratic successor to Jackson in 1836

■Van Buren won the election of 1836 but problems lay ahead:–The emergence of a strong anti-

Jackson opposition (the Whigs)–The beginning of Panic of 1837

Van Buren replaced Calhoun as VP in 1831 after the Peggy Eaton affair

The Whigs ran 3 sectional candidates to try to throw the election to the House of Reps

The Rise & Fall of Van Buren■By the time Van Buren entered

office, the Panic of 1837 caused:–Bank closures & failures–10% unemployment & poverty

■The laissez-faire philosophy of the 1800s prevented gov’t assistance to end the depression

■As the depression continued, “Van Ruin” took the blame & the Whigs gained power & appeal

Andrew Jackson is watching!!

The Re-Emergence of the Second Party System

Take notes on the Harrison video

Heyday of the 2nd Party System■The 1840 election marked the

return of the two-party system:–For the 1st time since the 1800

election, voters had a choice between 2 official parties

–The re-emergence of the two-party system would remain a permanent part of U.S. politics

–In the 1790s, parties were seen as bad; but in the 1830s, parties were seen as essential

The Rise of the Whigs■By 1840, the Whigs were fully

organized & chose William Henry Harrison to run against Van Buren– Harrison’s image: a “common

man” & war hero at Tippecanoe– John Tyler chosen as VP to get

Southern, states-rights Dems– “Tippecanoe & Tyler too” beat

Van Buren in 1840

Used grassroots organization & popular electioneering

Picked a candidate much like Andrew Jackson’s image

…and the Whigs took control of Congress

“Tippecanoe and Tyler, too”

The Rise of the Whigs■The takeover by the Whigs was

historic, but short-lived:–Harrison died 2 months into his

term & for the 1st time, a VP took over as president

–John Tyler soon butted heads with Whigs in his cabinet & in Congress & was unable to accomplish much as president

–The Whigs only other presidential victory was in 1848

Zachary Taylor

The Whigs expelled President Tyler from the party in 1841

Conclusion: Tocqueville’s Wisdom

Tocqueville’s Wisdom ■Alexis de Tocqueville was a

French traveler who wrote the most influential account of the rise of U.S. democracy in the 1830s:–He praised most aspects of

American democracy–But warned that American

prejudice would lead to a future disaster if white males refused to extend liberty to women, African Americans, & Indians

Pop Quiz:Name the U.S. presidents,

parties, & accomplishments from 1789-1840