The Rise of Mass The Rise of Mass DemocracyDemocracyTheme #1

In the 1820’s a new spirit of popular democracy swept through American politics and society, resulting in the election of the “hero of the West,” Andrew Jackson, to the presidency.

I.The “New Democracy”A. By the 1820s, politicians increasingly had to appeal to the masses

1. Change in emphasis: a. Jeffersonian democracy:

gov’t for the people b. Jacksonian democracy: gov’t

by the people

B. The “New Democracy” was based on universal male suffrage

1. Andrew Jackson’s election was the result of the “New Democracy”

2. Frederick Jackson Turner thesis

C. Rise of workingmen’s parties 1. Laborers in the east formed organizations that demanded free education, a 10-hour work day and an end to debtors’ prisons 2. Some groups resorted to violence to achieve their goals

II. Causes of the “New Democracy” A. Panic of 1819

1. Workers and farmers blamed bankers (especially the

BUS) and land speculators2. Solution: Get more politically

involved a. Sought to reform the BUS

b. State legislatures waged tax wars against the BUS

c. States passed laws reducing debtors’ prisons

B. Missouri CompromiseMissouri Compromise1. Northern opposition to Missouri’s entry into the Union as a slave state deeply concerned southerners2. Goal of white southerners:

Control the federal gov’t in order to preserve slavery

Henry Clay – “The Great Compromiser”Missouri enters as a slave state – Maine enters

as a free stateDivision – 36o30’ – LA territory (to the north/free

– south/slave)

C. New political age1. Two-party system reemerged2. Increased voter turnout3. New style of politicking emerged4. Voting reform a. Change in voting for Electoral

College members

b. Demise of the congressional caucus by 1832

i. First national nominating convention occurred in 1831 (Anti-Masonic party)

ii. 1836, both major parties used national nominating conventions

III. Election of 1824: “The Corrupt Election of 1824: “The Corrupt Bargain”Bargain”

A. Four Democratic-Republican candidates:

1. Andrew Jackson: 38% 2. John Quincy Adams: 32% 3. William H. Crawford: 16% 4. Henry Clay 14%

B. Jackson earned the most popular votes but NOT the electoral majority

1. House of Representatives (under the12th Amendment) decided the outcome

2. Clay, 4th place in the election, was also the Speaker of the House.

-- He hated Jackson and threw his support behind John Quincy Adams

C. Early 1825, House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president

D. Adams announced Clay as Secretary of State a few days later

-- Jacksonians cried “corrupt “corrupt bargain!”bargain!”

President John Quincy President John Quincy AdamsAdams

1825-18291825-1829Democratic-RepublicanDemocratic-Republican

IV. The “Tariff of Abominations” (1828)

A. Congress had increased the tariff in 1824 from 23% to 37% (during Monroe’s presidency)

B. Jacksonian’s plan for unseating Adams: a much higher

tariffC. New tariff passed (with New

England’s support) in 1828

1. Daniel Webster supported it 2. Vice President John C.

Calhoun opposed it

D. Southern reaction was strongly negative: feared federal power was too strong

1. South would suffer both as consumers and exporters

2. John C. Calhoun: “Southern Carolina Exposition”

a. Denounced the tariff as unjust and unconstitutional

b. Declared the states should nullify the act

c. His desire was to prevent disunion d. No other states supported South Carolina

V. Election of 1828Election of 1828 A. Intense struggle between two factions

of the Democratic-Republican party 1. National Republicans supported incumbent John Quincy Adams

-- Accused Jackson’s wife of bigamy 2. Democrats supported Andrew Jackson

B. Jackson defeated Adams 178 to 83 1. First president from the West; seen as a common man 2. Support came from most parts of the country 3. “Revolution of 1828” a. Increased voter turnout b. Balance of power shifting from the East to the West c. Shift away from aristocratic leadership

President Andrew JacksonPresident Andrew Jackson1829-18371829-1837DemocratDemocrat

C . Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson1. Personified the new West2. Suspicious of federal gov’t as a

center of privilege3. Sought to reduce the power of

the federal gov’t -- Sought to do away with Henry

Clay’s “American System” 4. Believed in a strong presidency

a. Used the veto more than all previous

presidents combined b. Flouted the authority of the

Supreme Court

Theme #2Theme #2Jackson successfully Jackson successfully

mobilized the techniques of the mobilized the techniques of the New Democracy and New Democracy and presidential power to win a presidential power to win a series of dramatic political series of dramatic political conflicts. But by the late 1830’s, conflicts. But by the late 1830’s, his Whig opponents had learned his Whig opponents had learned to use the same popular political to use the same popular political weapons against the Democrats, weapons against the Democrats, signaling the emergence of the signaling the emergence of the second American party system.second American party system.

VI. Jacksonian DemocracyJacksonian Democracy -- politics -- politicsA. Increased manhood suffrageB. End of the caucusC. Spoils system: 1. Rewarding political

supporters with government positions regardless of merit

2. Secretary of State Martin Van Buren was the architect of

the system 3. “rotation of office”/

“turnabout is fair play”

4. Consequencesa. A national political

machine was built around Jackson

b. Many able citizens were discouraged from seeking office as competence and merit were subordinated

c. Political corruption and scandal resulted

VII. Sectionalism in the Jackson Administration

A. A. “Kitchen Cabinet“Kitchen Cabinet””

1. Unofficial group of about 13 advisors

2. Criticism: members were not accountable to Congress

3. The group’s influence was exaggerated

4. Not unconstitutional: presidents are free to consult with non- cabinet members

B. Webster-Hayne DebateWebster-Hayne Debate (1830) (1830)

1. Robert C. Hayne (SC) defended the South

a. Criticized New England’s disloyalty during the War of 1812 & selfishness in the protective tariffb. Condemned the “tariff of abominations” (1828)c. Supported Calhoun’s doctrine of nullificationd. Argued the Union could be preserved only by protecting southern rights

2. Daniel Webster defended the Northeast and the Union a. Argued against nullification b. Claimed the people, not the

states, had framed the Constitution-- Thus, the “compact

theory” was not relevant c. “Liberty & Union, now &

forever, one & inseparable”

3. Result: a. Demonstrated rising

sectionalism b. Each side believed its

champion had won the debate c. Some credit Webster with

helping win the Civil War by arousing a new generation of northerners to fight for the ideal of Union

C. Jefferson Day toastJefferson Day toast, 1830, 18301. States’ rights schemers

sought to corner and embarrass Jackson

2. Jackson: “Our Union: It must be preserved!”

3. Calhoun: “The Union, next to our liberty, most dear!”

D. Peggy Eaton AffairPeggy Eaton Affair1. Jackson sought fair treatment

of Peggy Eaton, the young wife of the Secretary of War

2. Van Buren backed Jackson3. Resulted in open break

between Jackson and Calhoun 4. Significance is over-exaggerated

E. Tariff Controversy of 1832: most important reason for the split between Jackson and Calhoun

F. Calhoun resigned the vice presidency in 1832

--Became a fierce sectionalist and slavery apologist

 

VIII. Nullification Controversy of Nullification Controversy of 18321832 A. South Carolina still fuming over “Tariff of Abominations” (1828)

1. Seen as punitive in the short-run

2. Seen as a precedent for federal

interference in the long-run 3. “Nullies” in SC legislature

failed to achieve nullification

B. Tariff of 1832Tariff of 18321. Lowered the tariff of 1828 from

45% to 35% -- Southerners still unhappy

because they expected an even lower tariff

2. South Carolina state legislature declared the Tariff of 1832 null and void

a. Asked legislature to make military preparations

b. Threatened secession if Jackson tried to collect the tariff by

force

3. Jackson condemned nullification a. Privately threatened to “hang”

the nullifiers b. Began military preparations to crack down on South Carolina

c. The threat of civil war loomed

 

C. Henry Clay’s “compromise of 1833” 1. Tariff reduced by 10% over eight years to 1816 level 2. New England and the middle states opposed it. 3. Calhoun and the South favored it

4. Force Bill passed by Congress as a face-saving device in 1833

a. President authorized to use army and navy to collect tariffs if necessaryb. Called the “Bloody Bill” by South Carolinians (symbolically nullified it)

D. Aftermath1. Victory for both sides2. Stepping stone to Civil War -- South Carolina gradually abandoned nullification

for secession3. Calhoun resigned the vice presidency4. Later, Compromise Tariff of

1833 was criticized as “appeasement.”

-- Yet, Clay helped avert Civil War in 1832 for which the North was unprepared

IX. Election of 1832Election of 1832A. Henry Clay (National

Republican) vs. Andrew Jackson (Democrat)

1. Clay supporters: 2. Jackson supporters:B. Jackson d. Clay 219-49 -- Jackson had support

of the masses

VS

C. New political features in 1832 campaign 1. Anti-Masonic Party: first 3rd party

in a U.S. presidential election a. Opposed the secrecy of the

Masonic Order b. Attracted evangelical groups:

tried to fuse moral & religious reforms with politics 2. National nominating conventions

-- Nat’l Republicans and Anti-Masons adopted formal platforms

X. Jacksonian Democracy : economic and states rights issues

A. Jackson’s economic philosophy: divorce gov’t from the economy

-- In effect, laissez faireB. Bank of the United States

(BUS) 1. Jackson distrusted the

monopolistic BUS and big business 2. Clay pushed to recharter the

BUS four years before its expiration

-- Jackson: “The bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it.”

3. Jackson vetoed BUS’s charter in 1832 a. Jackson assailed the BUS as monopolistic and unconstitutional -- Criticized its head, Nicholas Biddle

b. Jackson acted as if the executive branch was superior to the judicial branch

-- Bank had been deemed constitutional (McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819) c. Demagogic message appealed

to the masses-- BUS was a major issue in the 1832

presidential election d. The Senate censured Jackson

4. “Pet Bank” schemea. Jackson moved against the

BUS and Biddleb. “Removed” federal deposits

from its vaults to 23 “pet banks”

i. Overseen by Secretary of the Treasury Roger B. Taney

ii. Effectively killed the 2nd National bank

5. Specie CircularSpecie Circular a. “Wildcat” currency had become

unreliable, especially in the West b. Jackson authorized Specie

Circular in response i. All public lands to be

purchased with federal “hard” money ii. Hurt many farmers in the West c. Inflation continued: led to land

speculation that helped cause the Panic of 1837

C. General Incorporation LawsGeneral Incorporation Laws (beginning in 1837) 1. Traditionally, corporate charters were granted by state legislatures; many saw this as gov’t-created monopoly

2. States began to make incorporation easier

3. Limited liability: business owners were now allowed to be a separate entity from their corporation

D. Charles River BridgeCharles River Bridge decision decision (1837)(1837)

1. Builders of Charles River Bridge received a charter from Massachusetts in 17802. 1828, a new company was given

a charter to build a bridge 300 yards from the Charles River Bridge

3. Charles River Bridge Co. sued, claiming the new bridge

was a violation of the original charter

4. Chief Justice Taney Chief Justice Taney and Jacksonian judges on the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Warren Bridge Co.5. Significance: encouraged economic development in transportation and other public facilities via competition

E. Maysville Road veto 1. Jackson favored states’

rights over economic nationalism

2. Refused to spend federal money on intrastate improvements (e.g. roads and canals)

3. Jackson vetoed Clay’s bill for improvements to the

Maysville Road in Kentucky

  

XI. Indian Removal A. By 1830, most territories east of the Mississippi River were now states

1. Most tribes were surrounded by white settlements 2. Jackson opposed viewing tribes as separate nations within individual states.

B. Indian Removal Act (1830) 1. Jackson sought bodily

removal of remaining eastern tribes to Oklahoma

-- Especially the Five Civilized Tribes:

Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminoles 2. Indians who adopted white ways could remain

3. Over 100,000 Amerindians were forcibly uprooted and moved in the1830’s. a. Promised that their new lands in

Indian Territory (Oklahoma) would be theirs permanently

b. Land-hungry settlers continued to push westward

b. Eventually, most tribes lost much of their lands in Indian Territory by the late-19th century

4. Bureau of Indian Affairs established in 1836 to administer relations with Native Americans

C. Cherokee1. Similarities to whites

a. Sequoya created Cherokee syllabic alphabet

b. Cherokee constitution similar to the U.S. Constitution

c. Efficient agriculture-based economy

d. Yet, Cherokee not accepted by white society

2. Cherokee nation sat on valuable land in northwestern Georgia

3. Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 1831

-- Court ruled Cherokee were not a foreign nation, but a domestic, dependent nation

4. Worcester v. Georgia, 1832 a. Court ruled Georgia’s laws had

no jurisdiction inside Cherokee lands

b. Jackson proceeded with Indian removal anyway

5. Trail of TearsTrail of Tears (1838) (1838)a. 18,000 Cherokees forcibly

removed and marched 1,000 miles to Oklahoma

-- Over 25% perished on the journey

b. 25% of Choctaw had died en route to Oklahoma between 1831 and 1835

D. Black Hawk War (1832) (Illinois and Wisconsin)

1. Braves led by Black Hawk resisted removal on lands west of Lake Huron

2. Crushed by US troops3. Area west of Lake Michigan became

open for settlement

E. SeminolesSeminoles in Florida1. Bloodiest Indian conflict

in U.S. history (1835-42)2. 1,500 US soldiers dead3. 4/5 of Seminoles moved

to Oklahoma

Seminole Chief Coeehajo

XII. The Birth of TexasThe Birth of TexasA. U.S. dropped claim to Texas in

the Florida Purchase Treaty (1819)

B. 1823, Mexico granted Stephen Austin right to settle Texas.

-- Restricted immigrationC. Friction between Texans and

Mexico occurred over slavery, immigration, and local rights

1. 1835, Santa Anna ended local rights

2. Raised an army to control Texas

D. Texas declared independence in early 1836 1. Sam Houston, military leader 2. Mexico’s leader, General Santa Anna, invaded Texas

a. Killed 342 Texans at Goliad who had surrendered b. Killed all Americans at the

Alamo

E. Houston victorious at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836

a. Santa Anna forced to recognize Rio Grande as Texas’ southern borderb. American aid important to Texas’ independence (although U.S. was

officially neutral)

The painting "Surrender of Santa Anna" shows the

Mexican general Santa Anna

surrendering to a wounded Sam

Houston.

F. President Jackson and Texas1. U.S. recognition of Texas

would spark slavery issue and hurt Van Buren’s run for president

2. Recognized Texas the day before he left office in 1837

3. Texas petitioned to be annexed but U.S. refused

4. Texas was left to protect itself5. Sam Houston became the first president of

the Republic of Texas

XIII. Election of 1836Election of 1836A. Birth of the Whigs in 1834 1. Clay & Calhoun joined to oppose Jackson’s removal of funds from BUS 2. Evolved into national political

party against Jackson a. Supporters of Clay’s “American System” b. States’ righters (offended by Jackson’s anti-nullification) c. Larger northern industrialists

industrialists and merchants d. Eventually, evangelical

Protestants (many had been Anti-Masons)

3. William H. Harrison emerged as the Whig nominee

B. Van Buren was the Democratic nominee

1. In effect, he was Jackson’s hand- picked successor

2. Van Buren d. Harrison 170-73

  

VS

President Martin Van President Martin Van BurenBuren

1837-18411837-1841DemocratDemocrat

C. 1832 election had marked the beginning of the “second party system”

1. Democrats and Whigs would dominate politics until 1852

2. “First party system”: Federalists vs. Democratic Republicans (1796-1816)

The “Second Party System”: c. 1832-1852Whigs

Supported by northern industrialists and merchants (wealthiest Americans) Supported Clay’s "American System" Sought to reduce the spoils system Southern states’ rights advocates angry at Jackson’s stand on nullification Evangelicals from Anti-Masonic party joined Later supported moral reforms: prohibition of alcohol and abolition of slavery Sought to use national gov’t to solve societies problems (over states’ rights issues)

Democrats Supported by the common people and machine politicians in the East States’ Rights – opposed to "American System" Favored spoils system Anti-monopoly—favored increased competition Believed federal gov’t should not be involved in people’s personal lives  

XIV. Jackson’s legacy A. Positive contributions

1. Demonstrated value of strong executive leadership

-- Nullification controversy, BUS

2. Champion of the New Democracy

3. Established the Democratic Party

B. Liabilities1. Spoils system2. Killing of the BUS resulted in thousands of bank

failures for almost a century.3. Specie Circular hurt western

farmers4. Defied the authority of

Supreme Court in Cherokee removal

5. Trail of Tears6. Cabinet crisis and break with

Calhoun led to increased sectionalism

XV. Panic of 1837A. Causes

1. Overspeculation on land; also canals, roads, and slaves2. Jackson’s policies (BUS and

Specie Circular)3. Flour Riot in 1837: crop failures

forced grain prices higher and NY mobs stormed warehouses

4. Failure of two major British banks; foreign loans called in

which damaged U.S. banks

B. Results1. U.S. banks collapsed by

the 100’s -- Fall of certain “pet

banks” meant loss of gov’t funds

2. Commodity prices and sale of public land fell

-- Customs revenues dried up

3. Factories closed; unemployment soared

C. Whig proposals shot down by President Van Buren

1. He called for expansion of bank credit, higher tariffs, and federal subsidies for internal

improvements2. Van Buren’s Jacksonian

philosophy of limited gov’t thwarted action

D. Treasury Bill of 1840 “Divorce Bill”

1. Van Buren helped establish the Independent Treasury System

a. “Divorced” gov’t from banks altogether

b. Gov’t could keep its surplus in several cities

2. Result: Funds safe but less credit available

3. Repealed by Whigs next year when they won the presidency

4. Reenacted in 1846 by Democrats and lasted until 1863

XVI. Election of 1840Election of 1840A. Harrison d. Van Buren 234-60B. Significance of election: 1. First mass-turnout election in

U.S. history

Rise of Mass Politics, 1824-1840

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1824 1828 1832 1836 1840

Election Year

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Whig (NationalRepublican in1828 & 1832)

Democrat

2. Propaganda and silly slogans set unfortunate example for future campaigns

-- “Log cabin and hard cider”

3. Liberty Party (tiny third party sought anti-extension of slavery)

NEW “KNICKSS”

NEW Democracy

K illing of the BUSN ullification crisis of 1832I ndian RemovalC reation of a 2-party systemK itchen Cabinet/Cabinet Crisis

(Calhoun)S poils SystemS ectionalism