the rise of a mass democracy...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
Copyright © by Houghton
Mifflin Company. All
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11
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
Copyright © by Houghton
Mifflin Company. All
rights reserved.
22
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?
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