1919thth century century

American Culture & Andrew JacksonAmerican Culture & Andrew Jackson

Democracy in Theory and Democracy in Theory and PracticePractice

Fear that democracy would lead to anarchy Fear that democracy would lead to anarchy wanes in the 1820s and 1830s wanes in the 1820s and 1830s

Equality of opportunity stressedEquality of opportunity stressed America becomes society of winners and America becomes society of winners and

loserslosers

Democracy and SocietyDemocracy and Society

Egalitarian expectations despite Egalitarian expectations despite growing economic inequalitygrowing economic inequality

No distinctive domestic servant classNo distinctive domestic servant class No class distinctions in dressNo class distinctions in dress White male equality before the law White male equality before the law

radical by European standardsradical by European standards Egalitarian attack on licensed Egalitarian attack on licensed

professionsprofessions Popular press the source of information Popular press the source of information

and opinionand opinion

Democratic CultureDemocratic Culture Artists work for mass, democratic audience Artists work for mass, democratic audience

rather than for an aristocratic eliterather than for an aristocratic elite Popular genres include Gothic horror, romantic Popular genres include Gothic horror, romantic

fiction, melodramas, genre paintingsfiction, melodramas, genre paintings Serious artists seek to inspire with neoclassical Serious artists seek to inspire with neoclassical

sculpture, landscapes of untamed naturesculpture, landscapes of untamed nature Only a few truly avant-garde, romantic artistsOnly a few truly avant-garde, romantic artists

Democratic Political Institutions: Democratic Political Institutions: Politics of Universal Manhood Politics of Universal Manhood

Suffrage Suffrage Nearly all adult white males gain right to Nearly all adult white males gain right to

vote without property qualificationvote without property qualification Appointive offices made electiveAppointive offices made elective Professional politicians emergedProfessional politicians emerged Public benefits of two-party system Public benefits of two-party system

extolledextolled Political machines develop at state levelPolitical machines develop at state level

Democratic Political Institutions :Democratic Political Institutions :National PartiesNational Parties

Changes in presidential elections spur party Changes in presidential elections spur party growthgrowth

Parties often serve special economic interestsParties often serve special economic interests Parties share republican ideology, commitment to Parties share republican ideology, commitment to

equality of opportunityequality of opportunity Parties differ on how to achieve common aimsParties differ on how to achieve common aims Neither party seeks to extend rights beyond adult Neither party seeks to extend rights beyond adult

white male constituencywhite male constituency Radical third parties argue the cause of African Radical third parties argue the cause of African

Americans, women, working peopleAmericans, women, working people

Economic IssuesEconomic Issues

Interest in government economic policy Interest in government economic policy intensified after 1819intensified after 1819

Some wanted to do away with banks, Some wanted to do away with banks, paper money, and easy creditpaper money, and easy credit

Others wanted more government aidOthers wanted more government aid Political parties took stands on the role Political parties took stands on the role

of the federal government in economic of the federal government in economic growthgrowth

Labor Radicalism and Equal Labor Radicalism and Equal RightsRights

Working men’s parties and trade unions Working men’s parties and trade unions emerged in the 1820s and 1830semerged in the 1820s and 1830s

They advocated public education They advocated public education reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to debtors prison, and hard currencydebtors prison, and hard currency

They made some gains but they proved They made some gains but they proved to be only temporaryto be only temporary

The women’s rights movement and The women’s rights movement and abolitionists made little progressabolitionists made little progress

Jackson and the Politics of Jackson and the Politics of DemocracyDemocracy

Jackson becomes a symbol of Jackson becomes a symbol of democracy’s triumphdemocracy’s triumph

Actions of Jackson and his party Actions of Jackson and his party refashion national politics in a refashion national politics in a democratic molddemocratic mold

The Election of 1824 and J. Q. The Election of 1824 and J. Q. Adams' AdministrationAdams' Administration

The election of 1824 a five-way raceThe election of 1824 a five-way race Jackson wins popular voteJackson wins popular vote Adams wins in House of Representatives Adams wins in House of Representatives

with Henry Clay’s supportwith Henry Clay’s support Clay’s appointment as Secretary of State Clay’s appointment as Secretary of State

leads to charges Adams "bought" the leads to charges Adams "bought" the presidency presidency

Mid-term election of 1826 gives Jackson Mid-term election of 1826 gives Jackson forces control of Congressforces control of Congress

Jackson Comes to PowerJackson Comes to Power

Jacksonians organized for election of 1828Jacksonians organized for election of 1828– appeal to sectional self-interest appeal to sectional self-interest – make politics exciting to the average manmake politics exciting to the average man

Jackson wins election as a man of the Jackson wins election as a man of the peoplepeople

Jackson democratizes presidencyJackson democratizes presidency– fires at will officeholders he does not likefires at will officeholders he does not like– defends by asserting the right of all men to a defends by asserting the right of all men to a

government postgovernment post

Indian RemovalIndian Removal

Indian removal policy inherited from Indian removal policy inherited from prior administrationsprior administrations

Jackson agrees that the federal Jackson agrees that the federal government had not pushed Indians government had not pushed Indians hard enoughhard enough

Responds to Cherokee resistance by Responds to Cherokee resistance by asking Congress for Indian Removal act asking Congress for Indian Removal act of 1830of 1830

1838--U.S. Army forces Cherokees 1838--U.S. Army forces Cherokees west along the Trail of Tearswest along the Trail of Tears

Indian RemovalIndian Removal

The Nullification CrisisThe Nullification Crisis

John C. Calhoun leads development of John C. Calhoun leads development of intellectual defense of state sovereigntyintellectual defense of state sovereignty

1828--tariff passed, South Carolina 1828--tariff passed, South Carolina objects but takes no actionobjects but takes no action

1832--tariff passed, South Carolina 1832--tariff passed, South Carolina nullifiesnullifies

Jackson threatens to send army Jackson threatens to send army Both sides retreatBoth sides retreat

– South Carolina gets lower tariffSouth Carolina gets lower tariff– Jackson demonstrates federal willJackson demonstrates federal will

The Bank War and the The Bank War and the Second Party SystemSecond Party System

"The Bank War" a symbolic defense of "The Bank War" a symbolic defense of democratic valuedemocratic value

Leads to two important resultsLeads to two important results– economic disruption economic disruption – a two-party systema two-party system

Mr. Biddle's BankMr. Biddle's Bank

Bank of the United States unpopularBank of the United States unpopular Open to charges of special privileges Open to charges of special privileges Manager Nicholas Biddle looks and Manager Nicholas Biddle looks and

behaves like an aristocratbehaves like an aristocrat Bank possesses great power and Bank possesses great power and

privilege with no accountability to the privilege with no accountability to the publicpublic

The Bank Veto and the The Bank Veto and the Election of 1832Election of 1832

Jackson vaguely threatens Bank in first Jackson vaguely threatens Bank in first termterm

Biddle seeks new charter four years earlyBiddle seeks new charter four years early Congress passes, but Jackson vetoesCongress passes, but Jackson vetoes

– claims the Bank is unconstitutionalclaims the Bank is unconstitutional– defends veto as a blow for equalitydefends veto as a blow for equality

Jacksonian victory in 1832 spells Bank’s Jacksonian victory in 1832 spells Bank’s doomdoom

Killing the BankKilling the Bank

Jackson destroys Bank by federal deposits Jackson destroys Bank by federal deposits Funds transferred to some state (“pet”) Funds transferred to some state (“pet”)

banks banks Biddle uses his powers to cause Biddle uses his powers to cause

recession, attempts to blame Jacksonrecession, attempts to blame Jackson Destruction of Bank provokes fears of Destruction of Bank provokes fears of

dictatorship, costs Jackson support in dictatorship, costs Jackson support in CongressCongress

The Emergence of the WhigsThe Emergence of the Whigs

Whig party a coalition of two forcesWhig party a coalition of two forces– opponents of Jacksonopponents of Jackson– Anti-Masonic partyAnti-Masonic party

Whigs defend activist government in Whigs defend activist government in economics, enforcement of “decency”economics, enforcement of “decency”

Democrats weakened byDemocrats weakened by– defection of working-class spokesmendefection of working-class spokesmen– depression produced by Jackson’s fiscal depression produced by Jackson’s fiscal

policiespolicies

Heyday of the Second Party Heyday of the Second Party SystemSystem

Election of 1840 marks rise of permanent Election of 1840 marks rise of permanent two-party system in the U.S.two-party system in the U.S.

Whigs and Democrats evenly divide the Whigs and Democrats evenly divide the electorate for next two decadeselectorate for next two decades

Parties offer voters a clear choiceParties offer voters a clear choice– Whigs support a "positive liberal state," Whigs support a "positive liberal state,"

communitycommunity– Democrats support "negative liberal state," Democrats support "negative liberal state,"

individualindividual Parties share a broad democratic ideologyParties share a broad democratic ideology

Tocqueville’s Wisdom Tocqueville’s Wisdom

Alexis de Tocqueville praises most Alexis de Tocqueville praises most aspects of American democracy aspects of American democracy

Warns of future disaster if white males Warns of future disaster if white males refuse to extend liberty to women, African refuse to extend liberty to women, African Americans and Indians.Americans and Indians.