The Age of Jackson

The New Democracy and The New Democracy and the Election of 1824the Election of 1824

The New Democracy and The New Democracy and the Election of 1824the Election of 1824

• New attitudes about New attitudes about democracy led to more democracy led to more people respecting the people respecting the “Common Man”.“Common Man”.

• Being a Federalist “high brow” Being a Federalist “high brow” was a taint by 1820.was a taint by 1820.

• Politicians were catering to the Politicians were catering to the westerners and the boasting of westerners and the boasting of being “born in a log cabin.”being “born in a log cabin.”

• The sign of true leader was The sign of true leader was being a military commander.being a military commander.

Davy CrockettDavy Crockett• Davy Crockett was Davy Crockett was

elected to Congress elected to Congress because he was a because he was a sharpshooter and sharpshooter and claimed to have killed claimed to have killed over a hundred bears over a hundred bears in a year.in a year.

The New Democracy The New Democracy was based on universal was based on universal white manhood white manhood suffrage. suffrage.

Increase in Political Increase in Political InvolvementInvolvement

Increase in Political Increase in Political InvolvementInvolvement

• The Panic of 1819 was blamed on The Panic of 1819 was blamed on the eastern banking establishment. the eastern banking establishment.

• The south was fearful of the The south was fearful of the Missouri Compromise.Missouri Compromise.

• Both led to increased voter Both led to increased voter interest.interest.

• In the 1820 election the Republicans In the 1820 election the Republicans did not bother with a nominating did not bother with a nominating caucus in Congress and Monroe ran caucus in Congress and Monroe ran unopposed. unopposed.

• By the 1824 the Republican Party By the 1824 the Republican Party had begun to splinter into factions, had begun to splinter into factions, and the nominating caucuses were and the nominating caucuses were seen to favor the wealthy and seen to favor the wealthy and powerful.powerful.

Various factions nominated their Various factions nominated their favorite sons.favorite sons.

Various factions nominated their Various factions nominated their favorite sons.favorite sons.

• “ “Old Republicans” of states Old Republicans” of states rights and economic protection rights and economic protection ran ran William CrawfordWilliam Crawford of Georgia. of Georgia.

• People condemned Crawford as People condemned Crawford as being under the control of being under the control of Congress, crying “the people must Congress, crying “the people must be heard!”be heard!”

William William CrawfordCrawford

• New England New England states endorsed states endorsed John Quincy John Quincy Adams.Adams.

• John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun was nominated was nominated by South by South Carolina - he Carolina - he dropped out to dropped out to run for vice run for vice president.president.

• Those Those advocating the advocating the American American System System nominated nominated Henry ClayHenry Clay..

• Westerners and Westerners and advocates of advocates of increased increased democracy democracy nominated war nominated war hero hero Andrew Andrew JacksonJackson..

Election ResultsElection Results• Jackson got the highest Jackson got the highest

popular vote but failed to get popular vote but failed to get a majority of the electoral a majority of the electoral votes.votes.

““The Corrupt Bargain”The Corrupt Bargain” ““The Corrupt Bargain”The Corrupt Bargain”

• The Constitution calls for the House of The Constitution calls for the House of Representatives to choose from among Representatives to choose from among the top three candidates if none gets a the top three candidates if none gets a majority in the Electoral College.majority in the Electoral College.

• Henry Clay (out of the running) as Henry Clay (out of the running) as Speaker of the House had enormous Speaker of the House had enormous influence over the contest.influence over the contest.

• William Crawford, who had William Crawford, who had a stroke, was too sick to be a stroke, was too sick to be president.president.

• Clay disliked Jackson - saw Clay disliked Jackson - saw him as unfit.him as unfit.

• Jackson was upset with Clay Jackson was upset with Clay over comments Clay had over comments Clay had made about Jackson’s forays made about Jackson’s forays into Florida.into Florida.

• Although Clay and Adams were Although Clay and Adams were totally different personally, they totally different personally, they agreed politically.agreed politically.

• Clay met with Adams and Clay met with Adams and threw all his support behind threw all his support behind Adams.Adams.

John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams1824 - 18291824 - 1829

• John Quincy Adams was John Quincy Adams was chosen to be the sixth president chosen to be the sixth president of the United States.of the United States.

• Three days after the election Three days after the election Adams announced that Henry Adams announced that Henry Clay would be his Secretary of Clay would be his Secretary of State.State.

Jackson supporters called Jackson supporters called this a “Corrupt Bargain” and this a “Corrupt Bargain” and

immediately begin immediately begin organizing for the 1828 organizing for the 1828

electionelection

Jackson supporters called Jackson supporters called this a “Corrupt Bargain” and this a “Corrupt Bargain” and

immediately begin immediately begin organizing for the 1828 organizing for the 1828

electionelection

President John Quincy President John Quincy Adams.Adams.

President John Quincy President John Quincy Adams.Adams.

• Adams refused to allow Adams refused to allow spoilsmen to take over offices spoilsmen to take over offices in the government.in the government.

• Advocated a strong nationalistic Advocated a strong nationalistic program of internal program of internal improvements – including improvements – including roads, canals and a national roads, canals and a national university and observatory.university and observatory.

• Working people thought Working people thought these costs were these costs were extravagant.extravagant.

• The need to continue the The need to continue the tariff upset the South.tariff upset the South.

• Adams’ wish to deal fairly Adams’ wish to deal fairly with the Cherokee Indians with the Cherokee Indians upset the people of Georgia upset the people of Georgia and the westerners wanting and the westerners wanting more land.more land.

The Tariff of Abominations -The Tariff of Abominations -18281828The Tariff of Abominations -The Tariff of Abominations -18281828

• The Tariff of 1824 raised The Tariff of 1824 raised duties from 23 to 37% - duties from 23 to 37% - but textile manufactures but textile manufactures wanted it to go higher.wanted it to go higher.

• Jackson supporters pushed duties Jackson supporters pushed duties to a record high 45% in 1828 to a record high 45% in 1828 and added a tariff on wool and added a tariff on wool imports - believing New imports - believing New Englanders would vote against.Englanders would vote against.

• They voted for it – even a bad They voted for it – even a bad tariff is better than no tariff.tariff is better than no tariff.

Political ReversalPolitical ReversalPolitical ReversalPolitical Reversal

• Webster of New England Webster of New England supported the tariff.supported the tariff.

• John C. Calhoun of S.C. and John C. Calhoun of S.C. and others from the South called it others from the South called it the “Tariff of Abominations.”the “Tariff of Abominations.”

Underlying the protest Underlying the protest against the tariff were against the tariff were southern fears about southern fears about federal control over federal control over

slavery.slavery.

Underlying the protest Underlying the protest against the tariff were against the tariff were southern fears about southern fears about federal control over federal control over

slavery.slavery.

• Slave rebellion in 1822, led by Slave rebellion in 1822, led by Denmark Vesey, had increased Denmark Vesey, had increased fears about emancipation.fears about emancipation.

• Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and new Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and new lands in Alabama and Mississippi lands in Alabama and Mississippi had caused a boom in cotton.had caused a boom in cotton.

• The south’s “peculiar institution” The south’s “peculiar institution” had become a source of southern had become a source of southern nationalism.nationalism.

The Economic Consequences in the SouthThe Economic Consequences in the South

• Increases in tariffs to protect manufacturing in the Increases in tariffs to protect manufacturing in the north led to higher prices everywhere.north led to higher prices everywhere.

• Higher prices in turn led to a decrease in trade – Higher prices in turn led to a decrease in trade – Americans buying fewer British goods meant the Americans buying fewer British goods meant the British would buy less southern cotton.British would buy less southern cotton.

• The south saw this as unfair and discriminatory. The south saw this as unfair and discriminatory.

The South Carolina ExpositionThe South Carolina ExpositionThe South Carolina ExpositionThe South Carolina Exposition

• Secretly written by John C. Secretly written by John C. Calhoun it extended the ideas of Calhoun it extended the ideas of the Virginia and Kentucky the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.Resolutions.

• Called for the nullification of Called for the nullification of the tariff in S. Carolina.the tariff in S. Carolina.

Calhoun, still a nationalist Calhoun, still a nationalist and Unionist, sought to and Unionist, sought to strengthen the Union by strengthen the Union by

protecting the rights of the protecting the rights of the southern minority.southern minority.

Calhoun, still a nationalist Calhoun, still a nationalist and Unionist, sought to and Unionist, sought to strengthen the Union by strengthen the Union by

protecting the rights of the protecting the rights of the southern minority.southern minority.

Andrew Jackson and the

Revolution of 1828

Election of 1828

•Republicans were split into two camps.

1.National Republicans - backed Adams

2.Democratic Republicans - backed Jackson

Jackson and Reform

•Jackson ran a campaign on the issue of democratic reform – “shall the people rule?”

The Campaign of 1828 involved heavy

mudslinging

•Adams was called a pimp and gambler.

Pimp Daddy Adams

• Jackson’s mother was called a prostitute.

• Jackson was called an adulterer and murderer.

The Bloody

Deeds of General Jackson

Rachel Jackson• Jackson’s wife was

hounded by accusations of bigamy all her married life and the campaign of 1828 ruined her health.

• She died before her husband took office – some say she died of a broken heart.

                                             

The Hermitage

Outcome of the Election

• Jackson won 56% of the popular vote - 178 electoral votes to Adams 83.

• Revolution of 1828 - increased voter turnout and universal white male suffrage increased the level of direct democracy.

President Andrew Jackson

• “Old Hickory”

• Personified the New West

• Jackson was the ultimate folk hero and warrior.

• Indian fighter, gambler and dueler – he epitomized the western ideal.

• Jackson, nearly sixty-two years old on his inauguration day, would prove to be one of the most popular and powerful presidents in American history.

• Jackson was suspicious of a large federal government and Clay’s American System

Senator Henry Clay

• He believed in state’s rights but also the supremacy of the federal government and the Union.

• He strengthened the presidency ( he used the veto 12 times) and institutionalized the spoils system.

• Under the New Democracy - every man was as good as the next – Jackson believed in rotation in office.

The Spoils System

• The “selling” of positions led to corruption and scandal.

• Incompetents and crooks replaced hard working civil servants.

"rotation in office . . . will perpetuate our liberty."

William T. Barry postmaster general

• Samuel Swartwout embezzled a million dollars as tax collector of the port of New York.

Emerging Strength of Sectionalism

Cabinet Crises• Jackson’s cabinet was

mediocre.• The one real standout was

New Yorker Martin Van Buren.

Martin Van Buren

• Van Buren, head of the “Albany Regency” was a real politicians politician – deal maker and wire puller.

• His enemies called him the “Little Magician.”

The Kitchen Cabinet• Jackson’s group of informal

advisors, the guys that supposedly really called the political shots, were called the “Kitchen Cabinet” by his political enemies.

• While Jackson was extremely popular, he was also one of the unhealthiest presidents.

• By the time Jackson reached the White House, he was worn down from tuberculosis, bullet wounds and dysentery.

• A scramble for the position of successor between Secretary of State Martin Van Buren and Vice President John C. Calhoun ensued.

Martin Van Buren John C Calhoun

• Jackson’s cabinet was wrecked in 1831 by this rivalry and as a result of the “Eaton Malaria.”

The Eaton Scandal• Secretary of War

John Eaton married a local Washington girl named Peggy O’Neal - innkeepers daughter linked by rumor to scandalous behavior with the inn’s male boarders.

Secretary of War John Eaton

• John Calhoun’s wife and other Washington socialites shunned and ridiculed Mrs. Eaton.

Floride Bonneau Colhoun

• Jackson and Van Buren supported Mrs. Eaton.

Old Kinderhook TavernVan Buren’s Birthplace

Peggy O’Neal Cigar Box John Eaton

Andrew Jackson in a letter concerning John Eaton’s duel.

• “Charge your friend to preserve his fire until he shoots his antagonist through the brain, for if he fires and does not kill his antagonist, he leaves himself fully in his power. … The attack upon Major Eaton, was in the first place wanton . . . [his accuser] shows a meanness and cowardice . . . that induces me to believe that he will not fight. It may be -- he may rather select me . . . if my pistol fires, I kill him."

The Cabinet Dissolves

• By 1831 - Van Buren offers to resign – he didn’t really mean it.

• Eaton resigns first and others in the cabinet follow.

• Calhoun’s letters regarding Jackson’s actions in the Seminole War came to light under mysterious conditions leading to further troubles between Jackson and his vice-president.

•This leads Jackson to choose Van Buren as his successor.

•Calhoun eventually resigned as vice-president and returned to South Carolina.

• Calhoun lost his Nationalist and Unionists feelings and became the south’s champion of Nullification.

The Maysville Road Veto

• Sectionalist differences and anti-nationalism are clear in the veto of the Maysville Road bill.

• Jackson vetoed Clay’s road bill on the basis of State’s Rights.

Webster - Haynes Debate

• With New Englanders desperate to halt western expansion, Connecticut Senator Samuel Foot introduced a resolution restricting western land sales.

• Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, the champion of westward expansion,charged that the Northeast wanted to slow western growth.

 

  

 

  

• Robert Hayne of South Carolina rose to support Benton – he ended up defending the south against the Tariff of Abominations.

• His real goal was to debate state’s rights versus federal power – he praised Calhoun and his South Carolina Exposition.

Daniel Webster

• Daniel Webster, of New Hampshire, in his first reply to Hayne, argues for Union and federal power.

• Haynes and Webster continue to argue the nature of the Constitution.

• Webster in his second reply, answers with “the greatest oration” in history – he claims that the people, not the states, had framed the Constitution - without obeying the laws the Constitution is just a “rope of sand.”

“Should our Union fall into pieces, which these doctrines may cause to happen, I fear to see "States dissevered, discordant, belligerent; ... a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched, ... in fraternal blood!" Let us not have "Liberty first and Union afterwards", but "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!”

• Both sides felt they won the debate - the Foot Resolution was tabled.

Where did Jackson Stand?

• Jackson makes a toast at a party - “Our Federal Union - it must be preserved.”

• John C. Calhoun counters with - “The Union - next to our liberty, the most dear.”

•Calhoun resigned the vice-presidency in 1833.

Nullification Crisis

• The Tariff of Abomination still had the south stirred up.

• South Carolina legislature was split between Nullifiers and Unionist (submission men).

• Back in Washington, Congress passed the Tariff of 1832 - lowering the tariff back to 35% - approximately the level of 1824.

• State elections in 1832 put a 2/3rds majority of nullifiers in state legislature – they called for a special convention.

• South Carolina convention declared the tariff null and void in the state.

• The Convention called for military measures to uphold the nullification and declared their intent to secede if Washington attempted to collect the duties by force.

• Jackson privately swears to go personally to Carolina and hang the first nullifier he could find.

• Jackson sends federal troops to reinforce the federal forts in Carolina.

• Jackson makes a declaration that “each secession destroys the unity of a nation.”

• South Carolina, in defiance of “King Andrew,” raises a volunteer army to repel an “invasion.”

KING ANDREW I

• Jackson asks Congress for a force bill to enforce the tariff.

• Henry Clay passes a compromise tariff which which reduce the tariff by 10% over eight years.

• Congress also passes the Force Bill.

•Carolina backs down after voting to nullify the force bill.

The Bank Crisis

• Jackson shared the west’s mistrust of the “moneyed monster,” the monopolistic Bank of the United States.

Nicholas Biddle and the Second Bank of the United States

• Henry Clay, seeking the nomination of National Republicans in the 1832 election - schemed to have the Senate re-charter the bank four years early in 1832.

• Vice president Van Buren distrusted Nicolas Biddle the head to the BUS and backed Jackson’s opposition.

• Jackson vetoed the bank bill - he declared it to be unconstitutional (despite McCulloch v. Maryland.).

• Jackson rode a wave of popular sentiment against the eastern establishment to an overwhelming victory against Clay for reelection.

Election of 1832

Anti-Masons• First nominating convention

was held by the Anti-Masonic party.

• The Anti-Masons were anti-secret society, anti-Jackson and evangelical protestant.

• They adopted the first formal platforms.

Democrats• Jackson was re-nominated by the

Democrats in a nominating convention - made an issue of the bank.

National Republicans

• National Republicans nominated Henry Clay - they got funds from the BUS.

• Henry Clay was crushed - 219 to 49 electoral votes.

Jackson attacks Biddle’s Bank• With

overwhelming results of the election Jackson felt he had a mandate to destroy the bank.

• Jackson wanted to remove the federal treasury from the BUS - his cabinet doesn’t agree.

• Jackson got his Attorney General Roger B. Taney to agree - they drafted their reasons.

• Jackson then shuffled his cabinet - made Taney his Secretary of Treasury.

• He then began transferring federal funds into state banks - called Jackson’s “pet banks.”

• Biddle reacted by calling in loans - causes “Biddle’s Panic.”

• By 1836 these “wildcat” bank’s currencies were unstable.

• Jackson and the Treasury then issued the Specie Circular - a decree that all public debt had to be paid with with hard money.

• The federal government was then able to liquidate the national debt and began to build a surplus from tariffs.

• A bill was passed to distribute the excess funds to the states – this led to inflation, increased speculation and a new deficit.

Financial disaster loomed on the

horizon.

Trail of Tears•By the 1820s, western population growth led to calls for Indian removal.

The Five Civilized Tribes• Most of the Indian tribes still

living east of the Mississippi had begun to assimilate into white culture.

• Efforts were made by Christian missionaries to disseminate the English language and Christian religion.

The Cherokee• The Cherokee Indians, like the

other “civilized” tribes – the Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw and Seminole, had become farmers living in American style towns and houses.

• The Cherokee had a written alphabet developed by Seqouyah.

• The eighty-five characters in the syllabary represent all the combination of vowel and consonant sounds that form the Cherokee language.

• In 1828 the Georgia legislature claimed jurisdiction over all Cherokee lands – the Cherokee appealed to the Supreme Court.

• Marshall’s Court upheld the rights of the Indian land claims in three separate cases – including Worchester v. Georgia.

• Jackson refused to abide by Marshall’s decisions.

• “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.”

• Jackson proposed removing the remaining eastern tribes to west of the Mississippi River.

• He felt he had to do this to save the tribes.

• Over 100,000 Indians were forced to move to the Indian Territory in present day Oklahoma.

• Thousands died of starvation and exposure on the way.

The Trail of Tears

• The Bureau of Indian Affairs was established in 1836 to oversee the tribes.

Black Hawk’s War -1832

• The Sauk and Fox Indians in Illinois and Wisconsin tried to resist removal.

• Black Hawk’s War of resistance was crushed by Federal and militia troops.

• Seminole Indians in Florida, led by Osceola, escaped to the Everglades and refused to be removed.

Osceola’s War 1835 - 1842

• Osceola was eventually captured under a flag of truce and hanged.

• Some Seminoles continued to hide in the everglades -- most were removed.

• The war was the most costly Indian war in American history.

The Lone Star Republic

• 1823 - Stephen F. Austin negotiated a land grant in Texas from the Mexican government.

• 300 American families followed Austin into the Brazos territory.

• They agreed to speak Spanish and practice Roman Catholicism.

• By 1835 - 30,000 Americans lived in Texas -- many had GTT one step ahead of the law.

• Jim Bowie, Sam Houston and Davy Crockett were among the adventurers who took up the cause of Texas liberty.

Davy CrockettDavy Crockett Jim BowieJim Bowie

• Texans quarreled with the local Mexican authority over slavery, immigration and local rights.

• Stephen Austin went to Mexico City to plead for leniency and was jailed by Mexican dictator Santa Anna.

Antonio Lopez de

Santa Anna

• Mexican officials eliminated all political rights and raised an army to suppress all rebellion.

• 1836 - Texans declared their independence and raised the flag of the Lone Star Republic, with Sam Houston in charge of the army.

The Alamo• William Barrett Travis

stalled the 6000 man army of General Santa Anna for 13 days at the Alamo -- before being killed along with all 200 of his men.

"I am determined to sustain myself "I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is soldier who never forgets what is

due to his own honor and that of his due to his own honor and that of his country — VICTORY OR DEATH."country — VICTORY OR DEATH."

-- -- Lt. Colonel William Barrett TravisLt. Colonel William Barrett Travis

February 24, 1836February 24, 1836

The Battle for the AlamoThe Battle for the Alamo

Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo

• Included in the dead were Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett.

• The Mexican army later killed 400 Texans after they had surrendered at Goliad.

Words of a Survivor““The soldiers, who stood at about The soldiers, who stood at about

three paces from us, leveled their three paces from us, leveled their muskets at our breasts. Even then muskets at our breasts. Even then we could hardly believe that they we could hardly believe that they meant to shoot us; for if we had, we meant to shoot us; for if we had, we should assuredly have rushed should assuredly have rushed forward in our desperation, and, forward in our desperation, and, weaponless though we were, some weaponless though we were, some of our murderers would have met of our murderers would have met their death at our hands.”their death at our hands.”

• Sam Houston further delayed confrontation with Santa Anna by retreating eastward to the Buffalo Bayou near present day Houston.

• April 21, 1836 -- Houston’s 900 man army, crying “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!,” attacked the Mexican forces at San Jacinto during their siesta.

The Battle of San Jacinto

The San Jacinto BattlefieldThe San Jacinto Battlefield

• The Mexican army was defeated and Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign treaties recognizing the Republic of Texas and the border of the Rio Grande.

The Capture of Santa Anna

General General Sam Sam

HoustonHouston

The RavenThe Raven

The Lone Star RepublicThe Lone Star Republic

Texas Seeks Statehood

• Texas petitions the U.S. to be annexed as a new state.

• Northern abolitionists opposed the increase in slave territory.

• Many accused the south of conspiracy to increase the land of the Southern “slavocracy”

• Most Texans had come from the South and Southwest.

• Jackson refused to support the annexation during the election year of 1836.

Election of 1836.

•Jackson’s followers officially took the name Democrats.

Anti-Jackson forces formed the Whig party, it included

• supporters of Clay’s American System.

• Southern State’s-Righters.• Northern industrialists and

merchants.• Evangelical Protestants.

• Whigs decided to run many “favorite sons” to divide the vote and send the election into the House of Representatives.

• The leading Whig candidate was William Henry Harrison.

• The Democrats ran Jackson’s hand-picked successor Martin Van Buren.

• The popular vote was close but the electoral count was 170 to 73 in favor of Van Buren.

Jackson photographed by Matthew Brady --

two months before Jackson’s death in 1845.

President Van BurenPresident Van Buren• Major statesman and

diplomat.• Experienced

politician and “spoilsman”

• Above average intelligence and training.

• He had a hard time filling the shoes of Andrew Jackson.

• He also inherited the many enemies and problems of Jackson.

Panic of 1837

• Causes:

• Over-speculation• Jackson’s Bank War and

Specie Circular.

• Failure of the wheat crop, led to high grain prices.

• Bank failure in Europe.

• Effects:

• Bank failures in the U.S. - including “pet banks”

• Prices fell, businesses failed, unemployment rose.

• Whigs proposed active government involvement to end the panic.

• Van Buren followed Jackson’s ideal of limited federal involvement.

• Van Buren suggested a “Divorce Bill” creating an independent Treasury system - taking federal money out of the economy.

• The Independent Treasury Bill was passed in 1840 but was repealed by the Whigs after one year, then revived in 1846.

Election of 1840

• Democrats renominate the incumbent Van Buren despite the taint of economic recession.

Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too

• Whigs return to “Old Tippecanoe” - William Henry Harrison and chose as his running mate John Tyler of Virginia.

• Whigs publish no platform and run Harrison as a backwoods hero - born in a log cabin and raised on hard cider.

• Harrison was from the FFV’s, his father signed the Declaration of Independence, and he owned one of the largest estates in the west.

• Van Buren was portrayed as an eastern aristocrat and intellectual - out of touch with the common man.

• The popular vote was close but the electoral count was 234 to 60 in favor of Harrison.

• The vote reflected a protest against the recession and the impact of political hoopla over solid debate.

• The Jacksonian era gave rise to the American two-party system, both of which at the time were catch-all groups with diverse interests.