Jacksonian Democracy

1. Jacksonian Democracy

2. Comparison Chart

3. Election of 1824 • All four were Republicans • John Quincy Adams, MA • Henry Clay, KY • Hated Jackson • William Crawford, GA • Andrew Jackson, TN • By far the most popular candidate • Campaigned against political corruption and privilege

4. What?! Jackson Lost? • No one won the majority of the electoral vote. • 12th Amendment: House of Reps to pick out of the top 3 • Clay is eliminated, but is Speaker of the House • Crawford has a stroke • Clay uses influence in the House to elect Adams • Adams makes Clay Secretary of State: The Corrupt Bargain • Not necessarily corrupt: Adams was honest & Clay was qualified.

5. John Quincy Adams • Nationalistic, not state rights • Against the current-day message • Wanted fair-dealings with Indians • Cherokee/Georgia issue • Not a “good politician” • Came across as irritable and cold, but thought of as very sharp. • Did not put his own people in office

6. Adam’s Inauguration • Construction of roads & canals • National University • Federal astronomical observatory • Reaction to Adam’s Presidency? • Belief that his proposals would cost money, which equaled tariffs • South hated tariffs

7. Tariff of Abominations • By 1824 tariffs were often as high as 37%, but manufacturers wanted more • Calhoun proposed a new higher tariff (45%) on imported raw materials like wool – hoping New Englanders would think the tariff too high and vote against it- thus hurting the president • But New Englanders passed the law in 1828 • Southerners called it the “Tariff of Abominations”

8. South Carolina’s Reaction • In 1828 John C. Calhoun anonymously wrote “The South Carolina Exposition” • Called for a nullification of the tariff by southern states or face the possibility of secession – but South Carolina was alone in the threat • How is this different than the argument for nullification from the KY & VA Resolutions?

9. North, Middle, & West States Factories were growing and wanted protection. North-east was booming in manufacturing, West was developing, and Southwest had new land for cotton Southern States Few factories and were heavy consumers of manufactured goods. Old South had fallen on hard times. Fear the economic discrimination would lead to federal interference in slavery. Differing Perspectives on Tariffs

10. Election of 1828 • Return to political parties • National Republicans = Adams • Democratic Republicans = Jackson • Worst mud-slinging yet • Jackson won the popular vote and the Electoral College (178-83) – with most support from the West and South • He portrayed himself as the “People’s President” – not an aristocrat – he benefited from a national sense of democracy

11. Old Hickory • Not old aristocracy • Did live in a mansion and owned slaves • He was from the West, a folk hero, war hero • Also had tuberculosis, malaria, and severe headaches • Had two bullets lodged in his body from duels • Why was he unique? • First president from the West • First president nominated at a formal party convention • No college education

12. Jackson’s Inauguration • Masses pour in to see their hero • Common citizens are welcomed into the White House during the inauguration • Broken china and furniture • Jackson’s critics called it “the reign of King Mob” other simply referred to the era as the “age of the common man”

13. To the Victor… • The first election since 1800 that a new party held office • Jackson replaced older, experienced people with younger people – usually friends or patrons • Jackson used the spoils system to reward people but often at the cost of experience and knowledge

14. The Nullification Crisis • The new Congress passed a new tariff in 1832 • Better than the old 1828 Tariff, but still fell short of the south’s demands. • Seemed to be a new permanent tariff • “Nullies” defeat “Unionists” in the state congress & holds a convention • Declare the tariff null within SC • Threaten to leave the union if forced to pay the tariff.

15. How to Reach a Compromise? • Old Hickory wanted blood and a show of force • Issued a proclamation against nullification • Henry Clay of KY introduced a bill to cut the tariff by 10% over 8 years – The compromise Tariff of 1833 • Tariff squeaked by in Congress • Congress also passed the Force Bill

16. Four Ways to Deal with the Indians • Extinction • Reservations • Can’t use the army to guard • Americans didn’t keep their promises • Assimilate • 1787-1820 • “Five Civilized Tribes” that did assimilate • Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles. • Removal beyond the Mississippi • Georgia wanted jurisdiction over Indian affairs. Supreme Court three times upholds Indian rights.

17. The Trail of Tears • Jackson will not enforce the court’s decision • Proposes to remove eastern tribes beyond the Mississippi. Supposedly voluntary • Indian Removal Act of 1830 • 100,000 Indians are removed and many die on the trip out west.

18. The Bank War • Jackson HATES the national bank and believes it is unconstitutional • The Bank of the U.S. is extremely powerful • The Bank was, overall good for the United States • In 1832, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster present Congress with a bill to renew the Bank of the United States • If the bill passed, Jackson alienates his western farmers • If Jackson vetoes it, he would lose the election without the support of wealthy and influential groups in the East • A win-win for the Whigs

19. The Bank War

20. Significance of Jackson’s Veto • Strengthened the presidency and expanded the power of the veto • Said the Bank was unconstitutional and that the president or Congress can decide constitutionality • Declared that the Bank should not receive special privileges • Appealed to the people

21. Election of 1832 • Jackson agreed to run again in 1832 with Van Buren as his vice-president • South Carolinians still wanted lower tariffs and when the tariff of 1832 was passed they gained some relief, but the tariffs on cottons, woolens, and iron remained high • The South Carolina legislature became a battleground between the nullification supporters and the Unionists • The state adopted the Ordinance of Nullification

22. Election of 1832 • The Democratic Party (dropped the Republican) endorsed Jackson • Without a platform the Jackson won easily (219-49) • Jackson saw victory as a mandate against the National Bank • Jackson called the Bank the “hydra of corruption” and claimed federal deposits were not safe • Jackson focused on removing federal deposits from the Bank

23. Ordinance of Nullification • The Ordinance repudiated the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 as unconstitutional • The state selected Hayne as governor and Calhoun to replace him as senator • Calhoun resigned as vice-president to defend nullification • Jackson stood firm and issued the Nullification Proclamation which declared that one state would not be allowed to dissolve the Union • Federal troops were sent to Charleston

24. Force Bill (1833) • Nullifiers mobilized the militia • In 1833 the president requested the Force Bill authorizing the army to use force against the state of South Carolina to enforce federal laws • Henry Clay arranged for Congress to cut the tariff on cotton in half by 1842 • In March the president signed the compromise tariff and the Force Bill – South Carolina rescinded the nullification of the tariffs and nullified the Force Bill (token gesture of defiance)

25. Indian Removal Act (1830) • Jackson believed the Indians were savages and the country was better without them • In 1828 Jackson stated the Indians would be humanely moved to the west of the Mississippi and resettled in the “Great American Desert” • In 1830 Congress approved the move • In 1832 Chief Black Hawk led the Sauk and Fox tribes against the resettlement program • The Illinois militia massacred women and children as they fled – Jeff Davis and Abe Lincoln were involved

26. Whig Party • Jackson’s opponents joined together to form the Whigs – because it symbolized an anti-monarchy movement. Many people now referred to Jackson as “King Andrew I” • The first signs of political power came when Clay, Calhoun, and Webster all joined forces in 1834 to challenge Jackson’s banking policies • They were conservatives who wanted internal improvements and a market economy

27. The Election of 1836 • Jackson selected Martin Van Buren as his successor • Many believed this was simply Jackson’s attempts to serve a third term • The Whigs were unable to nominate a single candidate and instead nominated several based on region hoping to send the election to the House, where they might have a chance • Van Buren, the “Little Magician” barely won in the popular vote, but comfortably in the Electoral vote (170-124)

28. Martin Van Buren • Van Buren was of Dutch ancestry and the first president born in the United States • He was so skilled at politics that he earned the nickname “Little Magician” • Much of his success was owed to his association with Jackson and when he took office it appeared as if Jackson had remove the two biggest problems – the bank and nullification • But Jackson’s economic policies also caused the Panic of 1837