Rise of Jacksonian Democracy: A Comparative Study

1. Age of Jackson Unit IIIC AP United States History

2. Jacksonian Democracy • Rise of the “common man” • Among white male society, equal opportunity was evident • Universal male suffrage • Change from caucuses to conventions • Selection of electors chosen more by voters • Increase in local and state elections • Rise of third parties • Spoils system -> patronage, loyalty • FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: Compare/contrast Jeffersonian Democracy and Jacksonian Democracy.

3. Election of 1824 • Sectional and ideological differences lead to Dem-Reps splitting up • Election of 1824 has four candidates • General/Senator Andrew Jackson (SOUTH) • Sec. of State John Quincy Adams (NORTH) • Sec. of Treasury William Crawford (EAST) • Speaker of the House Henry Clay (WEST) • “Corrupt Bargain” • House chose Adams over Jackson despite Jackson earning popular vote and most electoral votes • Split among National Republicans and Jacksonian Democrats

4. House Vote for Election of 1824

5. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) • Son of Federalist John Adams • National Republican who favored strong central government and federal programs • Most of his proposals rejected by a pro-Jackson Congress • Alienated the South and West • Tariff of 1828 aka Tariff of Abominations • High protective tariff • Encourage northern industries; Southern agriculture suffered

6. Election of 1828 • During Quincy Adams’s presidency, Jackson built a popular coalition, especially in the West and South • Political campaigns on national levels • Jackson’s wife • Coffin Handbills • Large turnout • Jackson soundly defeats Adams

7. “Old Hickory” • Unlike the previous presidents • Duelist, Gambler, Bar Fighter, Pipe-Smoker, Tobacco Chewer • War hero • Exemplified common man success • Practiced the spoils system • Hired loyalists and friends • Took office promising a strong executive • “It was settled by the Constitution, the laws, and the whole practice of the government that the entire executive power is vested in the President of the United States.” • Endorsed states’ rights • Considered himself a Jeffersonian Democrat

8. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) • Vetoed more bills by Congress than all predecessors • Maysville Road (1830) • Vetoed federal funds as violation of intrastate commerce • Peggy Eaton Affair • “Kitchen Cabinet” • Private group of trusted advisors • Whig Party • Established in 1833 in reaction to Jackson’s power • Evolution of National Republicans • Henry Clay, Daniel Webster • Major Issues • Native Removal • Nullification Crisis • Bank of the United States

9. Jackson and Native Removal • Jackson encouraged settlement in Native lands • Benefits white Americans to exploit resources, Deep South wanted fertile land for cotton • Indian Removal Act (1830) • Negotiate with Native tribes for removal west to lands west of the Mississippi • Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) • Determined Native tribes not to be “foreign states” but as “domestic dependent nations” • Worcester v. Georgia (1832) • Determined sovereignty of Native tribes therefore not subject to state laws • Apocryphal: “John Marshall had made his decision. Now let him enforce it!” - Andrew Jackson • Trail of Tears • Many died from exposure, disease, starvation • 60,000 removed; 15,000 died

10. Jackson and the Nullification Crisis • Tariff of Abominations (1828) • South Carolina Exposition and Protest (1828) • Inspired by Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • State could nullify federal law or possibly secede if necessary • Webster-Haynes Debates (1830) • Senator Robert Hayne (SC) promotes nullification and states’ rights • Daniel Webster responds with supremacy of U.S. Constitution, nullification/secession is treason; “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!” • Jefferson Day Dinner (1830) • Andrew Jackson: “Our federal Union: It must be preserved.” • John C. Calhoun: “The Union: Next to our Liberty, the most dear.” • Tariff of 1832 • Ordinance of Nullification (1832) • South Carolina passes nullification of Tariffs of 1828/1832 • Prepares military build up in preparation • Force Bill (1833) • Jackson requests and granted authorization from Congress to lead federal military to crush nullifiers • Tariff of 1833 • Henry Clay negotiates compromise to gradually lower tariff rates to 1816 levels

11. Jackson and the Economy • Jackson and the Bank • Jackson believed Bank of U.S. as unconstitutional • Considered a private monopoly • A force against the common man • Nicholas Biddle ran bank effectively but “suspiciously” • Bank supported by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster • “You are a den of vipers and thieves. I have determined to rout you out, and by the Eternal, I will rout you out!” • “The bank, Mr. Van Buren, is trying to kill me, but I will kill it.” • Jackson denied Bank’s charter • Transferred funds to state banks aka “pet banks” • Specie Circular (1836) • Purchase of federal lands by gold and silver rather than bank notes • Panic of 1837 • Land speculation and price decrease • Hard currency led to devalue of paper money and inflation • Denial of Bank charter • Banks closed; unemployment increased; depression for next five years

12. National political campaigns and spoils system galvanize political parties Democrats: states’ rights laissez-faire and free trade Expansionism Pro-slavery equal opportunity South and West working class Andrew Jackson, Martin van Buren Whigs: American System strong federal government Mixed on slavery social conservatives New England, Northerners upper and middle class professionals Henry Clay Rise of Third Parties Anti-Masonic Party: issue party concerned about Freemasons promoted economic nationalism and social conservatism introduced party conventions Liberty Party: abolitionist party Free Soil Party: Prevent expansion of slavery anti-slavery party in latter years Second Party System (1828-1854)

13. The End of the Jackson Era • “After 8 years as president, I have only two regrets. That I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun.” - Andrew Jackson • Panic of 1837 and Martin van Buren’s presidency drifted support toward Whigs • “Martin van Ruin” • Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison, a war hero and depicted common man, in 1840 • Log Cabin and Hard Cider • “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” • Whigs win presidency, but Harrison dies in office • John Tyler, a Whig, favors more Democratic policies • The nation enters period of expansion and slavery