Unit 4: 1800 - 1848 Jeffersonians, Jacksonians and Whigs

The “Revolution of 1800“

Federalist Party split by 1800, giving the 1800 election to the Democratic-Republicans. Thomas Jefferson, supported by Alexander Hamilton who disliked him but disliked Burr more, and Aaron Burr.

This was America’s first transfer of power—from the Federalists to the Democratic-Republicans—and involved no violence.

The president was saddled with a vice president he did not want. This led to the Twelfth Amendment (1804), which allowed electors to vote for a party ticket.

Midnight Appointments

John Adams’s midnight appointments put Federalists in government positions. Jefferson refused to accept the appointments, resulting in lawsuits including the Marbury v. Madison case (1803).

Chief Justice John Marshall, a Federalist, sided with Marbury but was uncertain that the court could enforce it. He established the principle of judicial review. He ruled that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional, giving the Supreme Court the role of determining the constitutionality of Congressional acts.

Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson purchased Louisiana from the French, significantly increasing US territory.

New England Federalists opposed it because they were afraid that new Democratic states would reduce Federalist power. They formed the Essex Junto, planning to secede from the US but the plan never materialized.

John Randolph led the Quids, Republicans who criticized Jefferson for violating Republican principles.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Jefferson sent explorers, including Lewis and Clark, to investigate the western territories. They returned with favorable reports, causing many pioneers to turn West in search of land and economic opportunities.

Jefferson’s Second Term

The Napoleonic Wars eventually led to the War of 1812. British and French blockades hurt the US, and the British impressed American sailors and attacked an American ship in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair.

The US Navy was too weak, so Jefferson responded with the Embargo Act of 1807 which shut down US foreign trade and was opposed by New England states. The embargo encouraged smuggling, hurt the economy, especially in New England, and led to a loss of Democratic Republican Congressional seats in the 1808 elections.

The Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 reopened trade but banned trade with Britain and France. It was ineffective.

Increasing Tensions with Britain

Presiden Madison signed the Macon's Bill No. 2 and reopened trade with France and England. If either nation stopped attacking American ships, the U.S. would cut off trade with the other. Napoleon agreed to stop violating US neutrality, so Madison cut off trade with Britain. However, France continued to attack US ships and tensions worsened between the US and Britain.

Southern and Western War Hawks saw an opportunity to gain Canada from Britain. Led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, pro-war sentiments led to war in 1812.

War of 1812

Native Americans aligned with the British. Tecumseh unified tribes to stop American expansion. Anti-native sentiment in the US increased.

American forces were ill-prepared. Britain captured Washington, D.C. and set the White House on fire. The US won the Battle of New Orleans. The war ended in stalemate, with the Treaty of Ghent, but both sides perceived it as a victory. The war spurred manufacturing and self-sufficiency.

Federalists opposed the war and met in the Hartford Convention. The Federalist party, considered traitors, ended.

The Madison Administration

Promoted national growth, protective tariffs, interstate road improvements, and the rechartering of the National Bank, which was included in Henry Clay’s American System.

Era of Good Feelings

During the Era of Good Feelings, the US had only one political party and was briefly united.

Chief Justice John Marshall's rulings strengthens federal government.

The Panic of 1819 causes economic turmoil and nearly ends the Era of Good Feelings, but no nationally organized political opposition results from the panic. The Panic and the Missouri Compromise signaled the end of the Era of Good Feelings.

Westward Expansion

The Monroe Doctrine established a foreign policy of mutual non-interference to keep the European powers out of the newly developing nations in South America.

President John Quincy Adams acquires Florida from the Spanish through the Adams-Onis Treaty (1819).

This period of expansion resulted in a national debate over slavery. The creation of a new state from the Louisiana territory Missouri resulted in the Missouri Compromise (1820). Missouri became a slave state and Maine a free state. It established the 36-30 line which settled the issue of slavery temporarily.

Election of 1824

The Democratic-Republican caucus chose William H. Crawford, leading to opposition and demise of caucus system. Andrew Jackson had the most popular and electoral votes but no one had a majority, so the election was decided in the House of Representatives.

In the Corrupt Bargain, Speaker of the House Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams who appointed Clay as Secretary of State. Andrew Jackson won the 1828 Election.

Jacksonian Democracy

Jackson’s campaign eventually led to the formation of the present-day Democratic Party. Jackson was popular because of his military victories in the War of 1812, particularly the Battle of New Orleans.

He replaced government officials with political supporters, creating the spoils system. Jacksonian democracy greatly increased political participation for white men, and followed the Jeffersonian vision that the federal government should play a limited role.

Native Americans

Thomas Jefferson believed in assimilation. By Jackson’s presidency, there were “Five Civilized Tribes” in the South, including the Cherokee nation, which had developed a written language and agriculture, and converted to Christianity.

Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 aimed to relocate the natives west. When gold was discovered on Cherokee land and Georgia demanded the Cherokees move west, the Cherokees refused. They brought the case to the Supreme Court. They won the Worcester v. Georgia case, but Jackson refused to enforce the decision. Cherokees were forced to move to Oklahoma in the Trail of Tears, many dying from sickness and starvation.

The Tariff of Abominations

The Tariff of 1828 passed during the Adams administration, was heavily opposed by the South and brought up the issue of the doctrine of nullification. The Webster-Hayne Debate (1830) over states' rights versus federal authority highlighted the sectional divides that would lead to civil war.

John C. Calhoun argued that the states could nullify the law and the nullificationists declared the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional in the South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification (1832).

Jackson requested the Force Act and sent soldiers to reinforce the tariffs. The Compromise Tariff of 1833 was signed, which would lower tariffs over time.

Economic Policies

There was distrust of government and the Second Bank of the United States (BUS), which was believed to protect Northern interests at the expense of the West. The Bank War(1832–1836) was a conflict between Jackson and Biddle. Jackson vetoed the rechartering of the BUS and put federal funds in state "pet" banks.

Jackson preferred "hard currency" such as gold or silver and issued the Specie Circular, which caused a money shortage and helped cause the Panic of 1837. Van Buren’s Independent Treasury Act in 1840 would keep federal funds in government banks instead of state banks.

Election of 1836

To oppose the Democrats, the Whigs Party formed. It supported the bank, manufacturing and high tariffs, and federal support for internal improvements while opposing expansion and new immigrants. Most were religious and supported the temperance movement.

By solving the nullification crisis and defeating the bank, Jackson won overwhelming support from the people. His successor Martin Van Buren won the Election of 1836. Van Buren also favored hard currencies, worsening the Panic of 1837. Whig William Henry Harrison became president in 1841.

Harrison soon died and John Tyler became president. He went against his party, vetoing many Whig bills and supporting states’ rights.