Brinkley C9

Emergence of Andrew Jackson

• Captured at 13 by the British

• Became a senator, justice, planter and merchant

• Won battle of New Orleans in war of 1812

• Nickname “old hickory”

Broadening the franchise

After Jackson’s election more white male citizens are able to vote

Dorr Rebellion

RI still has their old constitution, 1840 lawyer Thomas dorr formed “people’s party” for voting rights, try to make new constitution, not approved. They create a new government with Dorr as governor, in 1842, try to capture state arsenal and fail.

Tocqueville

French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville writes the book “democracy in America”,- study on American daily lives, cultures, and visions of democracy. Recognized that rising democracy had limits, and also that the ruling elites could rise and fall easily

Bucktails

Party loyalty increases during this period, and Martin van Buren leads a dissent political party in NY called the bucktails. Argued institutionalized competing parties will check and balance each other, represent the people the best

Second party system

2 party system started in the 1830s, whigs are anti Jackson and democrats are pro Jackson

Spoils system

Jackson removes Jefferson’s corrupt officials but replaces them with his own. He also hated the caucus system for presidential nomination, replaced it with a party convention.

Basis for Nullification

In the late 1820s, South Carolina is angry at the tariff of abominations for stagnation of state economy, want to secede from the union. Calhoun offers a more moderate alternative- nullification. If a state concluded Congress had passed unconstitutional law, it could declare the law null (based on VA and Kentucky Resolutions and the 10th amendment)

Rise of Van Buren

Working as Secretary of State for Jackson. Close with Jackson due to accepting an unpopular woman who married part of the cabinet into his social society, while Calhoun did not (Peggy Eaton). Jackson picks Van Buren as his successor due to this

Webster Hayne Debate

Robert hayne is a senator from SC, said the north was trying to slow the growth of the west for economic growth in the northeast. Daniel Webster is a senator from Massachusetts and a Whig, attacks hayne and Calhoun for threatening integrity of the union. Hayne replies with the theory of nullification, and Webster replies in a famous “Second reply to Hayne”. President draws a line against Calhoun after this.

Nullification crisis

1832, Hayne governor, Calhoun Senator of SC. State convention to nullify tariffs of 1828 and 32. 1833, Jackson proposes a bill allowing president to use military force to enforce acts of Congress. Henry clay, senator, proposes a bill that gradually lowered the tariff over time, averts a crisis.

Shifting attitudes to natives

Paternalistic view starts to turn more hostile. White settlers want natives removed from land

Black Hawk War

Battle in 1831-32 whites in Illinois vs alliance of Sauk Indians under warrior Black Hawk. Resentful of earlier treaty, reoccupied vacant lands, settlers assembled militia to have them removed. Black hawk attempts surrender, militia is vicious. Captured, sent to tour the east as a symbol.

Cherokees in Georgia

5 civilized nations live in various southern states, settled agriculture societies with successful economies. Cherokees in Georgia are very successful, independent nation. Cherokee men and women even follow white gender roles.

Removal Act

1830, appropriated money to finance federal negotiations with native groups to move them west. Wanted to negotiate federally, not states individually with nations. Cherokee nations in Georgia bring it to the SC, Jackson refuses to enforce the decision. An 1835 treaty with the cherokees for $5 mil and new west territories, although many refuse to recognize it, and Jackson sends the army to enforce it.

Trails of tears

1000 Cherokees flee to NC, to a small reservation. Most make long, forced walk to territory in Oklahoma. Thousands die, known as the trail of tears (winter 1838). Natives all moved to “great American desert”, unwanted western territory.

The Seminole war

1835 Florida, chieftain Oscela, stage uprising, many killed, but eventually federal gov abandons war in 1842- $20 mil spend

Nicholas Biddle

National bank in the 1830s is the most powerful financial institution in the nation. Nicholas biddle is the president of the bank from 1823 on.

Soft money

Want more currency in circulation, unsupported by gold and silver, state banks and allies like this theory. Object to bank of US restraining printing

Hard money

Gold and silver are the only basis for money. Opposed financial speculation and expansion of national bank. Jackson was a hard money supporter.

Fall of the bank

Biddle is friendly with Daniel Webster, clay and Webster try to renew charter in 1832, vetoed, becomes a major part of the election. Jackson and van Buren destroy clay in the election of 1832. Jackson removes federal deposits from the bank, hires Secretary of treasury Roger B Taney, puts them in state banks. Biddle tries to create recession to blame on Jackson, doesn’t work, loses charter in 1836, leading to fragmented economy for years after.

Taney Court

Roger B Taney replaces Marshall 1835. Famous case is Charles River Bridge vs Warren Bridge. Who could build bridge over Charles River, decided that key to democracy is expansion of democratic opportunities, which couldn’t happen if old corps maintained monopolies.

Democrats Ideology

• Jackson

• Expanding economic and political opportunities for white men

• Limited government, create new opportunities

• Attacking corrupt and artificial privelege

• Lockdown are the most radical branch, small northern businessmen, want extreme attack on privelege

• Irish and German Catholics support democrats

Whigs Ideology

• Expanding federal power

• Encouraging industrial development, consolidated economic system

• Cautious of expansion west, commercial and manufacturing power focused

• Supported by wealthier groups

• Divide loyalty between triumphate Clay, Webster, Calhoun

Anti-Masons

Whigs connect for 1820s group against society of Freemasons, secret society that possibly murdered William Morgan, who was writing an expose about them. Jackson and Van Buren are Freemasons, attacked as anti democratic

Clays American system

Internal improvements, runs for president 3 times but never wins.

Election of 1836

Democrats for Van Buren, Whigs run 3, Webster, Hugh Lawson White, William Henry Harrison, Van Buren wins easily.

van Buren Win

Not popular, wins due to economic boom in 1836, due to public land sales, loans, building, surplus in treasury.

Distribution act

Congress pays surplus to states as 4 year loans, spent quickly by states

Specie Circular

Jackson presidential order, public land can only be bought with physical gold and silver

Panic of 1837

Specie Circular produces a financial panic, banks and businesses fail, prices fall, projects fail, leads to severe 5 yr depression. Europe was also suffering economically, withdrew American funds, straining banks. Democrats struggle due to blame for this

Independent Treasury

Passed by Van Buren, Gov places funds in independent treasury in Washington, passed 1840

The log cabin campaign

Whigs hold a national nominating convention Dec 1839, pick William Henry Harrison, and John Tyler as VP. Dems nominate Van Buren again. Penny press carries news of candidates to large groups, both parties appeal to simple, rustic values. Harrison wins the election of 1840.

John Tyler

Harrison dies of pneumonia. John Tyler takes over, Whigs have weak ties with him. Raises tariffs, abolishes independent treasury, but will not reinstate the national bank, as he was previously a Democrat. Whigs break with him, and he and a small band of conservative Whigs want to rejoin the dems.

The Caroline Affair

Eastern Canada launched rebellion against the British in 1837, charter American steamship Caroline, British burn it, killing an American and causing resentment. Authorities in NY charge Canadian Alexander McLeod with murder, making the British angry. Webster can’t do anything as Secretary of State, NY jury acquits Leod.

Aroostook War

Tensions over boundary of Canada and Maine, American and Canadian lumberjacks brawl there in 1838.

Creole

American ship the Creole also sailed from Virginia to New Orleans with 100 enslaved people, they take control and sail to the Bahamas. British officials there declare the enslaved free, US angry.

Webster Ashburton Treaty

New British Gov sends Lord Ashburton to US to make amends in 1842. Webster creates a treaty that establishes Canada’s boundary line and protected trade routes.

Treaty of Wang Hya

Caleb Cushing negotiates US trade with China in 1844, same privileges as the english