The two-party system in the 1840s consisted of… (also make a list of their differences)
Democrats and Whigs
Democrats: supported individual liberties, states' rights, and federal restraint in social and economic affairs.
Whigs: Supported natural harmony of a society and community, a renewed national bank, protective tariffs, internal improvements, public schools, and prohibition of liquor and slavery.
The election of 1824 did not have a majority candidate, so how was the President chosen?
The House of Representatives had to choose the winner out of the top 3 candidates. Henry Clay was eliminated because he received the 4th most votes. Being the Speaker of the House, though, he did have much say in who became president. Clay convinced the House to elect John Quincy Adams as president. Quincy Adams agreed to make Clay the Secretary of State for getting him into office. The public felt that a "corrupt bargain" had taken place because Andrew Jackson had received the popular vote.
How did Henry Clay influence the next President in 1824?
He was Speaker of the House and had a say in who became president. He convinced the house to elect John Quincy Adams and in return, Clay became Secretary of State.
What does Corrupt Bargain mean?
After the election of 1824, advocates for Andrew Jackson began to think Quincy Adams bribed Henry Clay.
Summarize John Quincy Adams…
Strong NATIONALIST, supported the building of national roads, canals, and education.
What happened to the Five-Civilized Tribes? WHAT WAS IT??
These tribes were in Southeast and included: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole. These tribes resembled whites, including owning slaves, domesticating animals, and practicing Christianity.
Name the three presidential figures who ran for president in 1828 and their corresponding political party.
John Quincy Adams & Henry Clay - National Republicans
Andrew Jackson - Democrat
How did Andrew Jackson win presidency?
He received most of his support from the West & South and from the “corrupt bargain” idea.
What did Democrats do when they took control of the White House?
Replaced most public officials with their own people (the common man) who were illiterate and incompetent.
What was the spoils system?
System of rewarding political supporters with jobs in the government. Some were made public officials and were illiterate and incompetent
What happened with Tariffs in 1824?
It significantly increased taxes on imports.
What was the Tariff of Abominations? How did people respond?
Placed heavily tax on imports and was hated by Southerners because it was an extremely high tariff and they felt it discriminated against them. The South was having economic struggles and they used the tariff as a excuse for their problems. This prompted a pamphlet by John C, Calhoun to be made (The South Carolina Exposition) and it denounced the recent tariff as unjust and unconstitutional.
What was the Nullification Crisis?
Occurred in the south because of the Tariff of Abominations and included persistent efforts by South Carolina to nullify this tariff. This partially worked with Congress passing the Tariff of 1832 (lowered taxes), but it did not meet Southern demands.
What was the Columbia Convention?
Composed of South Carolina delegates that advocated for the tariff of 1832 to be void in South Carolina. The convention threatened to take South Carolina out of the Union if the Federal government attempted to collect the customs duties by force.
What happened as a result of the Columbia Convention?
Henry Clay introduced the Tariff of 1833. It gradually reduced the Tariff of 1832 by about 10% over 8 years.
What was the Force Bill?
Passed by Congress, it authorized the President to use the army and navy to collect federal tariff duties if needed.
What was the Indian Removal Act?
Despite Supreme Court rulings that favored the Indians' land rights, Congress passed this in 1830. It moved more than 100,000 Indians living east of the Mississippi to reservations west of the Mississippi. Many Indians died on forced marches along the Trail of Tears.
Note: People originally tried assimilating Indians into white cultures and convert them to Christianity.
What was the Black Hawk War?
War that broke out after the Indian Removal Act. Led by Black Hawk, these Indians fought against the relocation, but were heavily defeated.
Why did President Andrew Jackson dislike the Bank of the United States?
He felt it was very monopolistic. It was a private institution that was not accountable to the people, rather only to its investors. Nicholas Biddle, the president of the Bank, held a possibly unconstitutional amount of power over the nation's financial affairs.
What was the Bank War?
Erupted when Daniel Webster and Henry Clay presented Congress with a bill to renew the Bank's charter. It could would create conflict with the West (non-bank supports) and with the East (supporters) if the bill was vetoed or accepted.
What was the Anti-Masonic Party?
A third party entering the election of 1832. The party hated the Masonic Order because they thought the Order was comprised of privileged, elite people. Jackson was a Mason himself and therefore the Anti-Masons were an anti-Jackson party.
What did Andrew Jackson do in ensure the Bank of the United States would fall?
Before the Bank's charter expired, Jackson decided to remove federal deposits from its vaults. He proposed depositing no more funds in the bank and he gradually shrunk existing deposits by using the funds to pay for day-to-day expenditures of the government.
What were Pet Banks?
Pro-Jackson state banks that received the bulk of federal deposits when Andrew Jackson moved funds from the Bank of the United States.
What was a Specie Circular? (how did it occur too)
Sparked from wildcat banks in the west, which had begun to issue their own currency. This currency was unreliable since its value was based upon when it was issued. This caused Jackson to create the Specie Circular, a decree that required all public lands to be purchased with metallic money. This contributed greatly to the financial panic of 1837.
What were Whigs?
Consisted of the Anti-Masonic Party. Conservatives who supported government programs, reforms, and public schools.
What was the Panic of 1837?
Occurred because of Specie Circular and fluctuating currencies. Many loans given out by the wildcat banks could not be paid back. This panic caused hundreds of banks to collapse and the loss of jobs. To fix this, the Whigs expanded bank credit and introduced higher tariffs. The president, Van Buren rejected these proposals because he wanted to keep government involvement out of the economy. he was a bad president
Who was Santa Anna?
Dictator of Mexico in 1835 and removed Texans' local rights and started to raise army to suppress the rebelling Texans.
How did Texas Declare Independence? What happened AFTER?
Sam Houston (commander of Texas army) declared that Texas was Independent in 1836. He forced Santa Anna to sign a treaty in 1836 after Houston captured Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto. The treaty defined the Rio Grande as a Texan border. Texas wanted to become a state in the US, but northerners feared because Texas was pro-slave.
Who was William Henry Harrison
Defeated Van Buren to win the election of 1840 for the Whigs. Known for his successes against Indians the the British at the Battles of Tippecanoe and Thames.
What were the two major changes in politics in the 1840s after the Era of Good Feelings?
There were two new creations of parties: Whigs and Democrats