Jacksonian Democracy

US History I Honors

What happened when John Quincy Adams became President?

The return to Federalism

What were Adams' two goals as president?

He really wants to spend money (which he has no problem using implied powers - but he receives push back from the West and South because they call it a waste of money) and he wants to solidify the second political party

The Tariff of Abominations (1828)

South Carolina took the "Tariff of Abominations" as their lead into their protest. In the Exposition it was proposed to nullify the tariff - Satisfied northern manufactures, but alienated southern planters

What does VP Calhoun do in 1828 - tariff of abominations?

He anonymously writes, "The South Carolina Exposition and Protest" - it's anonymous because he's the Vice President

Theory of Nullification

the theory that states have the right to nullify a federal law they feel is unconstitutional

Though, why do they not nullify the Tariff of Abominations?

In hopes that Jackson will win the presidency and repeal it

What two things does the Tariff of Abominations prove?

Regions are becoming aware of weakness and nullification is being brought back

Egalitarian Impulse

belief that all people are equal socially, politically, and economically

Effects of the Egalitarian Impulse: Religious & Political

RELIGIOUS: reaction to formalism and elitism, of dominant protestant churches, POLITICAL: fewer barriers to political participation from 1800 to 1830 - Empowerment of the "Common Man"

The Common Man

The "average" American citizen, whose concerns are represented in government.

What are the 3 major effects of the Egalitarian Impulse?

1) the states gradually get rid of property requirements for voting - these states you still had to buy the land to live there, 2) Put pressure on Eastern States to abolish theirs, 3) By 1830, only Rhode Island, Virginia and Louisiana kept property requirements.

After the Egalitarian Impulse, what happened regarding reform?

African-Americans and women's opportunities shrunk, race and gender replace class, and the constitutional conventions strip African-American men of suffrage.

What does the factory system lead to?

1) Urbanization, less owning lands, which leads to dropping voting land requirements which are meant to put pressure, 2) Industrialization increases Southern dependence on Slavery

What happens in the 1840s?

Brings an increase in immigration from Ireland and Germany especially

What does and increase in immigration cause?

Tensions to rise

Where did most Ireland and German immigrants settle?

in Eastern and Northern cities

What do most Americans experience after the rise of immigration?

Fear of a "popish plot" - to hand the country over to papal control, xenophobia, discrimination, nativism

xenophobia

fear of foreigners

Discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

Nativism

A policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones

What do immigrants and industrialization lead to together?

Landless population in the North

Jeffersoniasm

Belief of human potential

Jacksoniasm

Every one is equal (white men)

How did Jackson win the election?

He used his ordinariness to champion new voters- especially in the West

What did Jackson change?

Education and printing production

Jackson's "Penny Press"

Cheap news papers (a penny)

In the time of the Jacksonian Democracy, what was the growing belief?

That every citizen should govern

The Election of 1824

No one won a majority of electoral votes, so the House of Representatives had to decide. (300,000 votes)

Election of 1828

Jackson soundly defeated John Quincy Adams, (1.1 mil votes)

Election of 1840

This election was characterized by the mudslinging or the attack or insult on each others reputation. William Henry Harrison wins election. (2.4 mil votes)

What did the Election of 1828 result in?

"modern" parties - two nationally known candidates not regional ones

Political Machines

Corrupt organized groups that controlled political parties in the cities. A boss leads the machine and attempts to grab more votes for his party.

What do the elections of 1828-1840 show?

You cannot win with just regional support anymore

Second Great Awakening

Second religous revival movement, that cause for push back against traditionalism of protestant american chruches

Where was the Second Great Awakening especially popular?

in the West, mainly because of isolation

What new religious traditions did the Second great Awakening cause?

Methodists and Baptists

What did Democratic policies do to Methodists and Baptists?

Gave voice to the worshipers directly and no central control

How were methodists and baptists ideas spread?

By internal preachers and camp revivals and spread among African Americans as well

Who was running in the presidential election of 1828 (the First Modern Election)

John Quincy Adams and Jackson

Corrupt Bargain of 1824

The election outcome in the hands of the House of Representatives, which elected John Quincy Adams over rival Andrew Jackson. Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House at the time, and he convinced Congress to elect Adams. Adams then made Clay his Secretary of State.

In the election of 1828 what did both sides lack?

Clear policies, this was known as "Campaign Mudsliding"

What was Jackson (personality/traits) like?

A blood thirsty tyrant and drunk - his wife was slandered over previous marriage

To get back at the digs being thrown at Jackson, what did Jacksonian Democrats do?

They accused Adams of selling American Women to the Czar and spending public money on "gambling devices"

Why did Jackson Win?

The issue of the day was overshadowed by personality + Adams has a talent for making enemies and saying the wrong thing.

Spoils System

the system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power

Using the spoils system, what does Jackson eliminate?

"Crooks and Incompetents" from government and award the political machine

Principle of Rotation

every couple of years the people Jackson appointed would leave and new people would join

How does the Principle of Rotation not work?

Jackson does not follow through and the insiders and the experts remain in control.

Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet

informal group of close friends who advised Jackson; they often met in the kitchen of the White House. Most of them were drunks and Jackson's friends.

What is Jackson like as president?

He sees himself as direct representative of the people, he Is FRUGAL

What resurfaced - regarding Jackson?

Issues that he avoided - Sectional Tensions are Resurfacing

What is Jackson's plan once the national debt is paid off?

Giving surplus revenue back to states once national debt is payed off

What are the regions opinion on the aftermath of national debt paid?

West opposes because it means the government will not be able to reduce land prices, and the South sees an opportunity to ally with the West against protective tariffs.

Robert Hayne(SC) and Daniel Webster(MA)

Hayne proposes a South-West Alliance built on cheap land and low tariffs Webster defends northern interests accusing Hayne of being a disunionist (treason), Webster states rights argument sound like treasons which crushes the South-West Alliance

What three things does Robert Hayne vs Daniel Webster emphasizes?

1) Regional Divinos are stronger than ever, 2) The Government is torn on what is good for the government vs. the states 3) Pressures South to test nullification

Eaton Affair

An incident in which Peggy Eaton, the wife of Andrew Jackson's secretary of war, this ruined the relationship between Calhoun and Jackson.

After the Eaton Affair, what does Calhoun reccomend?

That Jackson be prosecuted in 1818 for Seminole Wars

When does Martin Van Buren become VP?

In 1832 after Calhoun resigns

What are the two outcomes of Martin Van Buren becoming the VP?

1) Pushes Calhoun from Jackson, 2) Creates an awkward alliance between Calhoun and Jackson

Whigs

Jackson's opponents, names from the anti-monarchy party in England, they oppose "king Andrew I"

What do most Whigs only agree on?

Their hatred for Jackson

What two things do the Rise of the Whigs cause?

1) Opposition to Jackson grows around opposition to Jackson himself 2) Whig's do not have platform, not successful , opposition to Jack is often unorganized

Tariff of 1832

A tariff imposed by Jackson which was unpopular in the South; South Carolina nullified it, but Jackson pushed through the Force Act, which enabled him to make South Carolina comply through force; Henry Clay reworked the tariff so that South Carolina would accept it, but after accepting it, South Carolina also nullified the Force Act

Nullification Crisis - What is the South threatened by?

Growth of Abolition

Abolition

Movement to end slavery

South Carolina's Ordinance of Nullification

Declaration by South Carolina after the Tariff of 1828 that said that states still have the right to nullify and threatened secession

Jackson's response to the South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification

He calls it treason - of a state can nullify then the union can't exist

Nullification - Calhoun

Resigns as VP - returns to congress to try for peaceful solution, his goal is to keep nullification in place

In response to nullification, what was passed?

New Tariff Bill and "Force Bill"

The New Tariff Bill and Force Bill do what?

lower tariffs more and give president extra authority to enforce revenue laws - bot sides save face

What does the South Carolina Ordinance prove?

Nullification is not real

What happens 10 days before the Ordinance of Nullification?

South Carolina backs down and repeals ordinance

What dominates the Election of 1832?

Jackson's War on the National Bank

What does Jackson launch? - banking

The "bank war" which he wins but the country loses

McCulloch v. Maryland

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law- proves that the National Bank is Constitutional

What did Nicholas Biddle want to use the bank to do?

Control lending policy of smaller bank

Why did Jackson oppose the Bank of the United States?

Because of Nick Biddle and he had no control over it

Why did anger people (Jackson)?

Because it was all centralized power in one place, Jackson does not trust banks

Why is Jackson allowed to veto the bank?

The Whigs

What did Biddle want to do?

Slow rapid growth in favor of stability

How did Biddle's plan backfire?

economic downturn blamed on him and Bank of US died

How did Biddle harm himself?

He made him widely unpopular because people wanted looser lending processes.

How did Bankers feel about Biddle?

That he was cutting into their profits, they resented the control that the BoUS had over them

Who did Jackson lead?

Those who hated the bank

Did Jackson favor paper money or gold/sliver?

Gold

What did Whig leaders like Webster and Clay convince Biddle to do before the election of 1832?

To push for the rechartering of the Bank because they want the bank to be a centerpiece of the election and force Jackson to take a stand

What did Jackson do to the Bank Bill?

He vetoed it calling it unconstitutional as he understood it regardless of the national bank.

What does Jackson do to the federal deposits?

removes all federal deposits from them bank and puts them into pro-jackson banks "pet banks"

Who led the "Whig" opposition?

Henry Clay

What happens to the Whigs?

They are too slow to develop a political party and they have too many leaders and not enough followers

Panic of 1837

When Jackson was president, many state banks received government money that had been withdrawn from the Bank of the U.S. These banks issued paper money and financed wild speculation, especially in federal lands. Jackson issued the Specie Circular to force the payment for federal lands with gold or silver. Many state banks collapsed as a result. A panic ensued (1837). Bank of the U.S. failed, cotton prices fell, businesses went bankrupt, and there was widespread unemployment and depression

Van Buren's views on the Panic of 1837?

Do nothing- less government interference, the better

Who is effected the most by the Panic of 1837?

The West

Who is the blame of the Panic of 1837 placed on?

The Democrats

Specie Circular

issued by President Jackson July 11, 1836, was meant to stop land speculation caused by states printing paper money without proper specie (gold or silver) backing it. It required that the purchase of public lands be paid for in specie. It stopped the land speculation and the sale of public lands went down sharply. The panic of 1837 followed.

Who published the Liberator?

William Lloyd Garrison

The Liberator

An anti-slavery newspaper written by William Lloyd Garrison. It drew attention to abolition, both positive and negative, causing a war of words between supporters of slavery and those opposed.

Second Party System

The second party structure in the nation's history that emerged when Andrew Jackson first ran for the presidency in 1824. The system was built from the bottom up as political participation became a mass phenomenon.

Election of 1840 Facts

William Henry Harrison (Whig) vs. Martin Van Buren (Democrat); result: Whig victory & a truly national two-party system.

Who was the leader of the Second Party System?

Henry Clay