Unit 3, Part 4

Expanding Democracy

The State of US Democracy in 1820

Before 1820, only white men who owned property and paid taxes could vote.

Political Parties:

  • There were no official political parties

Voting:

  • Men voted by saying whom they were voting for, not by secret ballot.

Electoral College:

  • State lawmakers chose representatives for the Electoral College, who then elected the president

Participation:

  • Voter participation was less than 30 percent of adult white males.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Identify the changes in democratic participation that occurred during the Jackson era.
  • Explain how the “corrupt bargain” of 1824 led to the formation of a new political party.
  • Describe the factors that influenced the election of 1828.

Lesson Question: How did American democracy change in the 1820s?

  • The Expansion of Democracy
  • The election of 1824
  • The election of 2826

American Democracy Before 1820

Citizens had a small role in elections

  • Voting rights were limited
  • Voters followed the lead of wealthy, powerful families.
  • Candidates did not appeal directly to the voters.

That changed when the country experienced an economic crisis.

The Panic of 1819 and New Voting Rights

In 1819, an economic crisis swept the country.

Recession

  • Many people lost their homes and farms.
  • People wanted to be able to elect politicians who would help them.
  • They demanded an end to property requirements for voting
  • Most states gradually extended the vote to all adult white men.

The Growth of Voting Rights

By 1830, only six states still had property requirements for voting.

Other Changes to the Voting Process

Polling Places:

  • More polling places were created, and they stayed open longer.

Written Votes:

  • Voters no longer called out their votes. They wrote them down.

Nominations:

  • Public conventions were held to nominate candidates.

Electorates:

  • Members of the Electoral College were chosen by popular vote

Voting Today

Today, we still use some of the voting processes that began in the 1820s.

  • Local polling places
  • Written ballots
  • Popular nominations
  • Popularly elected members of the Electoral College

US Politics Before 1824

After the War of 1812, the US went back to having only one official political party.

  • The Federalist Party had collapsed.

The Democratic-Republican Party was split:

  • Its leaders disagreed about slavery.
  • Some resented the selection process for presidential candidates.

Andrew Jackson (1767 - 1845)

  • Was born in the Carolinas
  • Was captured during the American Revolution
  • Became a lawyer and politician in Tennessee
  • Defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans
  • Spoke out against an “Eastern aristocracy”

Jackson’s Cult of Personality

Jackson’s simple background and tough reputation made him popular.

  • A log cabin birth
  • A soldier and war hero
  • A hot-tempered lawyer
  • A well-connected champion of common man

These traits won him the nomination for president

Jackson’s Early Political Career

Jackson rose through the political ranks.

Delegate:

  • Tennessee constitutional convention

Member of Congress:

  • Tennessee’s first congressman
  • Senator

Governor:

  • Governor of Florida territory in 1821

Candidate:

  • After returning to Senate, nominated for president in 1824

John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848)

  • Was the son of President John Adams
  • Served as a statesman and politician
  • Considered to be a brilliant but cold man
  • Was a Democratic-Republican with an independent streak

John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson

Of the four candidates for president, Adams and Jackson were the most popular.

John Quincy Adams:

  • Favored a strong federal government
  • Supported tariffs on imports
  • Opposed slavery
  • Dislikes party politics

Andrew Jackson:

  • Favored the rights of the states and the “common man”
  • Opposed high tariffs
  • Was a slaveholder and supported slavery

The Election of 1824

Four men ran for president in 1824. None won a majority vote

The “Corrupt Bargain” of 1824

Because no candidate won a majority of voters, Congress decided the election

  • Henry Clay collected votes for Adams.
  • Adams won the presidency
  • Adams made clay secretary of state
  • Jackson accused Adams and Clay of making a “corrupt bargain.”

Jackson Fights Back

Jackson felt betrayed by Clay’s deal.

  • He called Adams an “aristocrat.”
  • He fought Adam’s policies.
  • He formed a new political party: the Democratic Party.
  • Jackson’s campaign appealed directly to the people for support.

The Presidency of John Quincy Adams

In his own mind, Adams had failed as a president

  • His measures to increase tariffs were blocked.
  • His American Indian policies were unpopular
  • His attempts to acquire Texas failed.
  • HIs efforts to increase trade with the West Indies were unsuccessful.

Jackson Wins the Election of 1828

Adams had become unpopular.

Jackson’s campaign was aggressive, and he won by a landslide.

What Jackson’s Election Meant for America

Jackson’s Election:

  • The first to use a direct campaign
  • The first president from the West
  • One of the few with a limited education
  • First president from the working class.