Notes on Van Buren, the Whigs, and the Panic of 1837 (1836–1840)

Notes on the Jacksonian Era: 1836–1840

• Overview of key figures and outcomes

  • The first time I was in the Alright. He’s a lawyer. He helps, He’s born in, like, New York State. He’s Democrat. Jackson endorses him as his successor.
  • In the election of 1836, the Democrats unite under his campaign; the Whigs run multiple campaigns. Ben Buren (a mis-spelling of Van Buren in the transcript) wins on Jackson’s coattails. Van Buren was not a military hero like Jackson, which mattered for perceptions of popularity and strength.
  • Jackson’s successor is presented as Jacksonian but not identical to Jackson himself, affecting how voters saw his strength and leadership.

• The Whig party: origins, composition, and strategy

  • Emerged as opposition to Jackson’s policies and executive overreach (concern about the presidential veto and centralized power).
  • Coalition is diverse: anti-Masons, disaffected Democrats, merchants, bankers, and some planters who disliked Jackson’s economic policies.
  • No unified positive program beyond limiting executive power; moral reform aspects appeal to a broad coalition (temperance, reform movements).
  • Temperance and moral reform become a unifying issue, expanding the coalition beyond purely economic interests.
  • Strategy: run multiple regional candidates and split electoral votes to throw the election to the House of Representatives; this strategy ultimately fails to produce a lasting, cohesive national victory.

• The Panic of 1837 and Van Buren’s unpopularity

  • A major economic crisis with multiple causes: land speculation, western migration, collapse of local banks, and falling cotton prices, leading to mass unemployment.
  • Some of the economy’s problems trace to policies and economic changes that began during Jackson’s presidency, surfacing only after his term.
  • Van Buren bears blame for the crisis, in part due to his belief in limited government intervention and reluctance to take aggressive action to counter downturns.
  • He proposes an independent treasury (government funds held in separate vaults, not in private banks), but the policy is seen as too little, too late to alleviate suffering.

• Slavery, the gag rule, and political calculations

  • Van Buren supports a gag rule to silence antislavery petitions in Congress, which keeps southern Democrats on board with his coalition.
  • Northern Democrats are outraged by the gag rule, signaling a growing sectional tension, though a full sectional split hasn’t yet crystallized.

• The 1840 election: Harrison vs. Van Buren

  • The Whigs nominate William Henry Harrison and John Tyler; Harrison is framed as a military hero and a “common man” in contrast to Van Buren’s elite image.
  • Harrison’s campaign emphasizes a populist style: mass rallies, slogans, songs, parades, and a strong media-led campaign culture.
  • Harrison’s nickname: Tippy Canoe (referring to a battle in which he gained fame); running mate: John Tyler.
  • Campaign slogan: "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too", signaling a strong, catchy message and mobilization of popular support.
  • The campaign marks a shift toward rally-based, mass-participation politics rather than purely elite campaigning.

• Campaign style, images, and political messaging

  • Harrison is portrayed as a man of the people (the “log cabin and hard cider” persona), whereas Van Buren is depicted as more elite and detached from common voters.
  • The shift toward charismatic, image-driven campaigns foreshadows the modern campaign era.

• Connections to the broader historical context

  • This period sits after the Market Revolution, with debates over economic policy, banking, and the role of government in the economy.
  • Slavery and abolitionism become increasingly salient, creating tensions that deepen in the 1840s and beyond.
  • The era shows how political parties reorganize around policy concerns (executive power vs. legislative power), economic crises, and sectional conflicts.

• Ethical, philosophical, and practical implications discussed

  • The gag rule raises questions about freedom of petition, free speech, and the limits of minority/pro-slavery interests in Congress.
  • The independent treasury reflects a debate over the proper size and role of government in stabilizing the economy.
  • The Whig reliance on moral reform and temperance reveals how moral narratives are mobilized to build political coalitions across diverse groups.
  • Campaign tactics (mass rallies, slogans, and identity politics) demonstrate the increasing power of media and imagery in shaping public opinion.

• Key individuals and concepts to remember

  • Martin Van Buren (referred to as “Ben Buren” in places in the transcript): Democratic successor to Andrew Jackson; emphasizes independent treasury and limited government.
  • The Whig Party: anti-Jackson coalition, allied among merchants, bankers, anti-Mason groups, planters, and temperance reformers; seeks to restrain executive power but struggles to maintain unity.
  • William Henry Harrison: Whig candidate in 1840; military hero; marketed as a man of the people.
  • John Tyler: Harrison’s running mate; later a controversial president in his own right, leading to internal Whig tensions.
  • Tippy Canoe and Tyler Too: campaign slogan embodying populist mobilization.

• Academic and citation notes mentioned in the transcript

  • There is a discussion about citation format: whether to include page numbers or just the author’s last name in-text; preference can depend on discipline and whether you’re citing a book, article, or newspaper.
  • Example practice: in-text citation might be shown as (LastName) or (LastName, Page). For some courses, page numbers may be omitted in essays on history, while others may require them depending on sources.
  • The dialogue also notes that the format can vary by assignment and that page numbers may not always be used in certain disciplines (e.g., English versus History).