The Presidencies of John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson Study Guide

John Quincy Adams: Character and Leadership

• Characterization by Textbooks:   - The lecturer notes that textbooks often describe John Quincy Adams using specific, polarizing adjectives: irritable, sarcastic, and tactless.   - "Tactless" is defined in this context as being "blunt."   - A comparison is drawn to modern politics, suggesting these terms are similar to those used to describe President Trump.
• Politician vs. Leader:   - Adams is characterized as a "good politician" but a "poor leader."   - The distinction made is that while a politician might have good ideas or understand the "political games" (described as a "demolition derby"), a leader must be able to unite the people around those ideas.   - Adams struggled to execute his vision because he could not foster public unity or support.
• Early Administrative Moves:   - Adams removed only $12$ public servants from office upon entering his presidency.   - This was highly unusual; typically, a new administration replaces most previous officials with supporters or people they deem more competent.   - This move led the public to question if Adams was lazy, indifferent, or simply lacked a network of better candidates.
• Public Support:   - Adams entered office with very low support, having been voted for by only one third ($1/3$) of the public.   - The Jeffersonian Republicans began to fracture during his term, largely due to lingering resentment over the "Corrupt Bargain."

Domestic Policy and National Ambitions

• Internal Improvements:   - Adams was a strong proponent of infrastructure, urging Congress to fund the construction of new roads and canals.
• Education and Science:   - He proposed the creation of a national university to make higher education more accessible for the public, rather than just a few private colleges.   - He advocated for the construction of an astronomical observatory, which was considered highly progressive for the era.
• Public Backlash:   - Many citizens viewed these proposals as "too progressive" and a waste of tax dollars.   - The observatory and university were seen as "too far out there" for the general populace of the time.
• Economic Struggles and Tariffs:   - To fund these projects without Congressional support for direct taxes, Adams turned to raising tariffs.   - This decision was problematic because the public already harbored a strong dislike for tariffs.

The Tariff of Abominations and Southern Resistance

• The Tariff of 1828:   - This piece of legislation became known as the "Tariff of Abominations."   - The tariff rates saw a significant increase, jumping from a $23\%$ markup to a $37\%$ markup on incoming goods.
• Regional Reactions:   - The North: New England wool manufacturers favored the tariff because it protected them from foreign competition and placed the region on firm economic footing for the first time since the War of $1812$.   - The West and Southwest: These regions were generally prospering and expanding during this period.   - The Old South: Cotton and tobacco industries in the Old South struggled under the tariff. Southerners, who were strong advocates of states' rights, viewed the tariff as an unconstitutional federal intervention in commerce.
• The Slavery Connection:   - Southern leaders feared that if the federal government could intervene in trade via tariffs, they might eventually intervene in the slave trade or abolish slavery entirely.   - This fear was heightened by the emerging abolition movement in the British West Indies.
• Modern Comparison:   - The lecturer compares these historical trade disputes to recent Supreme Court discussions regarding President Trump's power to place tariffs on Chinese goods. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that such actions were not within the President's unilateral power.   - Quote from "Mister Shaffer": "History rhymes. It doesn't repeat itself, but very similar things happen over and over."
• Tariff Revenue:   - All extra money generated from tariffs goes directly to the federal government, similar to tax dollars.

John C. Calhoun and the Doctrine of Nullification

• Role of John C. Calhoun:   - Calhoun served as the Vice President under both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.   - Though he was generally a nationalist, his southern roots placed him in a difficult position regarding the tariff.
• The South Carolina Exposition:   - Calhoun secretly authored this document, which declared the Tariff of Abominations unconstitutional.   - The document argued for "nullification," which is defined as voiding or refusing to follow a law.   - He kept his authorship secret because such an act by a sitting Vice President could be considered treasonous.
• Outcome:   - No other states joined South Carolina in nullifying the tariff at that time.   - However, the frustration led to early discussions of secession in the South. South Carolina would eventually become the first state to secede from the Union roughly $30$ years later.

The Ugly Campaign of 1828

• Political Parties:   - National Republicans: The party of Adams, which ran on a platform of "ultra-nationalism."   - Democratic Republicans: Supported Andrew Jackson, running on the platform of doing the "will of the people."
• Mudslinging:   - This was the first election noted for extreme personal attacks, or "mudslinging."
• The Scandal of Rachel Robards:   - Andrew Jackson met Rachel Robards in a rural town (likely in Tennessee) and claimed it was love at first sight.   - Rachel was married to an abusive man who had abandoned her. Jackson waited until he believed she was divorced before marrying her.   - During the campaign, reporters discovered her divorce papers had never been finalized by her former husband.   - The press labeled her a polygamist and attacked her personally.   - Rachel became physically ill from the stress and died before Jackson entered the White House. Jackson blamed the press for her death for the rest of his life.
• The Attack on Adams:   - Jackson’s supporters accused Adams of being a "pimp" (in modern terms) because he hired young women to entertain foreign dignitaries.   - The lecturer clarifies that these were "escorts" in the European sense—women hired to talk to guests and accompany them to state dinners—and were not intended to be sexual.

Election Results and the Political Shift

• The Numbers:   - Andrew Jackson won the Electoral College with $178$ votes to Adams's $83$.   - Adams secured $44\%$ of the popular vote.
• Significance:   - The election saw a significantly increased voter turnout.   - It marked a political shift away from conservative elites toward a government where "the people will rule."
• End of Adams's Career:   - After his presidency, Adams served in the House of Representatives for $17$ years.   - He died on the floor of the House at the age of $80$ and lay in state there.

The Personality and Background of Andrew Jackson

• Nickname and Persona:   - Known as "Old Hickory," Jackson personified the energy, individualism, and directness of the West.   - He is described as a "folk hero," but was also very prejudiced.
• Early Life:   - Born in the Carolinas and orphaned as a young man.   - Moved to Tennessee, where he served as a member of Congress and a judge.   - He had a reputation for violence, having been involved in various duels and stabbings.
• Political "Firsts":   - The first President from the West.   - The first President nominated at a formal party convention.   - The first President without a college education.
• The Hermitage:   - Jackson's home in Tennessee, called "The Hermitage," was a large cotton plantation worked by slaves.   - Despite his "common man" image, he lived as an aristocrat in a large mansion.   - Jackson was frugal; when rebuilding his house, he repurposed the old roof for slave quarters and only paid to have the front of the mansion bricked (the back remained unbricked).
• Folklore:   - A famous story of Jackson involves him as a young boy refusing to spit-shine the boots of a British officer, which led the officer to draw his sword on him.

Jacksonian Democracy and Federal Power

• Political Philosophy:   - Jackson was suspicious of the federal government and professional politics.   - He wanted to make government so simple that any average citizen could participate in it.
• "King Andrew":   - Despite advocating for states' rights, Jackson believed the federal government outweighed the states once he was in power.   - He earned the nickname "King Andrew" due to his treatment of the Supreme Court and his aggressive use of the veto.
• The Supreme Court and the Trail of Tears:   - The Supreme Court ruled the "Indian Removal Act" (the official name at the time) unconstitutional regarding the removal of the Cherokee from Georgia.   - Jackson ignored the ruling, knowing that if the public or the House of Representatives did not hold him accountable through impeachment, the Supreme Court could not stop him.
• Veto Power:   - Jackson used the veto power $12$ times, which was more than all previous presidents combined (who had only used it a total of $10$ times).   - For context, the lecturer notes that Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record for the most vetoes with $635$, though he served four terms during the Great Depression.

The Spoils System and Political Corruption

• The Political Machine:   - Jackson's philosophy of involvement led to the "Spoils System," where political favors were exchanged for jobs.   - Groups would donate to a party with the understanding that they would be given jobs (e.g., head of police or a mayor's office) once their candidate won.
• Merit vs. Corruption:   - The system often ignored "merit" (skill and work ethic), placing unqualified people in high-ranking positions.
• Eventual Reform:   - The system remained until reforms were triggered by the assassination of President Garfield by a man who was denied a diplomatic position in France.   - This led to laws requiring civil service tests for government jobs, ending the era of pure political machines under Woodrow Wilson.

Questions & Discussion

• Question: "Can anybody remind me what the corrupt bargain was?"   - Response: Basically, Henry Clay dropped out and supported John Quincy Adams. His reward was being named Secretary of State. Andrew Jackson had won the popular and electoral vote (plurality), so the public was upset.
• Question: "What's tactless?"   - Response: Like blunt.
• Question: "What's the difference between a good politician and a poor leader?"   - Response: Students suggest that a poor leader might be unselected/unqualified, unable to enforce ideas, or unable to execute plans correctly. The lecturer adds that a leader must unite people.
• Question: "Does he [Adams] want, like, good roads in map?"   - Response: He wanted to build new roads and improve existing ones.
• Question: "Wait. Is a woman a polygamist if she has multiple husbands?"   - Response: It works that way; the term applies both ways.
• Question: "Do you guys know what the Supreme Court decided [regarding Trump's China tariffs]?"   - Response: Decisions were no, he didn't have the power, but it didn't specify the next steps.
• Question: "Who gets the extra money from tariffs?"   - Response: The government.
• Question: "Who's this dude? [Pointing to a slide]"   - Response: John C. Calhoun.
• Question: "What does nullify mean?"   - Response: Void it; not follow it.
• Question: "How many vetoes have happened, like, in total?"   - Response: Someone looked it up: Franklin D. Roosevelt had $635$ vetoes. Before Jackson, there were only $10$ total; Jackson had $12$.