Jacksonian Democracy Overview

Jacksonian Democracy (1820-1840)

Key Events and Figures

  • 1824: John Quincy Adams elected president after controversial "corrupt bargain"; Andrew Jackson wins popular and electoral votes.
  • 1828: Nullification crisis escalates; Jackson vetoes renewal of the Second Bank of the United States.
  • 1830: Indian Removal Act passed by Congress.
  • 1832: Financial panic leads to economic recession.
  • 1834: Formation of the Whig Party opposing the Democratic Party.
  • 1840: Whig candidate William Henry Harrison wins presidency.

Decline of Federalism

  • Code of Deference: Respect for military, education, business; belief in a natural aristocracy.
  • Universal Manhood Suffrage: Right to vote for all white male adults.
  • Rise of "Bucktail" Republicans under Martin Van Buren, emphasizing loyalty to the majority.
  • Introduction of the Spoils System: Rewarding loyal supporters with government jobs.

Election of 1824

  • Candidates: Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William H. Crawford, John C. Calhoun.
  • Jackson wins popular vote but loses in the House of Representatives due to political maneuvering, termed as "corrupt bargain".

Presidency of John Quincy Adams

  • Advocated for the American System: High tariffs, a national bank, infrastructure improvements.
  • Tariff of Abominations: High tariffs favored northern industries, angering the south.
  • Concerns over federal authority and implications for slavery.

Campaign and Election of 1828

  • Jackson campaigns against political elites, leveraging popularity from his military background.
  • Jackson wins decisively, signaling the end of traditional politics.

Scandals in the Presidency

  • Allegations of fraud and corruption in the Treasury.
  • Increased appointments of loyalists through the Spoils System.
  • Petticoat Affair: Controversy surrounding the marriage of Peggy Eaton.

Nullification Crisis

  • Nullification: State's power to void federal laws; South Carolina's Ordinance of Nullification against tariffs.
  • Jackson's response includes reducing tariffs and enforcing federal law through military action.

The Bank War and Whig Opposition

  • Jackson's distrust of banks leads to veto of the Second Bank's recharter.
  • Shift of funds from national banks to state banks; led to economic instability and Panic of 1837.
  • Rise of Whig Party advocating for internal improvements and opposing Jackson’s policies.

Indian Policy and Actions

  • Indian Removal Act (1830): Forcible removal of Native tribes, notably the Cherokees, leading to the Trail of Tears.
  • Supreme Court rulings favoring Native sovereignty ignored, military used for enforcement.

Black Hawk’s War (1832)

  • Conflict between federal troops and Sauk tribe under Chief Black Hawk; resulted in significant casualties.

Alexis de Tocqueville's Observation

  • Tocqueville's analysis of American democracy highlights both its advantages and risks of majority tyranny.

1840 Election

  • Emergence of the second party system; high voter turnout reflects growing political engagement.
  • Harrison's victory reflects changing political dynamics between Whigs and Democrats.