Ch 10
The Triumph of Democracy:
Property and Democracy
Property restrictions on right to vote were nonexistent after the 13 states joined the Union
Rhode island didn’t want to remove property restrictions in fear of letting factory workers and immigrants vote
However in October 1841 people organized a People’s Convention in which they drafted a new constitution that allowed all white people to vote excluding blacks
However blacks were able to vote later on
President John : dispatched troops to stomp out any chance for groups beside white males from voting
Tocqueville on Democracy:
1840 > 90% if white men were eligible to vote
Political institutions began to define the nations sense of its own identity
Alexis de Tocqueville, the French writer who visited the US in 1830 produced Democracy in America: talks about America involving politically
Talks about how American culture encouraged individual initiative, belief in equality, and an active public sphere populated by numerous voluntary organizations sought to improve society.
Tocqueville saw that democracy had become essential to US freedom
Sovereignty belongs to the mass of ordinary citizens
The Information Revolution:
The Market Rev. and public democracy led to an expansion of the public sphere
Steam power used with newspaper printing allowed mass printing → lower prices 1¢ per instead of 6¢ allowing lower classes buy them
1840 newspaper circulation in US(17m pop) >¢ Europe(233m pop)
Allowed for many new newspaper like Cherokee Phoenix(native news)
The Limits of Democracy:
The notion of “we the people” had been deeply ingrained in American culture
As time went on many people questioned the ethics and morality of excluding women and other races to vote
1920 women could vote
1965 blacks could vote
A Racial Democracy:
The Whites perceive blacks as stupid, dishonest, ridiculous which would be reiterated in plays and shows
One exception was Herman Melville who portrayed them as complex and sometimes heroic(Moby-Dick, Benuto Cereno)
Stereotypes were very common and many whites still see themselves as superior
Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia explicitly restricted blacks from voting while others would only made it difficult for them
1800 no northern states barred blacks from voting
More Specific info that i'm too lazy to do talks about which states let them vote
In the late 1800’s every state that had entered the Union after that year would allow African Americans to vote with the exception of Maine
Starting with Kentucky and Maryland, many states had revoked the privilege from blacks for voting.
By 1860, blacks could vote on the same level as whites in only 5 New England States.(contained only 4 percent of the free black population)
Race had become a boundary that divided those that could enjoy political freedoms and those that couldn’t
In Some states white male immigrants could vote and nearly all free blacks weren't allowed to vote.
Nationalism and its Discontents:
The American System:
The draw of the War of 1812 sparked national pride
With the National bank expiring in 1911 the country lacked uniform currency which led to massive problems
American System: economic plan by President Madison consists of:
A new national bank
Tariff on imported manufactured goods →protect american industries
Federal financing of improving and canals
Congress enacted the plans by Cahoun only to be vetoed during the president’s retirement in March 1817
Madison vetoed since he believed that the government didn’t have the power to do so
Tariff of 1816: offered protection to goods that could be produced in the US
Cheap cotton textiles, admitting tax free could not be made at home
Banks and Money:
2nd Bank of the US was greatly disliked by the public
Did the same thing as the last one
Private, profit-making corporations | Issued paper money, collected taxes, payed gov debts
In the 19th century we were under the gold standard each dollar was backed by gold
The Panic of 1819:
After the War of 1812 trade resumed with Europe leading to a growth in the market fo American raw materials
> rapid expansion West → stimulated demand for loans to buy land → local banks print more money to give loans
1819 European demand died down → bubble burst → Gov asked for their money from loans back → people couldn’t pay → declared bankruptcy+unemployment ↑
Panic of 1819: lasted more than a year and severely distributed the political harmony and the 2nd Bank of US was blamed for it
Many creditors had to suspend debt collection
Kentucky established a state bank in order to print money
McCulloch v. Maryland(1819): John Marshall reasserting his broad interpretation of gov. Powers declaring bank as legit
Contradicting “strict construction” view that limit Congress powers to the Constitution
The Missouri Controversy:
1816 James Monroe won against a federalists candidate becoming the last Virginia President
By 1820 the Federalisstfielded electoral tickets in 2 states
Era of Good Feelings: was described as the 2 term sin office of 1 party government
In absence of 2 party competition politics was organized along of competing sectional interests
In 1819 Missouri was being considered for statehood and James Tallhood prevented more slaves
Plan sparked controversy
Missouri Compromise: by Jesse Thomas Missouri would be authorized to make a constitution without slave restrictions and Maine would be lave free and further states north of the 36 30 would be slave free
Showed division in the Union for the first time
Nation, Section, and Party:
The United States and the Latin American Wars of Independence:
1810-1822 Spain’s Latin colonies rose up in rebellion
Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru
By z Spain's holdings were reduced to Cuba and Puerto Rico
1822 Monroe became the 1st government to extend diplomatic relations with these latin countries
The Spanish rebellions took a lot of inspiration from the US one
The Latin constitutions were more democratic extending the right to vote to blacks and Indians
Led to the abolition of slavery
The Latin war were longer and more destructive
Monroe Doctrine:
John Quincy Adams consolidated power of the national gov at home and abroad
Monroe Doctrine: fear that Spain would regain control of Latin America.
US would oppose all further attempts of Europe trying to colonize the Americas
US would abstain from involvement in the wars of Europe
Warned Europeans to not interfere with the new independent states in Latin America
The Doctrine was a cornerstone for American foreign diplomacy and claimed the US as a major power in the West
The Election of 1824:
Monroe Doctrine reflected american nationalism
Election of 1824 favored Jackson since he was a war hero
Clay who got last gave his support to John Quincy Adams which allowed him to win
The Election led to the development of new political parties and climate
Jackson and Crawford unite to become the Democratic Party
Clay and Adams would become the whig Party
The Nationalism of John Quincy Adams:
John Quincy Adams had one of the most distinguished pre-presidential careers of any american president
Son of John Adams, was at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 14 private secretary and French interpreter for an American envoy, ambassador to Prussia, the Netherlands, Britain, and Russia senator from Massachusetts
He hoped to encouraged AMerican commerce throughout the world
He also pushed for government sponsored aid in economy
“Liberty is Power”:
Adam pushed for more national state wanting a national university, an astronomical observatory, and a naval academy
Promoted agriculture, commerce, manufacturing, and “mechanical and elegant arts”
He astonished strict constitutionalists
He spent more on national development than the previous presidents combined
Increased tariffs 1828 but Congress wouldn’t support him anymore
Martin Van Buren and the Democratic Party:
Adams policies and programs gave his political opponents a strong weapon against him
Martin Van Buren a senator from New York was the largest opp to Adam
Clash of political differences shows the changing nature of american politics
He argued that political parties were necessary and desirable since parties provided a check on those in power and offered voters a real choice
Election of 1828:
By 1828 Van Buren established the Democratic Party complete with local and state party units overseen by a national committee and a network of local newspaper devoted to the party and the election of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jacksons relied on his popularity to get votes
Describes him as manly while they ridiculed adams intellectual attainments
Jacksobns opponents condemned him as a murderer for executing many and killed many during duels and the morality of his wife
57% of eligible electorates casts ballots 2x last time
Democrats believed in state's rights o slavery as a 1st line of defense but merchants and business people in the North votes Whig
The Age of Jackson:
Jackson was capable of genuine eloquence in his public statement
Strong Nationalists that disliked indians and believed that blacks slave or freed should be sent abroad
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The Party System:
Every year millions took part in political parades and rallies organized by parties which millions were eager to attend
Political party machines reached into every neighborhood, especially cities.
Spoils system: principle of rotation in office in the national gov making loyalty a main quality for the job
National conventions where state leaders gather to choose national candidates.
Democrats and Whigs( needs some more filling out)
The democratic party attracted aspiring entrepreneurs and a large number of farmers and city workers.
Poorer farming regions- lower Northwest and the southern backcountry would mostly vote in favor of the democratic party.
The whigs would be united behind the American system where they wanted a protective tariff, a national bank, and a aid to internal improvements
The counties upstate of New York and the Erie Canal would become a Whig stronghold.
More isolated areas like rural communities tended to vote Democratic
Many of the slaveholders supported the Democrats.
The largest southern planters generally voted Whig.
Public and Private Freedoms:
Party battles of the Jacksonian area reflected “public” and “private” definitions of American freedom
Democrats: liberty was a set of private rights best secured by local gov. And endangered by powerful national authority
Whigs: Liberty and power reinforced each other. An activist national gov could enhance the realm of freedom.
During Jackson’s term democrats reduced expenditures, lowered tariffs, killed the national bank, and refused pleas for national aid for internal improvements
1835 Jackson was able to pay off the national debt
Democrats considered individual morality a private matter, not a public concern
Opposed unified moral vision on society such as temperance legislation
The Whigs believed that the Gov should create conditions for balanced and regulated economic development
→ promoting prosperity for all classes
Whigs rejected that the gov must not interfere in private life believing that gov could instill righteousness into people.
Many Protestants supported the Whigs
Whigs supported public education, the building of schools, and asylums, temperance, and more democratic gov
During Jacksonnian era popularity elected local authorities and enacted numerous laws, ordinances, and regulations to try to shape morals by banning prostitution and consumption of alcohol and regulating personal behavior
South Carolina Nullification:
Jackson’s first term was dominated by a battle to uphold the supremacy of federal over state law
Tariff of abominations: the tariff of 1828 that raised taxes on imported manufactured goods. Coined by the South and especially in Carolina due to hating it.
South Carolina threatened to nullify it
South Carolina had 55% of pop as slaves and controlled by a close knit group of large planters
They maintained their power by a state constitution which gave large landowners more representation along with high property requirements for office
John C. Calhoun (vice president), leading theorist of nullification. 1812 was a nationalist → defender of southern sectionalism
Exposition and Protest: drafted in secret by ↑ which justified SC nullification due to the gov being created by the states so the states had the right to nullify
Calhoun support and position was lost almost immediately
Debate divided Jackson and Calhoun. Until Daniel Webster spoke how the people, not the state, created the Constitution, making the gov and calling that nullification was illegal, unconstitutional, and treasonous.
The Nullification Crisis:
Nullification Crisis: SC was alone and several southern states passed resolutions condemning its action
The compact theory of the Constitution brought the south together under a political philosophy
SC didn’t care what Jackson said and nullified it any way which led to the →
Force Act: which authorized Jackson to use the army and navy to collect custom duties.
Henry Clay and Calhoun engineered the passage of a new tariff in 1833 further reducing duties SC then rescinded the nullification but “nullify” the Force Act
Indian Removal:
White Americans need more land to produce stuff which led to the Indian Removal Act of 1830
Which provided funds to states and territories to uproot Native nations from the east
Repudiation of the Jeffersonian idea of integration however Jackson viewed natives as savages and supported the seizure of their lands
1830-1860 US deported around 88k people from over 30 nations → 10k died as a result
West of the Appalachians poor white farmers, veterans were promised lands and squatted on native land
Speculators secured government approval to sell the land in small plots and build roads and canals
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Native Responses:
There were many kinds of natives many were integrated into American society social or economically however all were grouped under 1 group
Natives had different religions and views on slavery
Natives were gradually forced to move more and more West constantly promised a home then being moved again
Sauk initially left but returned under Blackhawk to Illonois
Most of the Deportations occurred in the South due to the rich lands
Worcester v. Georgia: Cherokee leaders won the right to their land arguing that the land was guaranteed by the gov under Washington
Georgia nullified the Supreme Court decision
Trail of Tears: Some Cherokee conceded their land however others resisted which lead to Georgia moving in troops leading to 18k people forced West
¼ perished during the winter 1838-1839
Choctaw under threat of US Army signed a removal treaty in 1830 → 3k dies on the journey
Chickasaw in 1838 despite not finding suitable lands were forced out.
The Muscogees resisted and sent memorial to Congress arguing that they were their own people entitled to their lands and traditions many fought back or hid in the Cherokee nation
Federal troops captured Muscogees warriors and deported 12k people
The Seminoles of Florida resisted militarily they sought refuge in FLorida where the Spanish would arm and support them there they woul fight back
1st attempt Georgia got their butts kicked
2nd they loss and 3k Seminoles and 500 Blacks were forced West
Remaining in the East:
Indian Removal was a systemic expulsion designed to eliminate every Native east of the Mississippi.
Many natives were able to stay by going to less desired lands
The Catawbas put their lands in the name of the women and just used it communally
The Haudenosaunee held onto their land guaranteed by Washington in 1794
1829 William Apress son of King Phillip(Metacom) published his autobiography A Son of the Forest
He served in the US forces during War of 1812 and became a Methodist he promoted non-violent resistance
Removal was the alternative to coexistence for the whites
The Bank War and After:
Biddle’s Bank:
A major struggle was Jackson vs. the Banks as they symbolized hopes and fears inspired by market rev.
Expansion of banks helped finance US development However Jackson Saw them as “Non-producers” who profited from the labor others
Head of the bank Nicholas Biddle during the 1820s had used the institution’s power to curb overissuing of money by local banks and create a stable currency.
1832 asserted that his bank had the power to destroy state banks (“injure”)
Led Democrats to question if any institution should have that power
Biddle pushed Congress to extend the bank’s charter another 20 yrs however Jackson didn’t sign off on it
Bank war: reflected Jackson enhanced the power of the presidency during his 8 yrs
Proclaimed that he is the representative of all of his people
Was also the 1st to use veto as a major weapon to appeal for public support
Whigs denounced him for using his power but he still won in 1832 for another term
Pet Bank, the Economy, and the Panic of 1837:
There were 2 groups that supported the veto:
Soft Money: State bankers who wanted to be free and issue paper currency
Hard Money: advocates who opposed all banks and believed that gold and silver are the only reliable
Pet Banks: were banks selected because of connection to store federal funds
2 secretaries of the Treasury refused to transfer funds to the pet banks due to a law that required approval by Congress
Jackson appointed Attorney General Roger B. Taney(D) to the treasury post and carried out the order
Bank of US lost its ability to regulate money
1833 $10m notes in circulation → 1837 $149m notes
Prices increased and wages dropped | Speculators bought up land and resold it
Speculative boom collapsed and Feds sold 20m acres in 1836 paid in paper currency
1836 Jackson required all land purchases be done in gold and silver and British banks required their creditors be paid in gold and silver and not US notes
Panic of 1837: economic collapse of the US followed by a depression till1843
Foreclosure on homes and farm land and rising unemployment + lower wages
Under Martin Van Buren hard money of the Democratic Party came to power leading to the storing of Fed money in the treasury in Washington
1840 Congress approved and named the Independent Treasury → Separated Gov from banking
Election of 1840:
Van Burren realized that he couldn’t win without the popularity of `Jackson
And Whigs new candidate was William Henry Harrison who had military success in the War of 1812
Harrison ran on the idea that he was fellow common man and his running mate also opposed most of the views of the Whigs
The election had an 80% turn out with a sweeping victory for Harrison
Harrison a month into office contracted pneumonia and died
His replacement was Tyler whvxso vetoed everything and didn’t do shit