Chapter 12 - Political Evolution in the Age of Jackson

Panics of 1819 and 1837

• Economic crashes
• 1819 - The country was experiencing economic changes after War of 1812
• ^^1837 - Jackson + Van Buren manipulated finances, which would eventually lead to economic crashes^^
• The country faced many economic ups + downs

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Era of Good Feelings

• During the Monroe Era, the US enjoyed nationalism + prosperity
• A period in the political history of the United States that reflected a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans in the aftermath of the War of 1812

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Missouri Compromise

• 1820
• Created by Henry Clay, who was called the Great Compromiser
• ^^Under the compromise, Missouri was a slave state + Maine was a free state^^
• 36’30’ line

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Gentlemen’s Agreement

• Truce under honor between the North + South
  • North would recognize that the 5th Amendment protects slaves as property
  • South would try to end slavery as soon as possible
• The two regions’ fear of disunion and war led to pretend civility and a prevention of conflict
• Prevented attempts to solve issue

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Tariffs of 1816

• Created under Clay’s American System
• ^^A protective tariff was targeted to protect domestic manufacturers (not to raise revenue)^^

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Henry Clay

• 1810 - Influential in Senate
• Slave-owning attorney from Kentucky
• Achievements included the Missouri Compromise + compromise tariff + Compromise of 1850
• Under his American System included the Bank of the US, protective tariffs, and internal infrastructure improvements

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Elections of 1824 and 1828

• 1824 - John Quincy Adams won over Jackson in House
  • Jackson believed it was a corrupt bargain, as Clay and Adams had worked together
• ^^1828 - Jackson’s victory led to a time period of common man democracy^^
• Ended Era of Good Feelings

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Corrupt Bargain

• 1824
• An accusation by Jackson
• It was believed that if Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams in the election and JQA won, Clay would be nominated as the Secretary of State
• No evidence to prove this accusation

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John Quincy Adams

• Secretary of State
• Became President in 1825
• Opposed slavery
• ^^Achievements included the annexation of Texas + the gag rule^^
• Served in the House of Representatives after presidency

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Rush-Bagot Agreement

• 1817 - US + Britain agreed to demilitarize Great Lakes
• Limited naval armaments
• Resulted in lasting peace between the US + Canada

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Spoils System

• 1829 - Patronage by Andrew Jackson
• ^^Selected supporters + civil servants as advisors in gov’t^^
  • Based on loyalty, not merit
• Rotation in office

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Kitchen Cabinet

• 1829 - Began in Jackson administration
• Andrew Jackson discussed policy in kitchen with friends
• Relied more on friends than cabinet
• Critics believed these closed door sessions brought inappropriate bias on Jackson’s decision-making

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National Nominating Convention

• Replaced caucus system
• ^^Delegates debated and created a party platform to support and eventually implement^^

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Anti-Masonic Party

• 1828 - Formed in NY
• Opposed freemasons taking over republic
• 1st to hold nat’l nominating convention

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Nullification Crisis

• 1828 - Tariff of Abominations (very high tariff) was implemented
  • Targeted to protect northern manufacturers
  • Alienated cotton customers (hurt South)
• ^^1832 - South Carolina nullified the tariff + threatened secession^^
• Resulted in Clay’s compromise tariff

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John C. Calhoun

• Served in cabinet positions + Senate
• 1828 - “South Carolina Exposition and Protest” (protested against Tariff of Abominations)
• Believed in states’ rights + slavery + nullification + secession
• Opposed Jackson BUT compromised

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Martin Van Buren

• 1836
• “Old Kinderhook”
• Top advisor to Jackson
• Opposed extension of slavery + annexation of Texas
• ^^His creation of the specie circular led to the Panic of 1837^^
  • Kept federal money in independent treasuries, which rendered it useless

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Force Bill

• 1833
• Conflict between Jackson + South Carolina
• If South Carolina refused to collect tariff, Jackson would use the military and prosecute anyone who refused as traitors
• South Carolina responded + nullified Force Bill
• Jackson eventually backed off because he needed the electoral support of the Southern planter class
• ^^South Carolina compromised with Clay’s compromise tariff^^

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Gag Rule

• 1836-1844
• A series of rules that forbade the raising, consideration, or discussion of slavery in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1836 to 1844
• The silencing of peaceful debates about slavery would eventually led to war

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Bank War

• 1829-1836
• ^^Henry Clay + Daniel Webster tried to recharter the Bank of the US early^^
• Jackson believed that the bank was an enemy of common man
  • Vetoed the recharter bill + moved federal funds into “pet banks” instead
• Uncontrolled speculation eventually led to the Panic of 1837

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Daniel Webster

• 1828 - Influential in the Senate
• Believed in education + commerce
• Supported Dartmouth in Supreme Court
• Promoted American System + Bank of the US
• Believed that secession was unconstitutional + not peaceful
  • “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.”

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Whigs Versus Democrats

• 1832 - Restored 2-party system
• ^^Democrats supported Andrew Jackson^^
  • Ideas included westward expansion + common man + planter class
  • Democratic Republicans (split of Jeffersonian-Republican)
  • Supported by the common people + wanted a strong central gov’t
• ^^Whigs supported Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln^^
  • National Republicans (split of Jeffersonian-Republican)
  • 1854 - Absorbed into Republican party
  • Opposed Andrew Jackson

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Webster-Hayne Debates

• 1830 - Debates in the Senate
• Northerners believed that settlement in West would result in less laborers
• ^^Robert Hayne^^ ^^believed that lands should be for new slave territories^^

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Clay’s American System

• 1816 - Proposed by Henry Clay
• Would promote a national economy
• Included a Bank of the United States, protective tariffs, and internal infrastructure improvements

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BIG PICTURE

• Slavery - Controversial issue + root of other issues
• North + South + West - Different needs & goals + had supporters in Senate (Webster, Calhoun, Clay)
• Andrew Jackson - Spoils system + use of veto + national nominating convention
• Restored 2-party system

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