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

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

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

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

Tariffs of 1816

• Created under Clay’s American System

• A protective tariff was targeted to protect domestic manufacturers (not to raise revenue)

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

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

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

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

Rush-Bagot Agreement

• 1817 - US + Britain agreed to demilitarize Great Lakes

• Limited naval armaments

• Resulted in lasting peace between the US + Canada

Spoils System

• 1829 - Patronage by Andrew Jackson

• Selected supporters + civil servants as advisors in gov’t

  • Based on loyalty, not merit

• Rotation in office

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

National Nominating Convention

• Replaced caucus system

• Delegates debated and created a party platform to support and eventually implement

Anti-Masonic Party

• 1828 - Formed in NY

• Opposed freemasons taking over republic

• 1st to hold nat’l nominating convention

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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