Democracy in America Part 2

JACKSON AND THE TARIFF

  • John Quincy Adams sought tariff increases to protect American industry and generate revenue.

  • Congress passed the high 1828 Tariff, which almost halted trade with England.

  • Despite Democratic pushback after Jackson's election, Congress resisted major tariff reductions.

  • The 1832 tariff reduction was ineffective and dubbed the "Tariff of Abominations" by Southern states.

  • Henry Clay later worked with Democrats to further lower tariff rates.

NULLIFICATION CRISIS

  • John C. Calhoun served as Vice-President under both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

  • Tensions arose between Jackson and Calhoun over three main issues:

    • The Petticoat Affair.

    • The Arbuthnot – Armbrister Affair.

    • The Nullification Crisis.

THE PETTICOAT AFFAIR

  • After his wife's death, Jackson's daughter, acting as First Lady, befriended Peggy Eaton, wife of Secretary of War, Cyrus Eaton.

  • Other women ostracized Peggy Eaton due to rumors, leading Jackson to demand an apology from his daughter, who subsequently left Washington.

  • Jackson blamed VP Calhoun for not controlling his wife, thus worsening their relationship.

THE ARBUTHNOT – ARMBRISTER INCIDENT

  • During the First Seminole War, Jackson executed British traders Arbuthnot and Armbrister for spying and occupied Florida.

  • Britain demanded Jackson's removal and trial.

  • Secretary of War Calhoun was willing to comply, but Secretary of State John Quincy Adams refused.

  • Adams eventually negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty, acquiring Florida for the U.S.

THE NULLIFICATION CRISIS CONT'D

  • Post-1832 election, Southern states protested the "Tariff of Abominations."

  • South Carolina, led by VP John C. Calhoun (author of the "White Paper"), advocated for nullification of federal laws.

  • South Carolina declared the Tariff nullified and refused to collect tariffs at Charleston.

  • Jackson deemed South Carolina in rebellion and prepared to use military force.

  • Calhoun transitioned to the Senate, continuing opposition to Jackson.

MARTIN VAN BUREN

  • Martin Van Buren replaced Calhoun as Jackson's Vice-President.

  • He built the Democratic coalition and succeeded Jackson, defeating Henry Clay in 1836.

  • Soon after taking office, he faced the severe Panic of 1837.

THE PANIC OF 1837

  • Causes: Unsound western bank lending, lack of a national bank, falling cotton prices, specie outflow, restrictive English bank practices, and a collapsed land bubble.

EFFECTS OF THE PANIC OF 1837

  • Led to bank failures, farmer foreclosures and westward migration (including to Texas), and widespread unemployment/manufacturing shutdowns.

  • Jackson and Van Buren were blamed.

  • The Panic's lasting impact contributed to Van Buren's defeat in 1840.

  • William Henry Harrison, a Whig and Battle of Prophetstown hero, became the first Whig President in 1840.

THE WHIG VICTORY OF 1840

  • The Whigs nominated war hero William Henry Harrison (Battle of Prophetstown) without a platform, mimicking Democrat campaigning tactics.

  • They attacked Van Buren as an "effete snob" for his fashion choices.

  • John Tyler was Harrison's Vice-President.

  • Harrison died a month after inauguration (March 4 - April 4, 1841), making Tyler President ("His Accidency").

  • This concluded the Jackson era.