A Democratic Revolution1820-1844

Chapter 10

The United States of America

• “The most able men in the United States are very rarely placed at the head of affairs.”

• Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)

• Instead: inept “farmers, shopkeepers, and country lawyers”

• Basil Hall (1829)

• Founding Fathers = property-owning “men of talents and virtue” ruled the republic now democracy was expanding– Increased franchise

Decline of Notables

• Notables landlords, slave-owning planters, merchants

“Those who own the country are the most fit persons to participate in the

government of it.”– John Jay (1810)

Rise of Parties

“All men of sense know that political parties are inseparable from free government.”

• Founded the “Bucktails” Albany Regency– Political machine (state level)

• Used newspaper (Albany Argus)• Patronage

– After gaining control of the state legislature 6,000 jobs

“Little Magician”

How important is character in

selecting a President?

Essential Question:

Champion of the

“Common Man”?

“King” Andrew?

The “Common Man’s” CandidateThe “Common Man’s” Candidate

Jackson’s Faith in the “Common Man”

Jackson’s Opponents in 1824Jackson’s Opponents in 1824Jackson’s Opponents in 1824Jackson’s Opponents in 1824Andrew Andrew JacksonJackson

[TN][TN]

Results of the Results of the 1824 Election 1824 Election Results of the Results of the 1824 Election 1824 Election

Winner?

The Election of 1824:The Election of 1824:

Candidate Popular VoteElectoral

Vote

43% 99

31% 84

13% 41

13% 37

Results of the 1824 Election – Results of the 1824 Election – House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Results of the 1824 Election – Results of the 1824 Election – House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

A “Corrupt Bargain?”

A “Corrupt Bargain?”

Winner!

The "Corrupt Bargain" of 1824

• There were 4 main "Republican" candidates in the election of 1824:  – Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, and

Henry Clay

• No candidate won the majority of the electoral votes– HOR had to choose the winner

• Henry Clay, the Speaker of the House, was eliminated although he did have much say in who became president 

– Clay convinced the House to elect John Quincy Adams– Adams made Clay the Secretary of State– Much of the public felt that a "corrupt bargain" had taken place

» Jackson had received the popular vote 

A Yankee Misfit in the White House

• John Quincy Adams was a strong nationalist– Nationalistic Program

– 1826 mid-term elections• Democrat-Republicans (Democrats)

gained seats– Opposed Adams’ policies

Tariff Dispute

• 1816– –

• 1824– South vigorously, but unsuccessfully opposed

raising tariff• Raised the price of manufactured goods• Caused foreign countries to cut back on purchases

of cotton

The Tricky "Tariff of Abominations"

• In 1824, Congress increased the general tariff significantly

• The Tariff of 1828- “ "– Hated by Southerners

• Extremely high tariff• Felt it discriminated against them

Politics in 1828

• Before/during the election of 1824, two factions had formed: National Republicans (later Whigs) and Democratic-Republicans (later Democrats)– National Republicans

• Clay, Adams, Webster• Well-established propertied classes: merchants,

manufacturers, large landowners…

– Democratic-Republicans• Jackson, Van Buren (Jefersonians)• Small farmers, new business leaders, city workers

How important is character in

selecting a President?

How does this song make you feel?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hunters_of_Kentucky.ogg

Rachel JacksonRachel JacksonRachel JacksonRachel Jackson

Final Divorce DecreeFinal Divorce DecreeA Key Issue in Election of 1828

Jackson in Mourning for His Jackson in Mourning for His WifeWife

Jackson in Mourning for His Jackson in Mourning for His WifeWife

Revolution of 1828?Revolution of 1828?Revolution of 1828?Revolution of 1828?

"Old Hickory" as President