Chapter 13Chapter 13

The Age of JacksonThe Age of Jackson

Reforms in PoliticsReforms in Politics

EXPANSION OF THE FRANCHISE IN MANY STATES THE PROPERTY

QUALIFICATION FOR VOTING WERE DROPPED

MANY AMERICANS STILL COULD NOT VOTE: WOMEN, BLACKS AND NATIVE AMERICANS

Change in Method of Selecting Change in Method of Selecting Presidential CandidatesPresidential Candidates

UNTIL THE 1830’S CANDIDATES WERE CHOSEN BY SMALL GROUPS OF CONGRESSMEN

DURING THE 1830’S THE POLITICAL PARTIES BEGAN TO HOLD NATIONAL CONVENTIONS WERE THE DELEGATES WERE ELECTED TO THE CONVENTION AND THOSE DELEGATES CHOSE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ACCORDING TO THE PARTIES’S RULES

Voting laws became more democratic increasing suffrage throughout American. More ordinary men were given the right to vote.

The Election of 1824The Election of 1824

Four main candidates, ALL Four main candidates, ALL RepublicanRepublicanJohn Quincy Adams-Popular in the John Quincy Adams-Popular in the

NortheastNortheastHenry Clay-Supported by the WestHenry Clay-Supported by the WestAndrew Jackson-Support from the West Andrew Jackson-Support from the West

and Southand SouthWilliam Crawford-Support from the William Crawford-Support from the

South (but became too ill to campaignSouth (but became too ill to campaign

The Election of 1824The Election of 1824

An unusual ElectionAn unusual Election

Jackson won the majority (43%) of Jackson won the majority (43%) of the popular vote and 38% of the the popular vote and 38% of the electoral voteelectoral vote

Adams finished second, followed by Adams finished second, followed by Crawford and ClayCrawford and Clay

Since no one received a majority of Since no one received a majority of electoral votes, the House would electoral votes, the House would choose the president from the top choose the president from the top three finishersthree finishers

The Corrupt BargainThe Corrupt Bargain

Clay, speaker of the House, realized that Clay, speaker of the House, realized that the most of the men elected President, the most of the men elected President, also served as Secretary of Statealso served as Secretary of State

Clay agreed to support Adams in the Clay agreed to support Adams in the House vote if Adam would make Clay the House vote if Adam would make Clay the Secretary of StateSecretary of State

Jackson and his supporters thought that Jackson and his supporters thought that Adams had stole the electionAdams had stole the election

His supports claimed that there was His supports claimed that there was “cheating, corruption and bribery”“cheating, corruption and bribery”

Adams as PresidentAdams as President Had big plans to Had big plans to

improve the nation: new improve the nation: new roads, canals, a national roads, canals, a national university, and university, and observatoryobservatory

Wanted the government Wanted the government to spend lots of $ to to spend lots of $ to support farming, support farming, manufacturing, science, manufacturing, science, trade and the artstrade and the arts

Plans unpopular in the Plans unpopular in the nation and in Congress. nation and in Congress. Only $ spent was for Only $ spent was for transportation.transportation.

New Political PartiesNew Political Parties

Adams supporters were the National Adams supporters were the National Republicans and later called Whigs Republicans and later called Whigs (remember the Revolution)(remember the Revolution)Most were from the East and wealthy Most were from the East and wealthy

SouthernersSoutherners Jackson supporters were called Jackson supporters were called

Democratic Republicans later Democratic Republicans later DemocratsDemocratsWest frontier’s men, poor southerners and West frontier’s men, poor southerners and

eastern factory workerseastern factory workers

DIFFERENCES IN OPINION WILL LEAD TO NEW POLITICAL PARTIES

POLITICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WERE BASED ON THE CONSTITUTION: NEW DIFFERENCES WERE TO BE ECONOMIC AND SECTIONAL

SECTIONALISM TOOK THE PLACE OF IDEOLOGY

THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE CHANGED FROM CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS TO ECONOMIC ONES AND THE ECONOMY OF EACH SECTION OF THE COUNTRY WAS BASED UPON DIFFERENT NEEDS AND DESIRES.

New Sectional Leaders in New Sectional Leaders in CongressCongress

EACH SECTION OF THE COUNTRY HAD LEADERS IN CONGRESS:HENRY CLAY-- KENTUCKY-- THE WEST: AMERICAN

SYSTEM OF HIGH TARIFFS AND FEDERAL FUNDS USED TO IMPROVE THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

DANIEL WEBSTER (BLACK DAN) -- MASSACHUSETTS-- THE NORTH: PROTECTIVE TARIFFS TO MAKE AMERICAN INDUSTRY STRONGER AND PROVIDE REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. OPPOSED EXPANSION OF SLAVERY INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES BUT WOULD SUPPORT POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. NULLIFICATION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

JOHN C. CALHOUN-- SOUTH CAROLINA-- THE SOUTH: OPPOSED ANY HIGH TARIFFS. Thought that States had the Right to Nullify acts of Congress.

Sectional Leadership in Sectional Leadership in CongressCongress

Webster Clay Calhoun

Union forever

!!

We must Compromis

e!

States Rights are paramount

!

The Election of 1828The Election of 1828

Many believed that Jackson was Many believed that Jackson was cheated in 1824cheated in 1824

Won easily in 1828 against AdamsWon easily in 1828 against AdamsFIRST WESTERNER FROM THE

FRONTIER. Fought in the American Revolution and Led the American Army to victory in New Orleans during the War of 1812. Served in the House of Representatives. SELF EDUCATED, LAWYER

Election of 1828Election of 1828

Jackson as President 1828-Jackson as President 1828-18361836

FOUR ISSUES: THE SPOILS SYSTEMTARIFF THE NATIONAL

BANKNATIVE AMERICAN

POLICY

President JacksonPresident Jackson

THE SPOILS SYSTEM JACKSON REWARDED SUPPORTERS WITH

FEDERAL JOBS BASES UPON LOYALITY NOT ABILITY. Many members of Jackson’s cabinet were not qualified to serve in those positions. BECAME SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

“KITCHEN CABINET.”-un-official advisors whom Jackson trusted to give him advice. Often met in the White House kitchen.

The Tariff IssuesThe Tariff Issues A TARIFF (the Tariff of Abominations) WAS

PASSED AND MANY STATES WERE OPPOSED TO THE TARIFF SAYING THAT IF A STATE DID NOT LIKE A LAW AND SOUGHT TO NULLIFY THE TARIFF.

Calhoun, Jackson’s Vice-President believed in states’ rights and encouraged South Carolina to pass the Nullification Act.

High tariffs hurt Southerners by cutting the amount of cotton bought by Britain and making finished imported products more expensive.

JACKSON REACTED TO THE NULLIFICATION CRISIS BY THREATENING TO PERSONALLY HANG THE FIRST MAN TO LIFT A GUN AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ENFORCEMENT OF THE TARIFF

Debate over States’ RightsDebate over States’ Rights Calhoun-States have the right to limit the federal Calhoun-States have the right to limit the federal

gov’t. He believed that states could best preserve gov’t. He believed that states could best preserve liberty. “The Union-next to liberty, the most dear.”liberty. “The Union-next to liberty, the most dear.”

Webster attacked the idea of nullification and Webster attacked the idea of nullification and states’ rights. If states decided one by one what states’ rights. If states decided one by one what laws they would follow, then the nation would be laws they would follow, then the nation would be ripped apart. “Liberty and Union, now and ripped apart. “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.”forever, one and inseparable.”

Many thought that Jackson, born in the South and Many thought that Jackson, born in the South and raised in the west would support his Vice-raised in the west would support his Vice-President. Jackson- “Our Union-it must be President. Jackson- “Our Union-it must be preserved.”preserved.”

Nullification Crisis ended when Clay proposed a Nullification Crisis ended when Clay proposed a new Tariff Act which lowered the tax and new Tariff Act which lowered the tax and Southerners like Calhoun could support.Southerners like Calhoun could support.

States’ Rights vs. UnionStates’ Rights vs. Union

Senator Webster-MA

Vice-President Calhoun-SC President Jackson-KY

Liberty and Union, now and forever, one

and inseparable.

The Union-next to our Liberty, the most dear.

Our Union-it must be

preserved!

The National BankThe National Bank

THE CHARTER FOR THE NATIONAL BANK WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. IN 1832, CONGRESS PASSED A RENEWAL OF THE BANK’S CHARTER. OPPONENTS TO JACKSON HOPED TO EMBARRASS JACKSON SO THAT THE WHIG CANDIDATE (CLAY) WOULD BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

JACKSON WAS AGAINST THE BANK BECAUSE IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC BECAUSE IT FAVORED THE WEALTHY OVER THE

AVERAGE PEOPLE. JACKSON WAS EXTREMELY ILL WHEN THE BANK’S RENEWAL WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS, HE SAID “THE BANK IS TRYING TO KILL ME, BUT I WILL KILL IT!”

JACKSON VETOED THE NATIONAL BANK CHARTER.

National Bank Issue Leads National Bank Issue Leads Controversy Controversy

Consequences of the VetoConsequences of the Veto

JACKSON THEN KILLED THE BANK BEFORE THE CHARTER RAN OUT BY TRANSFERRING ALL GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO FAVORED STATE BANKS. THESE BANKS CAME TO BE CALLED “PET BANKS”. WITHOUT DEPOSITS, THE NATIONAL BANK COULD NOT LEND MONEY AND WAS EFFECTIVELY PUT OUT OF BUSINESS

These “pet banks” helped cause the Panic of 1837-the worst economic depression faced by the nation

Native American PolicyNative American Policy THE CHEROKEE WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT

TO ARGUE THAT SINCE THEY WERE A FOREIGN NATION, THEY COULD ASK THE SUPREME COURT TO STOP GEORGIA FROM TAKING THEIR LAND. JOHN MARSHALL RULED IN THE CASE OF “CHEROKEE NATION V. GEORGIA” THAT THE CHEROKEE WERE A DEPENDENT NATION AND HAD NO RIGHT TO BRING A SUIT TO THE SUPREME COURT. IN ANOTHER CASE, MARSHALL RULED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD STOP THE STATE OF GEORGIA FROM TAKING NATIVE AMERICAN LAND.

JACKSON DECIDED TO IGNORE THE SUPREME COURT AND THE REMOVAL OF NATIVE AMERICANS (TRAIL OF TEARS) CONTINUED.

Trail of TearsTrail of Tears CHEROKEE NATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

AND THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS WERE VERY POWERFUL AND ORGANIZED.

WANTED TO KEEP THEIR LAND THEREFORE THEY DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER A FORMAL GOVERNMENT AND SIGNED A KIND OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 4, 1827.

WROTE A CONSTITUTION AND ELECTED THE CHIEF JOHN ROSS AS PRESIDENT.

CONGRESS IS REMINDED BY CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL THAT NO ONE COULD SET UP AN INDEPENDENT NATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Trail of TearsTrail of Tears

Trail of TearsTrail of Tears

1830, INDIAN REMOVAL ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS GIVING THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO ORDER ALL GROUPS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

1838, AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CHEROKEE LAND, 13,000 NATIVES WERE FORCED TO MARCH BY PRESIDENT JACKSON DURING THE WINTER NOT JUST WEST OF MISS. BUT ALL THE WAY TO INDIAN TERRITORY. OVER 33% DIED, THAT WAS OVER 4,000 MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Van Buren, Harrison & TylerVan Buren, Harrison & Tyler

From Van Buren (1836) to the election of Lincoln From Van Buren (1836) to the election of Lincoln (1860) the Presidents were not effective(1860) the Presidents were not effective

Van Buren-the Van Buren-the Panic of 1837 Panic of 1837 (click here to see (click here to see other slide). Van Buren blamed for the Panic for other slide). Van Buren blamed for the Panic for not doing anything.not doing anything.

Harrison and Tyler- “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”- Harrison and Tyler- “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”- Harrison was the hero of the Battle of Harrison was the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe. Both were Whigs, but when Harrison Tippecanoe. Both were Whigs, but when Harrison died one month into his term, Tyler refused to died one month into his term, Tyler refused to support any of the Whig policies and was support any of the Whig policies and was ineffective for the rest of the term.ineffective for the rest of the term.

Elections of 1836 & 1840Elections of 1836 & 1840

Panic of 1837Panic of 1837 Much of the western land was being sold to Much of the western land was being sold to

speculators who would borrow money to pay for speculators who would borrow money to pay for federal land from state banksfederal land from state banks

To meet the demand for money, many states began To meet the demand for money, many states began to print paper money, not backed by gold or silverto print paper money, not backed by gold or silver

President Jackson, alarmed at the wild speculation President Jackson, alarmed at the wild speculation for land, wanted to slow the buying. He demanded for land, wanted to slow the buying. He demanded specie (hard money-gold or silver) in payment for specie (hard money-gold or silver) in payment for federal landfederal land

Speculators went to the state banks to exchange Speculators went to the state banks to exchange their paper money for gold, but since the banks did their paper money for gold, but since the banks did not have the gold they closednot have the gold they closed

At the same time cotton prices fell, and many At the same time cotton prices fell, and many planters could not repay their debts to state banks planters could not repay their debts to state banks which caused more banks to failwhich caused more banks to fail

This depression would last 3 years, over 90% of all This depression would last 3 years, over 90% of all businesses failed throwing thousands out of work. businesses failed throwing thousands out of work. Led to many food riots in the major cities.Led to many food riots in the major cities.