Monroe and Jackson’s

PresidenciesCh 8 sections 4 and 5

Monroe’s Era of Good Feelings 1817-1825 People optimistic about the future One national political party: the

Jeffersonian Republicans Still some economic and political issues

Economic booms and busts Sectional disputes concerning slavery

What did the government do? Adopted new, nationalist policies (home

and abroad) 1816 Protective Tariff: make American

goods cheaper to help business Key decisions by the federal government’s

role in the nation’s government

Chief Justice John Marshall’s Key Decisions Dartmouth College v. Woodward: (1819) state can’t

interfere with private contracts Protect businesses from regulation and helped stabilize the

economy McCulloch v. Maryland: (1819) implied power of the

federal government Federal government more powerful

Gibbons v. Ogden: (1824) fed government regulates interstate commerce Increased steamboat competition Helped to open the American west to settlement

All of these decisions helped build up nationalism in the United States

James Monroe and Sec. of State John Quincy Adams set up some foreign policy to encourage nationalism and strength in the federal government Main goal: ease tensions with Great Britain

Nationalism Abroad 1817: US and England signed Rush-

Bagot Agreement: agree to decrease # of warships on the Great Lakes

1818: England and US draw northern border of the US at 49° North latitude from present-day Minnesota to the Rocky Mtns

Monroe Doctrine created because Monroe was worried about European nations colonizing the western hemisphere

Monroe Doctrine US neutrality (will not get involved in the internal affairs of

European nations or take sides) US will recognize existing colonies in the western

hemisphere and not interfere with them US will not allow any more colonization in the western

hemisphere If any European nation should attempt to take control of any

nation in the western hemisphere, the US would take it as hostile action toward them

The US didn’t have the armed forces necessary to back up the warnings of the Monroe Doctrine

Still a bold declaration of policy considering our capital was just burned down less than a decade before

Election of 1824 First time no candidate was a leader from

the Revolution Marked the end of the Era of Good Feelings

Economic problems, the spread of slavery, and other issues led to conflict among Jeffersonian Republicans

Several Republicans decided to run John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun,

Andrew Jackson

John Quincy Adams Secretary of State Lots of experience in politics and foreign

affairs Negotiated treaty with Britain to extend US

northern border Helped in acquiring Florida Helped devise Monroe Doctrine

Henry Clay Speaker of the House Energetic and charming The American System

Combination of government-backed economic development and protective tariffs aimed at encouraging business growth

John C. Calhoun Secretary of War From South Carolina Eventually withdrew from the crowded race Instead ran for Vice President because he

had a better chance of winning that

Andrew Jackson General from War of 1812

Battle of New Orleans War hero

“Old Hickory” Relied on his popularity to attract votes

The “Corrupt Bargain” Jackson won most votes in electoral college but

not the majority House of Representatives voted to decide the

election Clay used his influence to swing enough votes to Adams

to give him the victory Adams made Clay his Secretary of State just days later Many of Jackson’s followers didn’t like this

John Q. Adams as President Wanted to strengthen nation’s economy

(funding and protective tariff) American System

Pushed for legislation authorizing federal building of canals, roads, bridges, lighthouses, universities, and other public improvements

Supported protective tariffs

Jackson’s supporters Those in Congress blocked Adams’s plans

every chance they got Jackson prepared for next election

Election of 1828 Supporters of Adams and Clay called

themselves the Adams Party or National Republicans (later Whig Party) Believed they were true to Jeffersonian spirit of

improvement Supporters of Jackson called themselves

Jacksonians or Democratic Republicans, we call them Jacksonian Democrats Believed they were true to Jefferson’s ideal of

limited government

2 Political Parties in US Again 1828 also notable because about 3 times

as many men voted than in 1824 Many states removed property

qualifications to vote Many new voters supported the man of the

people: Andrew Jackson

Jackson won by a landslide

Andrew Jackson Man of the people From west of the Appalachians so he was made

out to understand the “average” person’s life Inauguration day: mob of well wishers celebrated

by taking over the White House Signaled the start of a new era in American democracy

and the growing power of the American west (Jacksonian Democracy)

Jacksonian Democracy Most support came from first-time voters

No property requirements so the less wealthy had a say in government now

Spoils System/Patronage: giving government jobs to friends and supporters Official policy of Jackson’s administration His opponents were infuriated by this, they’re the ones

who called it the Spoils System

Jackson’s Defense of the Spoils System

Said any intelligent person could be a competent government official

“rotation in office” would prevent a small group of wealthy, well-concerned people from controlling the government Supported his image as the common man

Limited Government Jackson supported limited government Attacked politicians he considered corrupt and

laws that he thought would limit people’s liberties Used his veto power to restrict federal activity as

much as possible Rejected more acts of Congress than the 6 previous

presidents combined Increased power of the presidency also

Tariff Crisis Tariff of 1828: heavy tax on imports designed to

boost American manufacturing Started before Jackson became president

South Carolina decided to nullify (reject) the tariff on the basis of states’ rights argument (tariff was hurting south economically) States’ rights: powers the Constitution neither gives

to the federal government nor denies to the states State sovereignty: because the states created the

federal gov, they have the right to nullify its acts and secede from the union if they decide to

South Carolina’s Nullification 1832 another tariff was passed and South

Carolina declared them null and void 1833: Force Bill passed by Congress with

Jackson’s support Made it difficult for SC to block federal collection of the

tariff Jackson threatened to send in fed troops to enforce the

law Sen. Henry Clay offered a compromise reducing

some import duties, SC canceled its nullification but nullified the Force Bill

The Indian Crisis Most Native Americans had already given up their

territory and moved west, but some remained in the Old NW and south

“Five Civilized Tribes” (Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chicksaw, and Seminole) lived in lands in the Carolinas, GA, FL, AL, MS, and TN

1830: Congress passed the Indian Removal Act

Indian Removal Act Authorized the President to give Native

Americans land in parts of the LA Purchase in exchange for land taken from them in the East

Northern groups generally resettled peacefully The Five Tribes refused to move so Jackson

forcibly removed about 100,000 from the south and moved them into the Indian Territory (OK)

Cherokee Resistance Many Cherokee had adopted white ways Gold was found on Cherokee land in GA and the

government seized the land In 1832 the Cherokees brought their case to the

Supreme Court Worcester v. Georgia: Marshall ruled that GA had no

authority over Cherokee territory GA defied the court with Jackson’s support

Trail of Tears Court had no power to enforce its decisions 1838 the US Army rounded up more than 15,000

Cherokees and forced them to walk on a 116-day forced march westward about 1,000 miles to the OK Territory No pause for rest 1 out of every 4 Cherokee died of cold or disease

Indian Uprisings Black Hawk War: clashes between 1,000

Indians and the government of the Illinois Territory (most killed)

Second Seminole War: nearly 7 years of war Ended once leader was captured Few hundred Seminoles remained in FL

Bank War Jackson believed that the Bank of the US was a

“monster” institution controlled by a small group of wealthy Easterners Held it responsible for Panic of 1819 and hard times that

followed Bank of US had charter until 1836 and then

Congress would have to issue new charter Nicholas Biddle: president of the bank charter,

decided to recharter in 1832 (early) Jackson vetoed the bill as a protection of the

rights of ordinary citizens

Election of 1832 Jackson re-elected by huge margin Defeated Clay 1834 The National Republicans joined

several other anti-Jackson groups to form the Whig Party

American Whigs saw themselves as defenders of liberty against a powerful executive (King Andrew I)

Jackson’s Successors 1836: Jackson decided not to run again Van Buren ran and won (his VP)

Lacked Jackson’s popularity Before killing the Bank of the US, Jackson had

begun putting money in “pet banks” around the country

Result: in 1836, Jackson was forced to declare that the fed gov would accept the Specie Circular

Specie Circular Weakened the “pet banks” and helped

cause the Panic of 1837 (Van Buren’s 1st year in office)

Severe depression followed, thousands lost their jobs, urban poverty increased

Second panic of 1839 made depression drag on into 1840 election year

Election of 1840 Whig candidate: William Henry Harrison

(military hero) Hoped to win by avoiding major issues and

relying on his popularity

Harrison defeated Van Buren but died just one month after taking office

John Tyler took over

John Tyler Southern Democrat who supported states’ rights Angered his party by taking a public stand against

Jackson Whigs used him to pull votes away from Van

Buren but never expected him to become president

Blocked much of the Whig policies (national bank) Whigs abandoned him and had a tough 4 years