Jacksonian Democracy 1820-1845

Monroe Doctrine The Monroe Doctrine was announced by President Monroe in 1823 and developed by John Quincy Adams Latin American countries began to announce their independence from their European controllers in the early 1800’s The United States believed that their was a chance European powers would come back to the western hemisphere to reassert their control over the region. The Monroe Doctrine Stated that the counties in the Western Hemisphere were now off limits to European control and the United States would “police” the region.

Policy Towards Native Americans 1824: Monroe announced that all Native Americans be moved west of the Mississippi River. These Tribes had signed legal treaties for land, but settlers constantly encroached on Native American territory Monroe claimed that settlers would not bother Native Americans if the settled west The state of Georgia put major pressure the Cherokee to sell the land they held in that state. Cherokees believed they had a legal treaty for that land and took the case to the federal court.

1831 Cherokee Nation v. Georgia Chief Justice John Marshall stated that the Native Americans had no real standing in court, since they were not a state or a foreign country, but the Cherokee’s did have a right to the land that they possessed. With Andrew Jackson now as president he claims “John Marshall has made his decision: Let him enforce it.” Jackson was a strong proponent of Indian Removal, announcing this in his inaugural speech War of 1812 Jackson fought and took 60% of the Creek tribes land Signed the Removal act of 1830 which authorized the removal of all tribes east of the Mississippi. 1831Tribes were forced to move at gun point 1838 The Cherokees were marched west in what was called the Trail of Tears. 1/3 of the tribe died due to disease, exhaustion, and hunger Indian Resistance continued in Florida until 1841 called the Seminole Wars.

Rise of Democratization Prior to 1820 the voters were widely white, and male. State Legislatures lowered or eliminated the property eligibility to vote. This allowed for the common man to vote. Blacks, and women were still excluded from the political process. By 1824 electors for the electoral college in 18 of the 24 states were chosen by popular vote. Campaigning became common place as banners, posters, buttons, and hats were being mass produced by 1828. All of this created an egalitarian democracy.

Election of 1824 Four Republicans ran for presidency. Secretary of Treasury William Crawford Speaker of the House Henry Clay Secretary of State John Quincy Adams Tennessee Militia Leader Andrew Jackson. Jackson won the plurality of popular vote but only 38% of the electoral vote The election was turned over to the House of Representatives. In a back room deal Speaker of the House Henry Clay gave Adams his support for presidency for the position of Sec. of State in his Administration. This would overshadow John Quincy Adams presidency for the next four years as Jacksonian supporters saw this as the “corrupt bargain” and did everything to sabotage his presidency.

1828 Presidential Election The presidential campaign was the first time that both campaigns utilized Campaign Rallies. Jackson Supporters: The 1824 election was stolen away from them, and that Adams gave too many “fancy dinners” to the political establishment. Claimed that when Adams was on envoy to Russia he helped procure American prostitutes for the Russian Tsar. Adams Supporters: Jackson was a murderer and an adulterer Jackson’s wife was an adulteress Jackson won the election which finally created for the first time the Democratic Party that we know today.

Jackson as President Jackson did come from very humble beginnings, and was very popular with the “common man”, though he was an elite plantation owning slaveholding western farmer. Jackson was experienced. Served as a Congressman and Senator from Tennessee Was the Territorial Governor of Florida. When president Jackson rarely took advice from his presidential cabinet, and instead on his “Kitchen Cabinet” which was the inner circle of his political supporters. Also utilized the spoils system to give other political supporters jobs in the government.

Jacksonian Agenda Jackson wanted to revert back to the Jeffersonian ideal of independent yeoman farmers being the predominate occupation in America. Jackson supported deregulation of the economy and smaller government to help protect the common person. Jackson used the Presidential veto to stop any government programs that he felt were excessive. Jackson appointed Roger B. Taney as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Taney would validate almost all of Jackson’s States Rights incentives. Many of Jackson’s opponents felt Jackson was a hypocrite. He spoke of limiting government, but increased the Presidential power Called him King Andrew I Jackson was a slave owner, and supported the system of slavery.

Nullification Controversy In 1828 Congress passed a new tariff on imported manufactured cloth and iron. The cost of goods rose dramatically South Carolina began to revisit the doctrine of nullification that mentioned in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolution in 1798 Nullification is the idea that states have the right to rule whether federal legislation is constitutional. John C. Calhoun (Jackson’s VP) said that the practice of nullification was essential to protect states from the potential tyrannical federal government.

1830: Webster-Hayne Debate U.S. Senate Debate over western land sales. Robert Hayne of South Carolina believed that South Carolina had the right to nullify the US decision to stop surveying land until after they have sold the land they had to sell. Daniel Webster of Massachusetts believed that nullification were to proceed, that results would be “states disserved, discordant, belligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched … in fraternal blood!” Jackson was strongly for states rights, but was also strongly against nullification.

South Carolina Nullification 1834: New tariffs were passed in congress on imported goods. November 1832, South Carolina held a convention to nullify the law imposing the tariffs. Jackson moved troops and federal marshals to South Carolina to collect the tariff payments there. Congress authorized these decisions when it passed the Force Act. John C. Calhoun resigned from Vice President Congress also passed legislation to lower the taxes to an acceptable level for South Carolina.

Bank Crisis Second National Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816 This was apart of Henry Clays American System. Jackson did not like the idea of the National government controlling the National Economy. This included the National Bank Henry Clay began to start a run for the Presidency in 1832 and wanted to campaign for the re-chartering of the national bank. Henry believed that the support for the national bank would help in in the campaign. Jackson vetoed the re-chartering proposal because it would only serve special interests. This made Jackson the clear favorite for reelection Jackson in 1833 tried to destroy the national bank. Money was to be removed from the National Bank and moved to state and local banks The director of the National Bank Nicholas Biddle called in loans that had been made to state banks. It resulted in this Bank War that would lead to the panic of 1837 and a depression that would last into the 1840’s

Whig party 1830’s the Whig Party emerged as a major opposition party the the Democrats. Democrats’ Platform: Saw urbanization and industrialization as necessary evils They still favored a Jeffersonian America Whigs’ Platform: Favored more government involvement in economic activity Proponent of National Bank Controlled settlement out west Supported reformist legislation The Northern businessmen, and Southern Planter’s supported the Whig party.