New Party Emerges Whigs formed to challenge Jackson Election 1836 Advocate expand government & commercial development Election 1836 Democrat Martin Van Buren Whigs ran three candidates
Martin Van Buren Presidency Panic of 1837 (economic crisis) Farmers foreclosures Unemployment soars
Election 1840 Whigs William Henry Harrison V. Dem. Van Buren Harrison wins Harrison dies 32 days into term His VP John Tyler succeeds
Tyler Presidency Sides with Dem. Issues with Britain Oppose 3rd bank, higher tariffs Issues with Britain Webster-Ashburton treaty Firm up border between ME & Canada
A Changing Culture
New Wave of Immigrants Influx of immigrants between 1815 -1860 Largest group from Ireland Escape potato famine Settle in NE, unskilled laborers Second largest from Germany Settle in MW Farms and businesses
Impact of Immigration Creates feelings of Nativism-hostility towards foreigners Anti-Catholic groups form, ban from office American Party formed Secret group Nickname “Know-Nothings Party” When asked question would answer “I know nothing”
Second Great Awakening Revive the nation’s commitment to religion Began as reaction to rationalism Played role in social reform in the North
Revivalism NEW YORK 1823: Charles G. Finney Delivered sermons appealing to people’s emotions & fear of damnation Preached all were free to be saved through faith & hard work SOUTH & WEST Baptist & Methodist – outdoor revivals By 1850 largest Protestant denomination in US
Mormons Church of Latter-Day Saints Joseph Smith 1830 NY to OH to MO to IL Murdered by mob in IL Brigham Young leads to Utah Practice cooperative socialism
Utopia Communities Way to better life and freedom of corruption was to separate from society Cooperative living,absence of private property Shakers
Literary Renaissance Romanticism – feeling over reason Transcendentalism – go beyond limits of mind, let soul embrace universe David Thoreau – fight pressure to conform Rise of mass newspapers America becomes more literate
Impact of Second Great Awakening Fix the evils in society before the second coming of Christ Reform groups created Temperance (alcohol) Education Women’s rights Crime/prisons Slavery/abolitionism