Essential Question: How did America progress towards greater democracy between 1800 & 1840? Warm-Up Question: Examine Alexis de Tocqueville’s journey through America in the 1830s & read excerpts from his observations. What did this French visitor observe about U.S. society & gov’t in the 1830s? Lesson Plan for Friday, October 3, 2008: Warm-Up—Examine Alexis de Tocqueville, Growth of Democracy Notes, JQ Adams Video

Alexis de Tocqueville

The Growth of White Men's Democracy

The Growth of Democracy Less than 50% of white men could vote From 1824 to 1840, democracy was extended to more Americans: Before 1800, most states limited the right to vote exclusively to property owners & taxpayers By 1840, these restrictions were removed for most white men Nowhere else in the world was the right to vote as widespread as in the USA This increase in “democracy” was a major shift from the “virtuous republic” envisioned by Jefferson & Hamilton 90% of white men could vote

The Growth of Democracy White males were seen as equal before the law & in voting There was a growing % of Americans who owned no land By the 1830s, a “democracy of commoners” became more accepted than a “republic of natural aristocrats” Positions of power became attainable for “self-made” men Americans valued equal opportunities among white men, but not necessarily equality Rising industrialization led to a population of low-paid laborers Decreased requirements in the licensed professions No clear domestic servant class Division between commercial farmers & yeoman farmers

The Simple Answer: Westward expansion led to an increase in democracy Before 1800, most states limited the right to vote exclusively to property owners & taxpayers Quick Class Discussion: Why did this unprecedented growth in democracy occur? The Simple Answer: Westward expansion led to an increase in democracy

Westward expansion led to increased suffrage for “common” men in the “new states” who did not qualify in the “older states” Jefferson’s vision of “republicanism” did not apply in the West because there were no “virtuous elite” to rule for the people By 1840, more than 90% of all adult white men could vote (“universal white male suffrage”) As more western states extended democracy to “common men,” political parties in eastern states felt pressure to do the same But…this extension of suffrage did not include African-Americans or women

Universal Manhood Suffrage Political parties developed new types of politicking in order to reach “new voters” In the 1820s, politicians began using campaigns, parades, slogans to appeal to the masses Well-organized, statewide “political machines” developed Party loyalty became expected Partisan newspapers boomed

Universal Manhood Suffrage Partisan newspapers played an important role in early American politics Could “mob rule” really work in America?

Universal Manhood Suffrage The 1830s & 1840s experienced: Massive voter turnout due to the growth of suffrage & increased organization of political parties Direct methods of selecting presidential electors, county officials, state judges, & governors (replaced indirect methods by state legislatures)

What is voter turnout like today?

Democratic Culture In the 1830s, high literacy & cheap printing allowed artists & writers to work for a “mass” audience: Popular genres include romanticism, gothic horror, & landscape paintings Authors included Longfellow, Emerson, Melville, Hawthorne, Whitman, Poe; showed human nature, morality, romanticism

Kindred Spirits, by Asher Durand

Politics: The Elections of 1824 & 1828

The Election of 1824 Sec of State under Monroe Sec of Treasury under Monroe The election of 1824 was a 4-way race among Dem-Republicans: John Quincy Adams represented New England William Crawford represented the South Henry Clay & Andrew Jackson represented the West Jackson won the popular vote but not a majority of electoral votes Speaker of the House; author of American System Not taken seriously at first; but “war hero” status made Jackson a nat’l candidate

Adams won when Henry Clay threw his support behind him But, because no one candidate received 51% of the electoral votes, the House of Reps had to determine the presidential winner JQ Adams won NE Adams won when Henry Clay threw his support behind him Led to charges that Adams had "bought" the presidency (Corrupt Bargain!!) Crawford won VA but few other Southern states Clay’s influence was limited to a few western states Jackson did well in the South & the West

J. Q. Adams' Administration Adams had a difficult presidency: JQ Adams wanted to continue the nationalist programs of the “Era of Good Feelings” The depression of 1819 limited the nationalist agenda & few of Adams’ policies became law A protective tariff was passed to help farmers & industry, but this angered the South One exception: the National Road