Defining Democracy The Age of Jackson 1824-1848

Two Americas Northern Economy Southern Economy Manufacturing Textiles (cloth) Tools, Guns, Ships, Wagons, etc… Foodstuff Farming Southern Economy Cash Crop Farming King Cotton Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin increases the demand for slavery Slave trade Only 25 % of southerners own slaves Of that 25% only 3% own more than 100 Slavery, however, defines the social ladder for rich and poor alike

Slavery as a National Issue 1st Continental Congress 1775 South Carolina Wouldn’t sign a boycott agreement that included rice 2nd Continental Congress 1776 Several southern colonies would not sign the Declaration of Independence if the section criticizing the King for allowing the slave trade remained Jefferson erased it for the final version The Congress only granted slaves freedom in return for service in the continental army as a response to Britain doing the same Constitutional Convention 1787 3/5ths compromise No law could be made outlawing slavery for at least 21 years

The Missouri Compromise Result of two decades of power struggles between north and south in the US Congress Without the compromise violence may have broken out

Meet General Jackson Hero of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 (Even though the battle was fought after the War of 1812 had technically ended) Active in politics in the state of Tennessee Enjoyed widespread popularity due to his beliefs in the expansion of democracy in America Jackson believed in expanding the right to vote to all white men in America, regardless of how much property they owned

Presidential Election of 1824

The Corrupt Bargain “Thrown in to the House” When no candidate receives the majority of Electoral votes the House of Reps choose the President Henry Clay Speaker of the House sways votes to choose Adams Jackson believed he was the choice of the people since he won not only the popular vote, but the electoral as well. The “Jacksonians” spent the next 4 years preventing the Adams administration from accomplishing any of its goals. This finally destroys the remains of Jefferson’s Republican party. The Jacksonians leave to create their own party they call the “Democrats”

Jackson’s Presidency 1828-1836 Vetoed more laws than the first 6 presidents before him combined Spoils System—making government more available to more people or rewarding your cronies for getting you elected? Universal Male Suffrage (right to vote) Tariff Of Abominations Dispute between South Carolina and the Federal government Jackson threatened to send in the army Henry Clay helped create a compromise Jackson’s Bank War Saw the Bank of the United States as a tool of the wealthy to control the nations economy Continuously vetoed the Bank renewal

The Indian Removal Act 1830-1836 Forced Natives off their land and sent them west to Oklahoma “Trail of Tears” thousands of natives died during the forced move. Jackson violated the Supreme Court ruling that the law was unconstitutional “The will of the people?” Open the land for white settlement

Is Jackson really the “Champion of the Common Man?” He has been portrayed as the ultimate ideal of democracy in history books from the 1860’s to the 1960’s. He brought the common man, the poor farmer, into the realm of American politics. Jacksonian Democracy, as it is called, is considered by many to be an advancement of progress for the American people In the last 40 years historians have re-evaluated their position on Jackson Is true democracy really what we strive for? Did Jackson really practice what he preached? Did Jackson violate the principles of the separation of power between the President and the rest of the government?

Whig Party Forms Daniel Webster, John Q. Adams, Henry Clay, and William Henry Harrison Whig=To oppose the powers of the King Statement about Jackson’s abuse of power as President Reaffirms the 2 party system in America

Whig VS Democrat High Tariffs to promote factories Federal Tax dollars to build Roads, Bridges, Canals to increase trade Slow down expansion to prevent conflicts with natives and over slavery Low Tariffs to make British products cheaper for farmers No Federal spending on infrastructure Manifest Destiny (expand, expand, expand)

President Van Buren Jackson’s chosen successor Inherits economic problems from Jackson’s Bank policy Panic of 1837 Loses the election of 1840 to Whig Candidate William Henry Harrison Harrison runs using Jackson’s tactics of appealing to the common man

Manifest Destiny It is America’s God given right to expand its border all the way to the Pacific coast America has a clear responsibility to bring the blessings of civilization to the savage west Democrat President James K. Polk gets aggressive with Mexico over Texas Mexican American War 1845-1848 Creates huge problems over the slavery issue