The American System -Economic/Political system advocated by Henry Clay -Three major components: -A National Bank -A system of Tariffs to protect American manufacturing -Federal Government funded internal improvements (roads, canals)

The American System -Cons to tariffs: They keep prices high -All three parts of the system caused tension -Internal improvements: Why might some people oppose the federal Gov funding these projects? -They are strict constitutionalists -Tariffs: What are they? -A tax on foreign made goods entering the US -By putting tariffs on things, it protects American manufacturing -Cons to tariffs: They keep prices high

National Bank -Private company that works for the US Gov. -Much of its stock is owned by foreigner speculators and bankers -The bank promotes economic growth by lending money and issuing a uniform currency -Specie (gold or silver) explain -By the end of the Panic of 1819, the bank will have a bad reputation (speculation by its owners and the fact that it is mostly foreign owned)

We will come back to the bank and tariffs shortly

Andrew Jackson Born in the Carolina backcountry A “self made man” Seen as an “Average Joe” by the people Hero of the Battle of New Orleans Suspicious of banks and paper money Super nationalist States rights kind of a guy Like many Americans, he saw the “Market Revolution” in a negative light

The Corrupt Bargain -Election of 1824: Andrew Jackson has the popular vote, but no majority of electoral votes. By some weird rule, the House of Representatives will decide who is president. -Politics is often done behind closed doors, and Henry Clay and JQA are able to grease enough palms to get the House of Reps to elect JQA as president. -Jackson and his followers see this as a “corrupt bargain” -This event will radically change our political parties

New Parties In the wake of the Corrupt Bargain, two new parties emerge -Whigs (Henry Clay, JQA, many easterners) support a strong government and the American System. This party will be very diverse however and many of its members will disagree on major issues (slavery) -Democrats (Andrew Jackson, many westerners) don’t like the American System, strict constitutionalists -The federalists and the republican ideas will still be around, but the parties are on the major decline

New Parties The birth of the “Party Machine” -Headed by professional politicians, they infiltrate neighborhoods and lock up the vote for certain candidates. (Tammany Hall in New York) -They do this by giving away jobs, alcohol, random charity, and bribery -Every party needs a newspaper (over 140 in 1830) in each part of the country getting its message out to the voters

Election of 1828 “Vote for Jackson who can fight, not for JQA who can write” Very ugly election -Jackson and his wife are ridiculed in the press because she failed to get a divorce from her first husband -JQA is accused of visiting brothels in France and keeping a variety of mistresses -Jackson wins (JQA is not popular because he is such an advocate of the American System)

The Age of Jackson -Spoil System: Giving away political jobs in the government bureaucracy to friends. 1000’s of jobs are up for grabs each election. Tax collectors, sheriffs, coroners, postmaster, land agents etc. -Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet: Jackson’s inner circle of advisors, dedicated and loyal to him. Many of whom were editors of newspapers that supported the Democrat Party

Major Issues of the Age of Jackson -Banks, Tariffs, and Internal Improvements - “All bank charters are calculated to enhance the power of wealth, produce inequalities among people, and subvert liberty” –Democratic Newspaper

Major Issues in the Age of Jackson Established businessmen who benefitted from tariffs and farmers who stood to benefit from improvements like canals and roads did not like Jackson and joined the Whigs People living in the west and who desired a limited government to protect liberty joined Jackson and the Democrats. Many pro slavery forces will join the Democrats, but not some of the biggest Planters. Why? (Tariffs helped them out)

Nullification Prior to his election, Jackson would not have likely supported Tariffs. Why? Once in office, Jackson will uphold the power of the federal government in regards to tariffs. The “tariff of abominations” 1828 -Many Southerners have given up on manufacturing things themselves and want to import cheap British stuff -They see tariffs as costing Southerners money to benefit Northern commerce

Nullification To Nullify means to declare null and void South Carolina is upset with the power wielded by the federal Government declare the tariff of abominations null and void in South Carolina Can States declare federal law null and void? NO! Most Southern States will not stand with SC on this issue John C. Calhoun will be a major advocate of nullification and states rights, insisting this is the only way to preserve the Union

Nullification Jackson sees the move as a step towards disunion Jackson gets congress to pass a bill authorizing him to muster a military force to collect customs duties (tariffs) Conflict is averted when a deal is reached to lower tariff rates over 10 years SC is successful in a way because they take a stand and the tariff laws re adjusted

Impact of Nullification Andrew Jackson who is viewed as a states rights champion before his election, does a ton to increase the power of the federal gov He calls SC’s moves a “step towards disunion” and he is willing to use the military to prevent it. Proposes a bill to use the military to enforce the collection of tariffs The idea of a “Union” of all states has been cemented The idea of going to war to prevent disunion has added to the drama that will become the Civil War