Chapter 13 The Age of Jackson The Age of Jackson

Reforms in Politics EXPANSION OF THE FRANCHISE IN MANY STATES THE PROPERTY QUALIFICATION FOR VOTING WERE DROPPED MANY AMERICANS STILL COULD NOT VOTE: WOMEN, BLACKS AND NATIVE AMERICANS

Change in Method of Selecting Presidential Candidates UNTIL THE 1830’S CANDIDATES WERE CHOSEN BY SMALL GROUPS OF CONGRESSMEN DURING THE 1830’S THE POLITICAL PARTIES BEGAN TO HOLD NATIONAL CONVENTIONS WERE THE DELEGATES WERE ELECTED TO THE CONVENTION AND THOSE DELEGATES CHOSE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ACCORDING TO THE PARTIES’S RULES Voting laws became more democratic increasing suffrage throughout American. More ordinary men were given the right to vote.

The Election of 1824 Four main candidates, ALL Republican Four main candidates, ALL Republican John Quincy Adams-Popular in the Northeast John Quincy Adams-Popular in the Northeast Henry Clay-Supported by the West Henry Clay-Supported by the West Andrew Jackson-Support from the West and South Andrew Jackson-Support from the West and South William Crawford-Support from the South (but became too ill to campaign William Crawford-Support from the South (but became too ill to campaign

The Election of 1824

An unusual Election Jackson won the majority (43%) of the popular vote and 38% of the electoral vote Jackson won the majority (43%) of the popular vote and 38% of the electoral vote Adams finished second, followed by Crawford and Clay Adams finished second, followed by Crawford and Clay Since no one received a majority of electoral votes, the House would choose the president from the top three finishers Since no one received a majority of electoral votes, the House would choose the president from the top three finishers

The Corrupt Bargain Clay, speaker of the House, realized that the most of the men elected President, also served as Secretary of State Clay, speaker of the House, realized that the most of the men elected President, also served as Secretary of State Clay agreed to support Adams in the House vote if Adam would make Clay the Secretary of State Clay agreed to support Adams in the House vote if Adam would make Clay the Secretary of State Jackson and his supporters thought that Adams had stole the election Jackson and his supporters thought that Adams had stole the election His supports claimed that there was “cheating, corruption and bribery” His supports claimed that there was “cheating, corruption and bribery”

Adams as President Adams as President Had big plans to improve the nation: new roads, canals, a national university, and observatory Had big plans to improve the nation: new roads, canals, a national university, and observatory Wanted the government to spend lots of $ to support farming, manufacturing, science, trade and the arts Wanted the government to spend lots of $ to support farming, manufacturing, science, trade and the arts Plans unpopular in the nation and in Congress. Only $ spent was for transportation. Plans unpopular in the nation and in Congress. Only $ spent was for transportation.

New Political Parties Adams supporters were the National Republicans and later called Whigs (remember the Revolution) Adams supporters were the National Republicans and later called Whigs (remember the Revolution) Most were from the East and wealthy Southerners Most were from the East and wealthy Southerners Jackson supporters were called Democratic Republicans later Democrats Jackson supporters were called Democratic Republicans later Democrats West frontier’s men, poor southerners and eastern factory workers West frontier’s men, poor southerners and eastern factory workers

DIFFERENCES IN OPINION WILL LEAD TO NEW POLITICAL PARTIES POLITICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WERE BASED ON THE CONSTITUTION: NEW DIFFERENCES WERE TO BE ECONOMIC AND SECTIONAL SECTIONALISM TOOK THE PLACE OF IDEOLOGY THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE CHANGED FROM CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS TO ECONOMIC ONES AND THE ECONOMY OF EACH SECTION OF THE COUNTRY WAS BASED UPON DIFFERENT NEEDS AND DESIRES.

New Sectional Leaders in Congress EACH SECTION OF THE COUNTRY HAD LEADERS IN CONGRESS: HENRY CLAY-- KENTUCKY-- THE WEST: AMERICAN SYSTEM OF HIGH TARIFFS AND FEDERAL FUNDS USED TO IMPROVE THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DANIEL WEBSTER (BLACK DAN) -- MASSACHUSETTS-- THE NORTH: PROTECTIVE TARIFFS TO MAKE AMERICAN INDUSTRY STRONGER AND PROVIDE REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. OPPOSED EXPANSION OF SLAVERY INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES BUT WOULD SUPPORT POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. NULLIFICATION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. JOHN C. CALHOUN-- SOUTH CAROLINA-- THE SOUTH: OPPOSED ANY HIGH TARIFFS. Thought that States had the Right to Nullify acts of Congress.

Sectional Leadership in Congress WebsterClay Calhoun Union forever! ! We must Compromise! States Rights are paramount!

The Election of 1828 Many believed that Jackson was cheated in 1824 Many believed that Jackson was cheated in 1824 Won easily in 1828 against Adams Won easily in 1828 against Adams FIRST WESTERNER FROM THE FRONTIER. Fought in the American Revolution and Led the American Army to victory in New Orleans during the War of Served in the House of Representatives. SELF EDUCATED, LAWYER

Election of 1828

Jackson as President FOUR ISSUES: THE SPOILS SYSTEM TARIFF THE NATIONAL BANK NATIVE AMERICAN POLICY

President Jackson THE SPOILS SYSTEM JACKSON REWARDED SUPPORTERS WITH FEDERAL JOBS BASES UPON LOYALITY NOT ABILITY. Many members of Jackson’s cabinet were not qualified to serve in those positions. BECAME SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. “KITCHEN CABINET.”-un-official advisors whom Jackson trusted to give him advice. Often met in the White House kitchen.

The Tariff Issues A TARIFF (the Tariff of Abominations) WAS PASSED AND MANY STATES WERE OPPOSED TO THE TARIFF SAYING THAT IF A STATE DID NOT LIKE A LAW AND SOUGHT TO NULLIFY THE TARIFF. Calhoun, Jackson’s Vice-President believed in states’ rights and encouraged South Carolina to pass the Nullification Act. High tariffs hurt Southerners by cutting the amount of cotton bought by Britain and making finished imported products more expensive. JACKSON REACTED TO THE NULLIFICATION CRISIS BY THREATENING TO PERSONALLY HANG THE FIRST MAN TO LIFT A GUN AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ENFORCEMENT OF THE TARIFF

Debate over States’ Rights Calhoun-States have the right to limit the federal gov’t. He believed that states could best preserve liberty. “The Union-next to liberty, the most dear.” Calhoun-States have the right to limit the federal gov’t. He believed that states could best preserve liberty. “The Union-next to liberty, the most dear.” Webster attacked the idea of nullification and states’ rights. If states decided one by one what laws they would follow, then the nation would be ripped apart. “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.” Webster attacked the idea of nullification and states’ rights. If states decided one by one what laws they would follow, then the nation would be ripped apart. “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.” Many thought that Jackson, born in the South and raised in the west would support his Vice-President. Jackson- “Our Union-it must be preserved.” Many thought that Jackson, born in the South and raised in the west would support his Vice-President. Jackson- “Our Union-it must be preserved.” Nullification Crisis ended when Clay proposed a new Tariff Act which lowered the tax and Southerners like Calhoun could support. Nullification Crisis ended when Clay proposed a new Tariff Act which lowered the tax and Southerners like Calhoun could support.

States’ Rights vs. Union Senator Webster-MA Vice-President Calhoun-SCPresident Jackson-KY Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable. The Union- next to our Liberty, the most dear. Our Union-it must be preserved!

The National Bank THE CHARTER FOR THE NATIONAL BANK WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. IN 1832, CONGRESS PASSED A RENEWAL OF THE BANK’S CHARTER. OPPONENTS TO JACKSON HOPED TO EMBARRASS JACKSON SO THAT THE WHIG CANDIDATE (CLAY) WOULD BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT. JACKSON WAS AGAINST THE BANK BECAUSE IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC BECAUSE IT FAVORED THE WEALTHY OVER THE AVERAGE PEOPLE. JACKSON WAS EXTREMELY ILL WHEN THE BANK’S RENEWAL WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS, HE SAID “THE BANK IS TRYING TO KILL ME, BUT I WILL KILL IT!” JACKSON VETOED THE NATIONAL BANK CHARTER.

National Bank Issue Leads Controversy

Consequences of the Veto JACKSON THEN KILLED THE BANK BEFORE THE CHARTER RAN OUT BY TRANSFERRING ALL GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO FAVORED STATE BANKS. THESE BANKS CAME TO BE CALLED “PET BANKS”. WITHOUT DEPOSITS, THE NATIONAL BANK COULD NOT LEND MONEY AND WAS EFFECTIVELY PUT OUT OF BUSINESS These “pet banks” helped cause the Panic of 1837-the worst economic depression faced by the nation

Native American Policy THE CHEROKEE WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT TO ARGUE THAT SINCE THEY WERE A FOREIGN NATION, THEY COULD ASK THE SUPREME COURT TO STOP GEORGIA FROM TAKING THEIR LAND. JOHN MARSHALL RULED IN THE CASE OF “CHEROKEE NATION V. GEORGIA” THAT THE CHEROKEE WERE A DEPENDENT NATION AND HAD NO RIGHT TO BRING A SUIT TO THE SUPREME COURT. IN ANOTHER CASE, MARSHALL RULED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD STOP THE STATE OF GEORGIA FROM TAKING NATIVE AMERICAN LAND. JACKSON DECIDED TO IGNORE THE SUPREME COURT AND THE REMOVAL OF NATIVE AMERICANS (TRAIL OF TEARS) CONTINUED.

Trail of Tears CHEROKEE NATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA AND THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS WERE VERY POWERFUL AND ORGANIZED. WANTED TO KEEP THEIR LAND THEREFORE THEY DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER A FORMAL GOVERNMENT AND SIGNED A KIND OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 4, WROTE A CONSTITUTION AND ELECTED THE CHIEF JOHN ROSS AS PRESIDENT. CONGRESS IS REMINDED BY CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL THAT NO ONE COULD SET UP AN INDEPENDENT NATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Trail of Tears

1830, INDIAN REMOVAL ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS GIVING THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO ORDER ALL GROUPS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 1838, AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CHEROKEE LAND, 13,000 NATIVES WERE FORCED TO MARCH BY PRESIDENT JACKSON DURING THE WINTER NOT JUST WEST OF MISS. BUT ALL THE WAY TO INDIAN TERRITORY. OVER 33%DIED, THAT WAS OVER 4,000 MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Van Buren, Harrison & Tyler From Van Buren (1836) to the election of Lincoln (1860) the Presidents were not effective From Van Buren (1836) to the election of Lincoln (1860) the Presidents were not effective Van Buren-the Panic of 1837 (click here to see other slide). Van Buren blamed for the Panic for not doing anything. Van Buren-the Panic of 1837 (click here to see other slide). Van Buren blamed for the Panic for not doing anything.Panic of 1837 Panic of 1837 Harrison and Tyler- “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”- Harrison was the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe. Both were Whigs, but when Harrison died one month into his term, Tyler refused to support any of the Whig policies and was ineffective for the rest of the term. Harrison and Tyler- “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”- Harrison was the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe. Both were Whigs, but when Harrison died one month into his term, Tyler refused to support any of the Whig policies and was ineffective for the rest of the term.

Elections of 1836 & 1840

Panic of 1837 Much of the western land was being sold to speculators who would borrow money to pay for federal land from state banks Much of the western land was being sold to speculators who would borrow money to pay for federal land from state banks To meet the demand for money, many states began to print paper money, not backed by gold or silver To meet the demand for money, many states began to print paper money, not backed by gold or silver President Jackson, alarmed at the wild speculation for land, wanted to slow the buying. He demanded specie (hard money-gold or silver) in payment for federal land President Jackson, alarmed at the wild speculation for land, wanted to slow the buying. He demanded specie (hard money-gold or silver) in payment for federal land Speculators went to the state banks to exchange their paper money for gold, but since the banks did not have the gold they closed Speculators went to the state banks to exchange their paper money for gold, but since the banks did not have the gold they closed At the same time cotton prices fell, and many planters could not repay their debts to state banks which caused more banks to fail At the same time cotton prices fell, and many planters could not repay their debts to state banks which caused more banks to fail This depression would last 3 years, over 90% of all businesses failed throwing thousands out of work. Led to many food riots in the major cities. This depression would last 3 years, over 90% of all businesses failed throwing thousands out of work. Led to many food riots in the major cities.