The Jacksonian Era Chapter 9 Section 2

The New Politics Imagine that the presidential election was held under the rules and procedures that prevailed in the mid-1820’s. How would the election differ from what you are accustom to? (Women, Blacks, Indians, People under the age of 21 cannot vote; different colored ballots were used for each party; no secret voting; poll watchers were allowed to count how you vote; campaigning was allowed at the polling places; only white male candidates; candidates were chosen at conventions, no primaries; no television or radio predictions of the winner, etc.)

Jackson Inauguration Thousands of people, without distinction or rank, collected in an immense mass round the Capitol, silent, orderly, and tranquil, their eyes fixed, waiting the appearance of the President in the portico. Preceded by the marshals, surrounded by the judges of the Supreme Court, the old man with his gray locks emerged and bowed to the people who greeted him with a shout. Then an almost breathless silence followed, as the crowd became still, listening to catch the sound of Jackson’s voice, though it was so low as to be heard only by those nearest to him. Later, we learned that the crowd had lessened and we might enter the President’s house. But what a scene did we witness! The majesty of the people had disappeared, and a rabble, a mob, now scrambled and fought to get into the White House. What a pity! No arrangements had been made, no police officers were on duty, and the whole house had been inundated by the rabble mob. We came too late. The President, after having been literally pressed to death and almost suffocated and torn to pieces by the people in their eagerness to shake hands with Old hickory, had retreated through the back way and had escaped to his lodgings.

Cut glass and china to the amount of several thousand dollars had been broken in the struggle to get refreshments. Punch and other articles had been carried out in tubs and buckets, but had it been in barrels it would have been insufficient. Ice creams and cakes and lemonade for twenty thousand people were provided. Ladies fainted, men were seen with bloody noses. It is almost impossible to describe the confusion – those who got in could not get out again except to scramble out of the windows. This wild scene had not been anticipated and therefore not provided against. Ladies and gentlemen only had been expected, not the people en masse. But it was the people’s day, and the people’s President would rule. God grant that one day or other the people do not put down all rule and rulers. I fear, enlightened freemen as they are, they will be found, as they have been in all ages and countries where they get the power in their hands, that of all the tyrants, they are the most ferocious, cruel, and despotic. Adapted from Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith, The First Forty Years of Washington Society, 1829

Jackson’s Inauguration 1.How did Jackson’s inauguration differ from those of the present day? 2.This was the first inauguration at which spectators became unruly. Why had this not happened before? 3.How would you have arranged to handle the crowd in the White House? How much freedom should visitors have in such a place? 4.The author fears power in the hands of people. Why? Have her fears been justified in later American history? Explain.

Make Inference Using the text as a guide, one group find the advantages of the spoils system, applicable both in Jackson’s day and the present. The other group needs to find the disadvantages of the spoils system. In the 1990s more then 20 million people were on local, county, state, and national government payrolls. Which kinds of jobs, if any, should be filled as patronage? In 1883, the first civil service act passed, creating a merit system of examinations as a requirement for some federal government positions. Is this system still desirable today? Why?

To what extent are government jobs in our state or locality filled by the merit system? To what degree should government employees be protected in their jobs or seniority? Should special considerations be given to members of minority groups or other special groups, such as veterans? For what causes should their employees be allowed to fire them? What process should be followed for their dismissal?

“Democracy assumes that one’s person’s vote is as good as another’s.” Historian Will Durant – The fatal flaw in democracy is that ignorance reproduces much faster than, and is less tolerance then, intelligence. Hitler – Although you can’t fool all the people all of the time, you can fool enough of them long enough to gain control of a large nation. Do these statements apply to our system? Does our system provide any safeguards against the triumph of ignorant or wicked leaders?