JQA to 1828

Scenario Question Mr. Oliver has just been elected President of the United States and now has power of appointment over an important government job. Mr. Albert has been in the job for the past 10 years and has been doing a good job, but is not known to be a supporter of Mr. Oliver Mr. Benjamin is a very loyal supporter of Mr. Oliver, and during the campaign he helped raise money and getting people to vote for him, and he would like a job in Mr. Oliver’s administration QUESTION: Should Mr. Oliver keep Mr. Albert in the position or change it out and put Mr. Benjamin in the position? Why or why not?

Big Questions How was political participation changing in the Age of Jackson? Why did political parties emerge to their modern form? How were interpretations of constitutional government challenged during the Age of Jackson? Jackson Champion of Democracy or Rascal in the White House?

Goals We can describe the important electorate changes between JQA's and Jackson's first term. We can evaluate the emerging issues that contributed to the outcome of the 1824 and 1828 elections. We can explain how the spoils system related to Jackson's concept of "democracy"

Recap See ya later “Good feelings…” Sectionalism vs Nationalism State Govt. vs National Govt.

Election of 1824, Issues Only one party, but no accepted method for choosing candidates Congressional Caucus State Legislatures John C Calhoun is the VP candidate for both Jackson and Adams! States Rights and Strict Construction More popular in Old South (VA, GA, etc.) American System Popular in parts of west, but tariff is unpopular in south, improvements unpopular in north

Election of 1824

Election of 1824, Results

Corrupt Bargain No Electoral College majority means the House of Reps decides Henry Clay is Speaker of the House Adams only candidate who kinda supports American System Adams later names Clay Sec. of State Significance/Results: Adams Presidency is tarnished before it even starts Jackson/Westerners feel betrayed by Clay and even more convinced of Eastern Elitism

John Quincy Adams “…if these powers and others enumerated in the Constitution may be effectually brought into action by laws promoting the improvement of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, the cultivation and encouragement of the mechanic and of the elegant arts, the advancement of literature, and the progress of the sciences, ornamental and profound, to refrain from exercising them for the benefit of the people themselves would be to hide in the earth the talent committed to our charge -- would be treachery to the most sacred of trusts.”

John Quincy Adams Had been hugely successful as Sec. of State Super intelligent, aristocratic, puritan idealist Only changed 12 appointed positions in 4 years, thought it dishonorable to dismiss “able and faithful political opponents to provide government jobs for my own partisans.” Big plans for National Government Internal Improvements National university Scientific exploration Astronomical observatories New department of interior Praised European Countries as examples Parties Solidifying National Republicans vs Democratic Republicans

Election of 1828 Stretch Our Legs! Make a mark by the % of the total US population that voted in the big Revolution of 1800 Make a mark by the % of the total US population that voted when Andrew Jackson was elected in 1828

Election of 1828 Expanded Vote Most property requirements removed Most church membership requirements removed Still just talking about White Males Blacks, Women, some immigrants still not voting

Democracy

Election of 1828 Things Get Ugly! Rachel Jackson Coffin Handbills

Election of 1828 Massachusetts Newspaper 1828, “General Jackson’s mother was a Common Prostitute, brought to this country by the British soldiers! She afterwards married a MULATTO man with who she had several children, of which number GENERAL JACKSON is one.” Adams accused of being a pimp and a gambler Called an aristocrat who turned the White House into a “presidential palace”

Election of 1828

Old Hickory in the White House “Inaugural Brawl”

Spoils System Jackson argues that it is “democratic” “Every man is as good as his neighbor…” Wanted to avoid creating a class of people who work for the government Anti-Jackson folks call it corruption Appointing based on friendship and political support rather than qualifications Samuel Swartwout “Swartwouting Out…”

Take Away 1. One NEW thing you learned 2. One thing you thought was INTERESTING 3. One QUESTION about something we talked about