2. Chapter 10 Politics, Religion, and Reform in the Age of Jackson

3. American Politics became more democratic by 1840 No longer could only property owners vote; now you just had to pay a poll tax written ballots instead of voting aloud elective office instead of appointive still electoral college system, but choice of presidential electors were now elected in 1800 people voted for men who voted for the President By 1840’s only 1 state retained that system

4. To nominate candidates…. Both Federalists and Republicans relied on caucus so not completely democracy no one embraced principle of universal white manhood suffrage In 1824: 5 candidates and the most popular was Jackson

5. Election of 1824 John Quincy Adams: 30.5% of vote Andrew Jackson: 43.1% William Crawford: 13.1% Henry Clay: 13.2% Who won? Adams Jackson calls it a “corrupt bargain”

6. Andrew Jackson very popular Was the “hero of New Orleans” Loved duels/commonplace Hamilton/Burr duel

7. Party Creation: Democrats Many were looking for a leader who had strength, now affiliated with the Democratic-Republicans not the National Republican party of Adams

8. Election of 1828: vicious, personal attacks Jackson called a drunken gambler, adulterer, murderer Adams was accused of wearing silk underwear, being rich, in debt, providing prostitutes to Russian Tsars

9. Sad story of Rachel

10. But what were other important features of Jacksonian era Spoils System: despite attempt at democracy, demonstrated partisan appointments Maysville Road veto: in opposition to Henry Clay and his American system

11. Crisis: Nullification John C. Calhoun: spokesman of the South: Presidential aspirations New England industrial leaders want protective tariff Problem with high tariff for the South

12. Election of 1836: Martin Van Buren: Electoral Vote 170 Popular Vote: 765,483 All other candidates: Electoral Votes: 124 Popular Vote: 739,795

13. Van Buren’s largest problem Panic of 1837 Result of Jackson’s removal of federal deposits from Bank of US to “pet” banks Specie payments suspended due to lack of cash Millerites said it was the end of the world: October 22, 1843 Independent Treasury Act is the solution

14. Reform Movements

15. Rise of Popular Religion Americans demanded that religion be as accessible to the average person as democracy Most successful ministers: appealed plainly to the heart, thrust aside predestination Called for a Second Great Awakening

16. Camp Meetings and Eastern Revival Camp meetings were enormous, pandemonium Methodists most successful: heart focus In the East, Charles G. Finney: said perfection was possible

17. Rise of Unitarians/Mormons Unitarians said that Jesus was not divine Believed in Character Building Mormons believed that Joseph Smith was given golden tablets from the Angel Moroni Persecuted by New Yorkers, fled to Nauvoo, Illinois: killed as bigamist Brigham Young takes Mormons to Utah

18. Shakers 1774: Ann Lee came to America from England Shaker furniture made by tight community Against materialism, sexual intercourse, End of the world was imminent Only a few Shakers alive today

19. Temperance Had Preached moderation in the use of liquor American Temperance Society now demanded total abstinence/prohibiti on laws Alcohol consumption cut in half between 1820-1840

20. Other Reforms: Public School Massachusetts Board of Education Secretary Horace Mann suggested: state tax support of schools Grouping pupils into classes by age and level of competence Longer school terms Standardized textbooks Compulsory attendance laws

21. Abolition of Slavery 1831: William Lloyd Garrison wrote The Liberator 1833: American Anti Slavery movement formed South is on the defensive

22. Women’s Rights Many women began reform careers in abolitionist movement Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott in 1848 called for a women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York Declaration of Sentiments written