The Triumph of Democracy

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The Triumph of Democracy

• Growing dominance of the common people in society
  and politics

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I. The Hotel Symbol of the Age

• Demonstrated geographic and social mobility
• American Plan menus
• Sign of greater equality to many foreign
  visitors
• Also illustrated the worst of American democracy
• Site of new style democratic politicking

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II. The Democratic Impulse The Spirit of the Age

• Change in attitude toward the idea of democracy
• Strong surge of political and social leveling
• By 1820s, most states had universal manhood
  suffrage for white males
• New style of campaigning became prevalent
• Appearance of statewide political organizations

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II. The Democratic Impulse (cont.)

• By 1828, presidential electors were chosen by the
  people
• Popular participation in elections increased
  dramatically during this era
• --1840 election 78 turnout
• Strong loyalties to political parties developed
  during this era
• Important political issues debated at this time

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III. Growing Equality The Culture of the Age
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A. Society

• Distaste for being seen as a servant
• Decline in aristocratic dress
• Attack on professional societies
• The reality of equality became ever more evasive
• The American game of baseball is invented in
  1839

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B. Literature and Art

• Growing Literacy
• The common man became the target for writers
• Some pander to the tastes of the common man
• --The Penny Press
• --Lurid, Sentimental Novels
• Some writers attempt to improve popular tastes

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B. Literature and Art (cont.)

• Fascination with death and horror
• Other popular and not-so popular American writers
  of the time
• Theater for the common man
• Truly American art and architecture

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IV. Popular Campaigns The Politics of the Age

• The Election of 1824
• --The Corrupt Bargain
• Adams Presidency
• The Election of 1828
• New and Old Campaign Techniques
• Rise of the Democratic Party

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V. Andrew Jackson A Man for His Age (1829-1837)
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A. The Man

• Forceful, obstinate, proud and unforgiving
• Violent temper
• Self-reliant
• Old Hickory
• A Man of Contradictions a democratic aristocrat

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B. His Presidency

• Death of his wife, Rachel
• Endorses the Spoils System
• Reduces the influence of the cabinet
• The Peggy Eaton Affair (1829)

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C. Indian Removal

• The president as ex-Indian fighter
• Georgia seeks Cherokee removal
• The Supreme Court weighs in
• --Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)
• Indian Intercourse Act (1834)
• Trail of Tears (1838)

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D. The Nullification Crisis

• Tariffs as a test case
• Jacksons growing personal feud with Calhoun
• The Tariff of Abominations (1828)
• South Carolinas Nullification (1832)
• The Force Bill (1833)
• Resolution of the Crisis

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E. The Bank War

• Problems with the image of the National Bank
• Nicholas Biddle as president (1823)
• Objections to the Bank
• Re-charter attempt in 1832
• The Bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill
  it.
• US deposits in pet banks
• National Bank began to call in loans

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F. Emergence of the Whig Party

• Formation and naming of this new party
• Some southerners joined temporarily
• Characteristics of the Whig Party
• Specie Circular (1836)
• The Panic of 1837

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VI. The Rise and Fall of Martin Van Buren
Victim of His Age

• Van Burens background
• Economic issues dominate his presidency
• --Independent Treasury (1840)
• The Election of 1840