RISE OF MASS DEMOCRACY

1
RISE OF MASS DEMOCRACY

• Chapter 13

2
Politics Of The People

• By the 1820s democracy of all the people was no
  longer considered something to be feared.
• People wanted to be more involved
• Asset to be seen as man of the people, and not of
  the elite.
• Politicians had to find a way to appeal to the
  common man

3
Jacksonian Democracy

• Jacksonian Democracy--politics of the masses and
  for the masses.
• Logical extension of Jeffersonian Democracy.
• Jeffersonpeople should be governed as little as
  possible.
• Jacksongoverning should be done directly by the
  people.
• Jackson believed in small government although
  believed in strong President.
• Catalyst universal white male suffrage.

4
Voting Requirements in the Early 1800s
5
Factors Leading To The New Democracy

• Outgrowth of egalitarian republican ideals of the
  revolution
• Growth of market economy
• Panic of 1819
• Missouri Comprise of 1820
• Consequences
• Voter turnout much higher
• Campaigning much more aggressive and overt
• Nominating conventions replaced Congressional
  Caucus so that presidential candidates are
  selected more democratically

6
Election of 1824

• Jackson is very popular war hero and runs as
  candidate of the west and common man.
• Has three opponents
• John Quincy Adams--Monroes Sec. of State.
  Candidate of Easterners and establishment.
• Henry Clay -Also a westerner and natural regional
  rival of Jackson. But much different view of
  role of national government.
• William Crawford--Southerner

7
Election of 1824

• All four Democratic-Republicans
• But, clear factions
• Jackson benefit common man limited national
  government.
• Clay and Adams strong activist federal
  government.
• Federalists-light
• Calhoun VP on both Adams and Jackson tickets.

8
Electoral College Deadlock

• Jackson wins the most popular votes (42) and
  electoral votes, but does not get a majority of
  the electoral votes.
• Thus, House must choose between the top three.
• Clay finished fourth and is eliminated.
• Crawford has a stroke
• Thus, between Adams and Jackson

9
Corrupt Bargain?

• Why does Clay have the power to influence the
  vote?
• Why does Clay back Adams?
• Adams wins the presidency Clay becomes Sec. of
  State.
• Jacksons supporters scream corrupt bargain

10
A Corrupt Bargain?
11
John Quincy Adams

• Austere.
• Short, bald, stiff and frosty. Loner.
• Very successful Sec. of State, but was not well
  suited to the presidency.
• How he won made things worse
• Was first minority President
• He refused to play the spoils game made
  supporters grumpy

12
Adams Unpopular Policies

• Adams Nationalistic policies went against the
  tide of opinion.
• Advocated national roads, canals, universities,
  observatories
• South objected. Why?
• Tried to protect Indians in Georgia.

13
Going Whole Hog For Jackson In 1828

• Jackson v. Adams, again.
• Democratic-Republican party splits into two.
• National Republicans, led by Adams.
• Policies?
• Democratic-Republicans, led by Jackson. Become
  the Democrats.
• Policies?

14
1828 Election Results

• Nasty campaign full of mud-slinging.
• Jackson wins 178-83 in the electoral college.
  Adams polls only 44.
• Jackson carries the South and West and the
  Eastern laborers.
• Adams carries New England and the moneyed class.

15
Jackson InaugurationFirst Kegger in the White
House?
16
Jacksonian Revolution

• Election of 1828 one of most important in US
  history.
• Marks a major change in American Politics.
• Why was it a revolution?

17
The Center of Population in theCountry Moves WEST
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The Advent Of Old Hickory Jackson

• Jackson personified the new west. He was
  individualistic, rugged, versatile and a war
  hero.
• Personal History
• Jacksons Firsts
• First president from the west
• First to be nominated at a formal convention
• First President without a college education
  (except Washington)
• First President who not part of the educated
  elite that was at the heart of the revolution and
  the Constitution.

19
Jacksons Philosophy

• Suspicious of the federal government because it
  was remote from the people
• Believed in limited Fed. government (See
  Jefferson)
• Hostile to the active federal econ. role of
  American System National Bank
• Strong believer in the Union
• opposed nullification and those who did not
  believe that federal power was supreme. (See
  Hamilton)
• Very strong president. Insisted on prompt and
  loyal support from his subordinates.
• He was the great vetoer Vetoed more bills than
  predecessors combined.

20
The Spoils System

• Jacksons attitude toward bureaucracy and spoils
  system.
• During Jacksons 8 years only about 20 of civil
  servants were dismissed, but sets a bad
  precedent.
• Problems with spoils system

21
Tariff of Abomination

• New England and East like Tariffs. Reduces
  competition.
• South and West hate tariffs.
• Economic concerns
• Political/Sectional concern
• Jacksons supporters try to put JQ Adams in
  political trap by pushing for a very high tariff.
• Plan backfires, and tariff is passed.
• South is outraged at Adams, and calls it Tariff
  of Abomination

22
South Carolina Exposition and Nullification

• Calhoun secretly writes, The South Carolina
  Exposition.
• What is his thesis?

23
Nullies In South Carolina

• Tariff of 1832
• South Carolina votes to nullify the tariff.
• Threatens to secede
• Jacksons reaction.
• Jackson issues proclamation against nullification
  and raises an army to march on SC
• Things at a dangerous crisis point.

24
Nullification Crisis

• Henry Clay is motivated to find a compromise.
• Tariff Bill of 1833
• As a face-saving device, Congress passes the
  force bill.
• South Carolina happy for this out. Why?
• SC repeals nullification.

25
Transplanting The Tribes
Trail of Tears
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Transplanting the Tribes

• Legal status of Indians
• Attitudes of Americans toward Indians
• Five Civilized tribes in South East
• Jacksons attitude toward Indians

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Indian Removal Act

• Indian Removal Act (1830).
• voluntary removal of Indians from southeast to
  reservations in Eastern Kansas and Oklahoma.
• Forced removal of over 100,000 Indians.
• Heaviest blow falls on the Five Civilized Tribes
• Theory behind the policy
• Trail of Tears
• Bureau of Indian Affairs -1836
• Black Hawk Rebellion

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Indian Removal
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The Bank As A Political Football

• Jackson and supporters hated BUS.
• Some of Jacksons allegations were true.
• It was hostile to wildcat banks of the west.
• It did foreclose on a number of western farms.
• It was a mammoth and monopolistic bank.
• It was to some extent autocratic and tyrannical.
• It did greatly impact economy.

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Analysis of BUS

• Many good things about the Bank.
• Imposed restraint on wildcat banks.
• It reduced bank failures
• It provided a national paper currency
• It promoted economic expansion.
• Allowed nations funds to be effectively recycled
  back into the economy.

31
Clays Scheme

• Clay used the Bank issue to try to hurt Jackson
  politically
• Clays Scheme?
• Why does it backfire?
• Clay gets recharter bill passed.
• Jackson vetoes and issues a scathing veto message
• Basis for veto
• Significance of veto

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The Bank As A Political Football

• Jacksons veto is very popular with rural, South
  and West.
• Increases Jacksons popularity with his core
  constituency.
• Antagonizes nationalists
• BUS is now one prime issues in the election of
  1832.

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Election of 1832

• Jackson (Dem.-Rep.) v. Clay (National
  Republicans)
• First election with a third party.
• Anti-Masonic Party
• First election with national nominating
  conventions
• Clay seems to have a huge advantage. Why?
• But, Jackson wins easily. Why?

34
1832 Election Results
35
Badgering Biddles Bank

• Jackson believed he had a mandate to end the BUS
  when its charter expired in 1836.
• Jackson decides to weaken it before issue of
  recharter comes up. Why?
• Jacksons Plan
• Pet Banks
• Biddles Response?
• Consequences?

Nicholas Biddle
36
The Birth Of The Whigs

• Whig Party emerges in 1834. Cause?
• Clay and Calhoun.
• Democratic-Republicans now Democrats.
• Primary common bond is opposition to Jackson.
• Dubbed an Organized incompatibility
• Elements of Whig Party?

37
Election of 1836

• In 1836 Whigs run several regional candidates.
• Why?
• What is their strategy?
• Jackson hand-picks Van Buren as his successor and
  engineers his nomination.
• Van Buren won only a narrow majority of the
  popular vote, but won electoral vote, 170-124.

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Woes for Van Buren

• Skilled politician and very bright.
• Inherited lots of political problems.
• Party peeved at Jackson rammed through his
  nomination
• Inherits all Jacksons enemies, but not Jacksons
  support from common man.
• Jacksons economic policies (specie circular)
  caused economic downturn.
• Problems with Canada and Texas.

39
Depression And Independent Treasury

• Panic of 1837.
• Causes?
• Effects?
• Whigs propose solutions involving government
  action, but Van Buren vetoes. Why?
• Van Burens Plan Independent Treasury Bill
  (Divorce Bill)

40
American Settlement in Texas

• 1823 Mexico grants a huge tract of land to
  Stephan Austin.
• Mexicos conditions on settlers
• Why does Mexico open land to Americans?
• Americans come, but largely ignore the two
  conditions.

Moses Austin
41
American Settlement in Texas

• 1835, 30,000 Americans in Texas.
• Davy Crockett, Sam Bowie and Sam Houston.
• Tension between Mexico and Texans
• Slavery issue
• Mexicos policies to regain control
• Santa Anna

Sam Houston. First Governor of Texas Big Drunk
42
Texas Revolution

• Early 1836, Texas declares its independence with
  Sam Houston as commander in chief.
• Santa Anna attacks the Alamo
• Goliad
• Santa Anna defeated at San Jacinto
• Santa Anna captured and forced to sign treaty
  under duress. Rio Grande
• Santa Anna quickly repudiated the treaty, but
  doesnt have power to attack again.

43
Texas an International Derelict

• Texas could not have won its Independence without
  US help. Unofficial help, but also very tangible.
  Both men and supplies.
• This increased Mexico-US tensions.
• Texas causes political tension in US. Why?

44
Texas an International Derelict

• Texas wanted diplomatic recognition from US.
• Jackson was reluctant to recognize Texas as an
  independent republic.
• Why?
• On last day of office he does recognize Texas.
• Texans want to be part of the US and request
  annexation.
• Why was annexation by US politically complicated?

45
Election of 1840

• Van Buren nominated by the Dems in 1840 no
  strong alternative.
• Whigs passed over Clay and Webster and nom.
  William Henry Harrison. Why?
• John Tyler of Va. is his VP
• Harrison platform vague.
• Why Whigs win

46
The Two Party System Emerges

• Two party system began to reemerge under Jackson
  and fully reemerged in the election of 1840 with
  the Whigs.
• Both parties were big-tent parties containing
  diverse elements
• Were also diverse geographically, and their
  presence helped retard the development of purely
  sectional parties

47
Whigs v. Democrats

• Democrats
• States rights
• federal restraint in social and economic affairs
• Champion of individual and working class.
• Distrusted privileged class attempts to usurp
  government
• Strong in South and West
• Opposed high tariffs as benefiting eastern
  business at expense of farmer.

• Whigs (Majority)
• willing to use government to realize their
  objectives
• argued against using class differences to appeal
  to self interest of one class over another.
• Believed in strong govt initiative such as the
  BUS, tariffs, internal improvements, public
  schools and moral reform, such as slavery.