Transcript Andrew Jackson: Democrat or Demagogue?

Andrew Jackson: Democrat
or Demagogue?
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1) Andrew Jackson’s election as President marked the beginning of a
new age in American political history. Assess the validity of this
generalization. (71)
2) At various times between 1789 and 1861, Americans changed their
positions on the constitutional question of loose construction or strict
construction as best suited their economic or political interests. Discuss
this statement with reference to any TWO individuals or groups who
took positions on this constitutional question. (81)
3) Although historically represented as distinct parties, the Federalists
and the Whigs in fact shared a common political ideology, represented
many of the same interest groups, and proposed similar programs and
policies. Assess the validity of the statement. (91)
4) Analyze the extent to which Two of the following influenced the
development of democracy between 1820 and 1840.
– Jacksonian economic policy
– Second Great Awakening
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Changes in electoral politics
Westward movement
(96)
5) How did Two of the following contribute to the reemergence of a two
party system in the period 1820 to 1840?
– Major political personalities
States’ rights
Economic issues (99)
I. The Inauguration of Andrew
Jackson, 1829
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Democrats: “triumph of great
principle of self-government” and
democracy
Validation after “corrupt bargain”
of 1824: JQA made Henry Clay
Secy’y State in return for support
in House vote
– 2002 Doc I
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Jackson met people at White
House afterward, informally
Huge crowd (20,000) trash the
place
II. Growth of Mass Politics
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Jacksonian Democracy: growth of mass politics
(participation + techniques) began before AJ
(Jeffersonians) AJ beneficiary
A. Change in Attitudes
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pre-1790s: parties are factions evil, should be stamped
out entirely
1790s: parties as necessary evil need to form to
protect nation against the others (Fed/D-R), who are the
real faction; once done, party will dissolve
Post-1800: parties as positive good educate + involve
voters in political process necessary for mass
democracy
– 1990 Doc A
B. Stages of Development
1) Expansion of electorate (collapse prop
req)
 1810-1821: 6 western states w/minimal or
no prop req
 4 old states ratify new constitutions
lowering/eliminating prop req
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2. Jump in voter turnout
– 1828: 58%; 1840: 80%
 2000: 51.3%
3. New efforts to mobilize
– Political rallies, parades, songs,
slogans, badges, picnics, mud slinging
+ character assassination
 Modern political tactics
 Dangers of mobilization: Doc E
George Caleb Bingham, “Stump Speaking”
“The County Election”
JQ Adams’ surrogates: Mrs. Jackson a
bigamist and adulterer (had not been
formally divorced)
 Jackson’s surrogates: Mrs. Adams
illegitimate
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– Aimed at wives, not candidates themselves
C. Developments Under Jackson
1) Spoils system: civil servants appointed
by past admin should be tossed out
patronage for party loyal
 2) National party convention: previously
nominated by state legis./Congressional
caucus 1832 1st national convention
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– Theory was more democratic, in fact more
liable to party machinations
III. “Old Hickory”: Symbol for an
Age
A. Life of Jackson
 Born into dirt poor frontier family, rises
up as lawyer (suing debtors), land
speculator, planter (the Hermitage)
 Served in political offices in Tenn. (state
house, senate, supreme court; US
Senate 1823-4)
 Fought at age 13 in AR; led Tenn. militia
against Creek in Alabama; Battle of New
Orleans: gives nation something to be
proud of tours the nation
– Compare to GW who goes home: AJ
running for office not standing
B. Jacksonian Values
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1) “Nature’s Nobleman”: contact w/nature
produces greatness; rose w/o family
connections, political corruption, or formal
education
– Disguises £300 inheritance from Irish relative that got
him started
AJ presented self as plain cultivator of soil (but:
lawyer, slave owner)
 Anti-intellectualism: the “plowman” vs. the
“professor”
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2. Man Chosen by God
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Evidence from miraculous victory at NO (14,000 Brits vs.
4,000 Americans) and 1835 survived assassination
attempt (Richard Lawrence)
– G.W. Bush: “I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can't
explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me.
Something is going to happen... I know it won't be easy on me
or my family, but God wants me to do it.”
3. Man of Iron Will
1806 duel w/Charles Dickinson (remarks
about AJ’s wife): CD best shot in Tenn
lets CD fire first AJ hit but makes no
sign, fires and kills CD
 AJ hit near the heart, walked off field w/o
making sign injured
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– (bullet could not be removed)
C. Election 1828
AJ offered stability in
middle of tumultuous
time
 BUT: AJ instrument of
that change: market,
expansion, Indian
Removal, land
speculation, mass
politics
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IV. Democrat or Demagogue?
A. Democrat
 AJ claimed to be man of the people: only
position in 1828 was that Adams a
monocrat + aristocrat
 AJ idealized “producers” (ind.
workingmen: farmers, laborers, artisans)
vs. “parasites” (bankers, lawyers)
 Probably really believed it even though
sued “producers” for “parasites”
Wanted limited gov’t: Gov’t used by rich against
poor
 Believed in State power over central gov’t: 1830
vetoed Maysville Road bill Fed should not fund
projects w/in single state
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– Also hurt Henry Clay’s (KY) nationalist program pay
back
Argued that spoils system made gov’t more
responsive bureaucracy would support new
Pres. rather than obstruct (Marbury v. Madison)
 Feared centralization of economic power:
opposed fed support banks + paper money
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– Nostalgic for Jeffersonian America: yeoman, rural
B. Demagogue
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1. “Imperial” President: reduced fed
power, increased Pres’l power spoils
system, Kitchen Cabinet, violated
separation powers + checks and balances
– Indian Removal (Doc G)
– Veto: Doc B vs C
2. Nullification Crisis
1828: Congress raises high tariffs (protect
North) South “Tariff of Abominations”
 John C. Calhoun, South Carolina, Exposition and
Protest: states can nullify fed laws (VA + KY
Resolves); state sovereignty
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– JC Vice President
– Doc F
1832: SC nullifies tariff laws (’28 + ’32) AJ
privately threatened to invade SC and hang JC;
 Publicly: moved troops to fed forts in SC, issued
proclamation denying nullification, Force Act
authority to call up troops
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3. Bank War
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Second Bank of the US (charter to expire
1836): private bank, federal funds
power over state banks, concerns from
Panic of 1819 opposition (esp. western
+ urban workers)
– Nicholas Biddle (bank pres.) operated Bank for
owners’ benefit, seen as eastern patrician
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NB allies w/ H. Clay and Daniel Webster
(Mass.) to protect Bank in 1832
election asked Congress to re-charter
Bank in 1832 (hoping that AJ wouldn’t
risk the loss of PA voters (where BUS
located)
The lady holding a bottle of port says, "Darken his daylights, Nick. Put the Screws to him my tulip!" Daniel
Webster: "Blow me tight if Nick ain't been crammed too much. You see as how he's losing his wind!" Henry Clay:
"Hurrah Nick my kiddy! Hit him a pelt in the smellers!" Martin Van Buren: "Go it Hickory, my old Duffer! give it to
him in the bread basket, it will make him throw up his deposits!" Major Jack Downing (a mythical Jacksonian
hero): "I swan if the Ginral hain't been taken lessons from Fuller!" The man standing next to the whiskey bottle:
"Hurrah my old yallow flower of the forrest, walk into him like a streak of Greased lightning through a gooseberry
bush!"
AJ vetoes the BUS bill
and wins election
easily declares war
on bank deposits
Fed $ in “pet banks”
+ Deposit Act
(1836) state banks
take on function of
BUS but under AJ’s
control
 “King Andrew I”
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– National Republicans
Whigs vs. Democrats
4. The Veto
AJ vetoed more bills than all prev. Pres
combined Congress had to consider
possible veto when debating Pres
became true rival/equal power for 1st time
 AJ believed he imposed his will as the will
of the people could ignore/override
those who opposed him (BUS, Clay,
Congress, John Marshall, Cherokees, etc.)
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