Transcript The Rise of a Mass Democracy

The “Common Man’s”
Presidential Candidate
Jackson’s Opponents in
1824
Henry Clay
[KY]
John Quincy Adams
[MA]
William H. Crawford
[GA]
John C. Calhoun
[SC]
Results of the 1824
Election
A “Corrupt
Bargain?”
Henry Clay helps
Adams; gets Sec. of
State job
(Sec. of State job
seen as pathway to
presidency)
Opposition to John Quincy
Adams
Some believed he allowed too much political control to
be held by elites.
Some objected to his support of national economic
development on constitutional grounds.
 Adams believed a strong, active central
government was necessary. Supports education
and the building of roads and canals
 A national university.
 An astronomical observatory.
 A naval academy.
Many Americans saw Adams’ vision of a mighty nation
led by a strong president as a threat to individual
liberties.
Land & Indian Policies
John Quincy Adams:
 His land policies gave westerners another reason to
dislike him.
 He attempted to curb speculation for public lands 
his opponent accused him of denying their individual
rights and freedoms to expand westward!
 He supported the land rights of Native Americans
against white settlers.
 1825  govt. officials negotiated a treaty with a
group of Creek Indians to cede their land rights to
GA.
 The Creek Indians appealed to Adams to renounce the
treaty.
 Congress sided with the governor of GA.
Tariff of 1828
Signed by John Quincy Adams
Higher tariffs on imported raw materials [like wool &
hemp].
 Supported by Jacksonians to gain votes from
farmers in NY, OH, KY.
 The South alone was adamantly against it.
 As producers of the world’s cheapest cotton, it did
not need a protective tariff.
 They were negatively impacted  American textiles
and iron goods [or the taxed English goods] were
more expensive!
The Election of Jackson (1828)
 Before election of 1824
 New political parties emerge
National Republicans (Adams,
Clay)
 Democratic Republicans
(Jacksonian Democrats)
 Jackson thumps Adams in 1828
 Popular vote from 356,000 to 1.1
million
 Most support from south
 Jackson rewards his supporters
 Spoils system
 Jackson supports limited government

Jackson’s Faith
in the “Common Man”
Intense distrust of Eastern
“establishment,” monopolies, &
special privilege.
His heart & soul was with the
“plain folk.”
Belief that the common man was
capable of uncommon
achievements.
The Reign of “King
Mob”
Andrew Jackson as
President
The Nullification Crisis
•South says Tariff of 1828 unjust; Congress passes Tariff of
1832 to lower tariffs but South is still unhappy
•Columbia Convention (SC)
•Voids tariff in SC; threatened to secede if
government attempts to collect duties by force
(Jackson dispatches military)
•Henry Clay to the Rescue!
•Compromise: Tariff of 1833 would lower tariff over next
10 years
•Congress passed the Force Bill: authorized president to use
the army and navy if need be to collect federal tariff duties
Indian Removal
Jackson’s Goal?
1830  Indian Removal Act
Cherokee Nation v. GA (1831)
Worcester v. GA (1832)
Jackson:
John Marshall has made his
decision, now let him enforce
it!
The Cherokee Nation
After 1820
Indian Removal: Congress
passed 1830
The Bank WAR!!!
Nicholas
Biddle
[an arrogant
aristocrat from
Philadelphia]
President
Jackson
The Bank & the 1832
Election
Jackson saw Biddle’s pushing forward a bill to renew
the Bank’s charter earlier as an attempt to block
his re-election!
 Biddle & his associates preferred Clay.
 Jackson refused to sign the bill to recharter.
 The Bank is trying to destroy me, but I
will destroy it!
 Jackson drops Calhoun and runs with Martin
Van Buren.
 Jackson wins 1832 election
The “Monster” Is Destroyed!
1832  Jackson
vetoed the
extension of the 2nd National Bank
of the United States.
-removed federal deposits, places
them in “pet banks” (Pro-Jackson
state banks)
1836  the charter expired.
The Downfall of “Mother Bank”
An 1832
Cartoon:
“King
Andrew”?
Positions on the Key Issues of 1832
WHIGS
(National
Republicans)
• Less concerned about the
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widening gap between rich
and poor.
Opposed “liberal capitalism”
because they believed it
would lead to economic
chaos.
Strong national govt. to
coordinate the expanding
economy was critical.
Opposes Indian removal.
Favored tariffs.
Supported a National Bank.
DEMOCRATS
(Jacksonians)
• Felt the widening gap
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•
•
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between rich and poor was
alarming.
Believed that bankers,
merchants, and speculators
were “non-producers” who
used their govt. connections
to line their own pockets.
Govt. should have a hands-off
approach to the economy to
allow the little guy a chance to
prosper.
For Indian removal.
Oppose tariffs.
States’ rights.
Oppose federal support for
internal improvements.
Opposed the National Bank.
1832 Election
Results
The 1836 Election
Results
Martin Van Buren
The Specie Circular (1836)
Speculators created “wildcat banks”
that fueled the runaway inflation.
So, buy future federal land only with
gold or silver.
 This move shocked the system.
Jackson’s goal  to curb the land
speculation.
Results of the Specie Circular
$ Banknotes lost their value.
$ Land sales plummeted.
$ Credit not available.
$ Businesses began to fail.
$ Unemployment rose.
$ Some pet banks go under with federal $!!!
The Panic of 1837!
The Panic of 1837 Hits
Everyone!
Independent Treasury Bill 1840: established an independent
treasury and gov’t fund will be locked in vaults; repealed 1841,
reestablished 1846 until Civil War
TEXAS!!!
 Mexico allows Stephen Austin to bring 300 families to
Texas
 Catholics only; no slaves; must Mexicanize
 By 1835, 30,000 Americans
 President of Mexico, Santa Anna, wanted to bring Texans
in line- Austin locked up for 8 mths
 1836 claimed independence
 Battle of the Alamo: 400 Texans wiped out after 13 day siege
 Jim Bowie and Davie Crockett
 Treaty of 1836: Signed after Sam Houston captured Santa
Anna in Battle of San Jacinto
 Recognize Rio Grande as border, withdraw Mex. Troops
 Problems for U.S. if admit Texas as a state!
Log Cabins and Hard Cider 1840
 William Henry Harrison wins election of 1840