Ch. 13 Rise of a Mass Democracy

1824-1840

Look at Pg. 274 in American Pageant Election of 1824Jackson failed to win a majority of

the electoral votes Deadlock: House of Reps decides among top three

candidates. Henry Clay has the most in common with John Quincy

Adams: both nationalists and both support the American System.

Clay influences many congressman and Adams was elected president.

Henry Clay becomes the new Secretary of State Jackson supporters accuse Adams of bribing Clay with

the position.

The “Corrupt Bargain” of 1824

John Quincy Adams He ranked as one of the

most successful secretaries of state and one of the least successful presidents.

Supported a strong national government while the majority of people were starting to support more states’ rights.

Yankee in the White House

“Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”

Urged Congress to construct roads and canals. Proposed a national university. Advocated federal support for an astronomical

observatory.Southern States have a strong reaction…

Construction of roads/canals by federal govt. would mean that the tariff duties would continue.

If federal government meddles in education and roads they might meddle with their “peculiar institution”.

White Georgians want the Cherokees kicked out! Adams wants the Indians to be dealt with fairly.

Adams: First State of the Union Speech

Election of 1828Republicans split into two camps

National Republicans Adams

Support for strong central government

Similar to Hamiltonian’s

Democratic-Republicans Jackson

Support for states’ rights

Similar to Jeffersonian’s

Take 30 seconds to glance back through your notes.

Make one connection to the current state of politics or government today and be prepared to share out.

Turn & Talk

Jackson presented as a reformer, hero, and frontiersman

Jackson was really a wealthy planter, owned many slaves

Look at pg. 276 in American Pageant Jackson’s strongest support came from

West and South, Adams won New England Jackson 178 electoral votes, and 83 electoral

votes for Adams

Why did Jackson win?

Andrew Jackson

“Old Hickory”“I've got big shoes to fill. This is my chance to do something. I have to seize the moment.”

Born in the Carolinas Orphaned early Moved west to

Tennessee Became a judge and

member of Congress First president from

the West He had risen from the

masses but he was not one of them

Democrats suspicious of the federal government. spoils system: rewarding political supporters with public

office, introduced into the federal government on a large scale. (make flashcard)

Jackson defended this practice as democratic His reasons…

-Routine of office thought to be simple enough for any upstanding American to learn quickly. Want to get rid of aristocratic office holding class and bring in new blood.

Scandal…men who bought their posts through campaign contributions were appointed to high offices

Spoils System

Tariffs protected American industry against competition from European manufactured goods. People more likely to “buy American”

BUT They drove prices for all Americans AND…Retaliatory tariffs abroad on agricultural

exports from America. Southerners Feelings…

Very little manufacturing of their own…have to buy products elsewhere. HATE the tariffs.

Tariff of 1828 “Black Tariff”: Formal protests, South Carolina lower flags to half-mast.

The “Tariff of Abominations”

Southerners sell cotton on the world market

World Market unprotected by tariffs…American cotton struggles to have competitive prices.

Southerners forced to buy their manufactured goods in an American market protected by tariffs, more expensive for them to “buy American”

Also: Growing anxiety that the federal government will interfere with slavery.

“Yankee Tariff”

John C. Calhoun

“Beware the wrath of a patient adversary.”

“The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not efficiently checked, it is the most tyrannical and oppressive that can be devised.”

Originally a strong nationalist…becomes one of the most outspoken sectionalists in defense of the South and slavery.

Foremost nullifier: if the federal government oversteps their power a state may nullify the law.

Suggested a dual presidency: one president for the South and one for the North.

Protested against the “Tariff of Abominations” unjust and unconstitutional.

Tariff of 1832, seen as a little better than previous tariff BUT fell short of Southern demands.

South Carolina takes drastic action. 2/3 of state legislature declare the tariff null and void within South Carolina. Also threatened to take SC out of the Union if the federal govt. tried to forcibly collect.

The president will NOT permit defiance or disunion! Jackson privately threatens to invade state and have nullifiers hanged. Dispatches naval and military reinforcements to SC.

Nullification Crisis

APPARTS with partners

South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification

Compromise Tariff of 1833◦ gradually reduce tariffs

about 10% over eight years.

Congress also passes the Force Bill (also called the “Bloody Bill” in SC):authorized the president to use the military to forcibly collect federal tariff duties.

Armed conflict avoided

Crisis Averted: Henry Clay influences a compromise

Jackson distrusts big business and monopolistic banking, especially the Bank of the United States.◦ National government minted gold and silver but DID

NOT issue paper money. Paper notes were printed by private banks but their

value fluctuated depending on the amount printed and the health of the bank (how much actual gold/silver they have)◦ Gave private bankers power over the nation’s

economy.

Jackson’s War w/The Bank

U.S. government controlled the nation’s gold and silver, it’s paper notes had a stable value. The bank provided credit and stability.◦ technically privately owned though, by the rich

investors who actually own the gold/silver and let the US Government ‘borrow it”)

Bank of the United States acted like a branch of the government.

Jackson’s War w/The Bank

Henry Clay pushes through a bill four years early to renew the Bank of the United States Bank hoping that it will cause Jackson to lose the upcoming election.

If Jackson signs the bill and renews the bank, his western followers will be mad! If he vetoes the bill, Clay assumes he will lose wealthy influential groups in the East.

Jackson not only vetoes the bank but he declares it unconstitutional! The Supreme Court had already established the constitutionality of the bank in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland …is the executive superior to the judiciary?

Bank War 1832

Henry Clay-ample funds-backed by the Bank

Anti-Masonic Party-opposed the Masonic

order-anti-Jacksonian

Jacksonwins by alandslideElectoral VotesJackson:219Clay: 49

Election of 1832