DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA

• EXPLOSION OF DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA DURING THIS TIME, 1815-1840

• DEFINES EARLY AMERICA• ANDREW JACKSON WAS A GAME-CHANGING

PRESIDENT• ONLY PRESIDENT EVER TO HAVE AN “AGE”

NAMED AFTER HIM:

“AGE OF JACKSON”

1-EXPANSION OF DEMOCRACY

• ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY QUALIFICATION FOR VOTING

• --NEW STATES ENTERING UNION HAD NO PROP. QUALIFICATION

• --BY 1860 ONLY RI HAD ANY• PRESSURE TO EXPAND DEMOCRACY:• --PROPERTY DID NOT GUARANTEE “VIRTUE”• --CULT OF INDIVIDUALISM REQUIRED THE RIGHT

TO VOTE

ELEMENTS OF DEMOCRACY

• DEMOCRACY WAS NOW INTEGRAL TO AMERICAN CULTURE

• MASS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS• DEMOCRACY REPRESENTED:• --INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE, EQUALITY, CIVIC

INVOLVEMENT• --DEMOCRACY AS FUNDAMENTAL TO

AMERICAN FREEDOM

DEMOCRATIC IDEAL AS RADICAL

• GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE COULD NOT RULE THEMSELVES

• --FIRST ANARCHY, FOLLOWED BY DICTATORSHIP

• DEMOCRACY AS A RADICAL EXPERIMENT• --REMEMBER FEDERALISTS VS JEFFERSONIAN-

DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

LIMITS TO POLITICAL NATION

• WHITE MEN• --NATIVE BORN AND IMMIGRANT• BLACKS AND WOMEN EXCLUDED• --REASON IS NO LONGER ECONOMIC• --EXCLUSION NOW BASED ON “INHERENT” INFERIORITY• RACIAL DEMOCRACY• --WHITE INCLUSION• --BLACK EXCLUSION• ---ONLY NEW ENGLAND ALLOWED BLACK MEN TO VOTE• ---NO STATE OFFERED COMPLETE SUFFRAGE/EQUALITY

2-EXPANSION OF NATIONALISM

• WAR OF 1812 GENERATED NATIONALIST SENTIMENT

• BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED:• -WEAKNESS OF TRANSPORTATION

INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW NATION• -US MANUFACTURING UNDER COMPETITION

AFTER WAR—KEEP FOREIGN CHEAP GOODS OUT

BLUEPRINT FOR A NEW “AMERICAN SYSTEM”

• FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND UPON STATES’ INITIATIVES (CONNECT AND COORDINATE EVERYTHING)

• --BUILD ROADS, CANALS, BRIDGES• IMPOSE TARIFFS ON IMPORTED MANUFACTURED

PRODUCTS• NATIONAL BANK RECREATED• --STANDARDIZE CURRENCY, REGULATE INTEREST RATES• --RAISE $$ FOR INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS (STATES

CAN’T BUILD A TRANS-CONTINENTAL RR)

NATIONALIST REPUBLICANS

• LEADING ARCHITECTS OF NEW PARTY/OLD FEDERALIST PARTY REBORN W/ A NEW NAME:

• --HENRY CLAY OF KY• --JOHN C. CALHOUN OF SC• --BOTH SUPPORTED WAR OF 1812/WAR HAWKS• REPUBLICANS WHO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF

HAMILTONIAN/FEDERALIST POLICIES• OUTCOME:• --MADISON VETOED INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS• --ENACTS TARIFF• --CHARTERS SECOND BANK OF THE UNITED STATES

THE NEW CENTRAL BANK

• ISSUES PAPER MONEY• COLLECTS TAXES• PAYS GOVERNMENT DEBTS• REGULATES PAPER MONEY ISSUED BY LOCAL

BANKS• --BASED ON HOW MUCH GOLD/COIN EACH

BANK HAD ON HAND

PANIC OF 1819

• WESTERN LAND SPECULATION LED TO PANIC OF 1819• --BANKS MADE LOANS NOT BASED ON SPECIE

(gold/silver) AT HAND• --PRICE DROP IN 1819 LED TO DEMAND FOR

IMMEDIATE REPAYMENT• --FARMERS UNABLE TO UNLOAD WORTHLESS LAND• BANKRUPTCY AND SUSPICION OF BANKS

THEREAFTER• --BENEFITTING ONLY THE LENDERS BECAUSE OF

EXHORBITANT RATES

MISSOURI CONTROVERSY

• RE-EMERGENCE OF SLAVERY AND REGIONAL DIVISION

• 1819 MISSOURI PETITIONED FOR ADMISSION• --NORTHERN CONGRESSMEN WANTED NO

SLAVERY IN LOUISIANA TERRITORY• --SOUTHERNERS OBJECTED • DID NOT WANT A POLITICAL IMBALANCE IN

THE COUNTRY

THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE

MISSOURI CONTROVERSY

• MISSOURI COMPROMISE, 1820• ---MISSOURI ENTERED AS A SLAVE STATE• --MAINE CAME IN AS A FREE STATE• --MAINTAINING NORTH/SOUTH BALANCE• --SLAVERY PROHIBITED NORTH OF MISSOURI’S

SOUTHERN BORDER

RISE OF SECTIONALISM

• NATIONALISM MATCHED BY A RISE IN SECTIONALISM (N/S DIVIDE)

• --RE-EMERGENCE OF 2 PARTIES• MONROE DOCTRINE:• --LIMITING EUROPEAN INFLUENCE IN LATIN

AMERICA

RISE OF SECTIONALISM

• ELECTION OF 1824• JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ELECTED (NATIONALIST

REPUBLICAN)• --ONLY WON W/ NORTHERN SUPPORT• --EXPANSIVE VIEW OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT• --INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, PROTECTIVE

TARIFF• TRADITIONAL “REPUBLICANS” REGROUP AS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

• LED BY ANDREW JACKSON• THEMES:• -INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY• -STATE’S RIGHTS• -LIMITED GOVERNMENT• -UNITE OLD JEFFERSONIAN COALITION• --SOUTHERN PLANTERS, SMALL FARMERS,

AND NORTHERN WORKERS

ELECTION OF 1828

• JOHN QUINCY ADAMS VS. ANDREW JACKSON• -THE ELITE VS. THE WARRIOR• JACKSON VICTORY• --SOUTH, WEST, PA• --LIKE JEFFERSON• NEW AMERICAN POLITICS• --HIGH TURNOUT• --UNIVERSAL MALE WHITE VOTING• --NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES• --PARTISAN POLITICS TO MOTIVATE VOTERS

AGE OF JACKSON

• USHERED IN A NEW MODE OF POLITICS• --POLITICS AS PUBLIC, MASS SPECTACLE• --POLITICIANS AS POPULAR HEROES• --PARTY MACHINE PROVIDED PATRONAGE• --NATIONAL CONVENTIONS ARE BORN AT THIS

TIME• --PARTY NEWSPAPERS/COMPLETELY BIASED

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

• AVERSION TO SOCIAL INEQUALITY• --PRODUCING VS. NON-PRODUCING CLASSES• AVERSION TO FEDERAL FUNDING OF SPECIAL INTERESTS• --PREFERRED OPEN ACCESS TO SELF-REGULATING MARKET• --FREE TRADE• LIMITS ON FEDERAL POWER• --PREFFERED STATES’ RIGHTS• --KEEP GOV’T OUT OF ISSUES OF MORALITY (DRINKING)• SUPPORT: FARMERS, WORKERS, CATHOLICS,

IMMIGRANTS, SOUTH AND WEST

NATIONALIST-REPUBLICAN PARTY BECOMES THE “WHIG” PARTY

• OPPONENTS OF JACKSON (NATIONALIST REPUBLICANS), NOW WHIG PARTY

• V. COMFORTABLE W. HIERARCHY OF SOCIAL CLASSES• FEDERAL PROMOTION OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS-RRS,

CANALS, ROADS• --PROTECTIVE TARIFFS ON AMERICAN MANUFACTURING• --FEDERAL PROMOTION OF MORALITY/DRINKING• --LAWS FOR TEMPERANCE, SABBATH, PUBLIC EDUCATION• SUPPORT: BUSINESSMEN, MARKET (COMMERCIAL

FARMERS/WANTED PROTEC. AGAINST CHEAPER FOREIGN GOODS), PROTESTANTS, NORTHEAST

NULLIFICATION CRISIS

• JACKSON FORCED TO INCREASE FEDERAL POWER• SOUTHERNERS ANXIOUS ABOUT• --MISSOURI COMPROMISE (LIMIT TO SLAVERY)• --1828 TARIFF AGAINST GOODS MADE OF WOOL AND IRON• --BOTH AFFECTED SOUTH• 1832 SC NULLIFICATION OF NEW TARIFF ON IMPORTED

GOODS• --JACKSON PASSES FORCE BILL• --ALLOWS USE OF ARMY AND NAVY TO COLLECT CUSTOMSSC BACKS DOWN, TARIFF REDUCED

INDIAN REMOVAL

• JACKSON ENFORCED NATIONAL POWERS VS INDIANS • 1820S SOUTHERN STATES EXPELLED INDIANS• --NEEDED LAND FOR COTTON• 1830 INDIAN REMOVAL ACT• --60,000 INDIANS REMOVED FROM NC, GA, FL, AL,

MS• 1838-1839, TRAIL OF TEARS• --18K CHEROKEE REMOVED FROM GA, AL, TN, NC• --25% DIED

Indian Removals

AJ’S WAR AGAINST THE BANKS

• EXPANSION OF BANKING HAD HELPED FINANCE THE NATION’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT

• JACKSON DISTRUSTED BANKERS AS “NON-PRODUCERS” WHO PROFITED FROM THE LABOR OF WORKING PEOPLE

• AJ BELIEVED THAT HARD CURRENCY “GOLD AND SILVER” WAS THE ONLY “HONEST” CURRENCY

AJ’S WAR AGAINST BANKER BIDDLE

• THE B.U.S. UNDER BANK PRES. NICH. BIDDLE • WIELDED GREAT POWER• SNOBBISH, ARISTOCRATIC, UNYIELDING

PHILADELPHIAN. AJ LOATHED SUCH MEN.• BANKER BIDDLE HAD GOTTEN CONGRESSIONAL

APPROVAL TO EXTEND B.U.S’S CHARTER FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS

• AJ RAILED “THE BANK IS TRYING TO DESTROY ME, BUT I WILL KILL IT!” CALLED IT A “MONSTER BANK.”

AJ BUSTS BANKER BIDDLE’S BANK

• USING LANGUAGE THAT RESONATED WITH THE COMMON PEOPLE, AJ USED PRESIDENTIAL VETO POWER AND VETOED A BILL TO EXTEND THE BANK’S CHARTER FOR 20 YRS

• “IT IS TO BE REGRETTED THAT THE RICH AND POWERFUL TOO OFTEN BEND THE ACTS OF GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR [OWN] SELFISH PURPOSES.”

• FIRST PRESIDENT TO USE VETO POWER AS A MAJOR WEAPON AND TO APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE FOR POLITICAL SUPPORT

NO MORE B.U.S. NOW WHAT?

• WHAT WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF THE B.U.S?• VACUUM WHERE THE B.U.S ONCE WAS• AJ AUTHORIZED THE REMOVAL OF ALL FEDERAL

FUNDS FROM THE VAULTS OF THE B.U.S• AJ FIRED AND REPLACED TREASURY SECRETARIES

UNTIL HE GOT ONE WHO DID WHAT HE WANTED• PUT THE $$$ IN LOCAL/STATE BANKS. PERSONAL

AND POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS AT PLAY/”FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES.” “PET BANKS”

“PET BANKS” GO WILD W/ LACK OF REGULATION

• W/OUT FEDERAL GOV’T DEPOSITS, B.U.S COULD NOT REGULATE ACTIONS OF STATE BANKS

• STATE BANKS ISSUED MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE PAPER $$$$

• TOO MUCH $$$$ IN CIRCULATION• PRICES RISE DRAMATICALLY, REAL WAGES

DECLINE, INFLATION HAPPENS• LOT AND LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE IN DEEP

FINANCIAL TROUBLE

PANIC OF 1837

• ECONOMIC COLLAPSE• COTTON EXPORTS DECLINING (RECESSION IN

GB DROPPED DEMAND FOR AMERICAN COTTON)

• BUSINESSES FAILED• FARMERS LOST LAND• URBAN WORKERS LOST JOBS• DEPRESSION LASTED UNTIL 1843

MARTIN VAN BUREN

• ELECTED IN 1836-• HARD MONEY ADVOCATE, ANTI-BANK WING OF

DEMOCRATIC PARTY• WANTED TO REMOVE FEDERAL FUNDS FROM “PET

BANKS” AND KEEP THEM IN THE TREASURY DEPT. AND HE EVENTUALLY DID

• 1840-CONG. APPROVED “INDEPENDENT TREASURY”• COMPLETELY SEPARATED NAT’L GOV’T FROM

BANKING

GOLD RUSH IN CA SAVES THE ECONOMY

• DISCOVERY OF GOLD PUTS $$$$ BACK INTO THE ECONOMY, INCLUDING STATE BANKS AS PEOPLE MAKE DEPOSITS

ELECTION OF 1840

• WHIGS NOMINATED WM. HENRY HARRISON• HERO OF THE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE• VANQUISHER OF HATED INDIANS AND DASTARDLY

BRITISH• MILITARY WARRIOR, WAR HERO• PROMOTED AS A “LOG CABIN” AND “CIDER

DRINKING” CANDIDATE• CHAMPION OF THE “COMMON MAN”• ANDREW JACKSON REDUX

ELECTION OF 1840

• RUNNING MATE JOHN TYLER• STATES’ RIGHTS DEMOCRAT FROM VIRGINIA• VOTER TURNOUT AT 80%• WHH AND JT (WHIGS) WON BY A WIDE

MARGIN/”SWEEPING VICTORY”• “WE HAVE TAUGHT THEM HOW TO CONQUER

US!” WAILED THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS• WHIGS TURN TABLES ON JACKSON’S

DEMOCRATIC PARTY POLITICAL MACHINE

VERBOSITY LEADS TO EARLY DEATH

• W. H. HARRISON, FAMOUS FOR LONGEST INAUGURAL SPEECH, SHORTEST PRESIDENTIAL TERM. DETERMINATION TO PROVE HE WAS NOT TOO OLD FOR THE JOB, KILLS HIM.

• WHIG MAJORITY NOW TRIES TO ENACT “THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.”

• PRES. JOHN TYLER (WHIG) VETOES MEASURES TO ENACT THE “AMERICAN SYSTEM, ALSO A NEW NATIONAL BANK AND A HIGHER TARIFF

WHIG PARTY FURIOUS

• WHAT IS TYLER DOING? (RETURNED TO HIS DEMOCRATIC ROOTS)

• MOST OF HIS CABINET RESIGNS• WHIG PARTY REPUDIATES J.T• WHIG PAPERS REFER TO J.T AS “HIS ACCIDENCY”

AND “THE EXECUTIVE ASS.”• FOUR YEARS DEVOID OF ANY ACCOMPLISHMENT• COULD NOT GOVERN W/OUT PARTY BEHIND HIM