Unit X: The Age of Unit X: The Age of JacksonJackson

In the election of 1824 four In the election of 1824 four candidates ran for the candidates ran for the Presidency: Presidency:

1.1. John Q. Adams of New YorkJohn Q. Adams of New York

2.2. Andrew Jackson of TennesseeAndrew Jackson of Tennessee

3.3. Henry Clay of KentuckyHenry Clay of Kentucky

4.4. William Crawford of GeorgiaWilliam Crawford of Georgia

All four ran as Republicans with All four ran as Republicans with Jackson winning the popular vote but Jackson winning the popular vote but with no candidate winning a majority with no candidate winning a majority of the electoral votes. The election of the electoral votes. The election therefore went to the House where therefore went to the House where the top three candidates would be the top three candidates would be voted on. Clay was eliminated but voted on. Clay was eliminated but was the Speaker of the House and was the Speaker of the House and presided over the vote, Crawford presided over the vote, Crawford dropped out after suffering a stroke; dropped out after suffering a stroke; leaving Adams and Jackson. leaving Adams and Jackson.

Clay and Jackson hated each Clay and Jackson hated each other and Clay gave his support other and Clay gave his support to Adams. Jackson's supporters to Adams. Jackson's supporters called the election the "corrupt called the election the "corrupt bargain" because Clay was later bargain" because Clay was later named the Sec. of State and named the Sec. of State and Adams supported his American Adams supported his American System. System.

This would cause the split of the This would cause the split of the Democratic Republicans into the Democratic Republicans into the National Republicans led by Adams. National Republicans led by Adams. They favored a strong national They favored a strong national government. Jackson's supporters government. Jackson's supporters took the name Democrats. They took the name Democrats. They tended to follow the Jeffersonian tended to follow the Jeffersonian ideas of limited government, and an ideas of limited government, and an agrarian society. The favored agrarian society. The favored individual freedoms and were individual freedoms and were against reforms because it required against reforms because it required government action.government action.

Adams administration would be Adams administration would be extremely difficult for him. He extremely difficult for him. He favored a strong nationalistic favored a strong nationalistic policy in a time when many policy in a time when many people favored state's rights and people favored state's rights and sectionalism. Adams asked sectionalism. Adams asked Congress to fund money for the Congress to fund money for the building of road and canals, the building of road and canals, the building of a national university building of a national university and various other projects. and various other projects.

Public opinion was firmly against Public opinion was firmly against him as people saw this as a him as people saw this as a waste of money and the increase waste of money and the increase of the national debt, which of the national debt, which meant continued tariffs and high meant continued tariffs and high prices. prices.

Adams also attempted to deal Adams also attempted to deal with the Indians fairly, especially with the Indians fairly, especially the Cherokee.the Cherokee.

The Cherokee controlled a large The Cherokee controlled a large area on Northern Georgia on rich area on Northern Georgia on rich fertile land. The state wanted to fertile land. The state wanted to evict them from the land and evict them from the land and move them west of the move them west of the Mississippi, but Adams refused Mississippi, but Adams refused and attempted to use federal and attempted to use federal power to keep them on the land. power to keep them on the land.

The Governor of Georgia threatened The Governor of Georgia threatened the use of force and Washington the use of force and Washington backed down. Adam's fate was backed down. Adam's fate was virtually sealed because of these virtually sealed because of these issues. issues.

In the election of 1828 Adams ran In the election of 1828 Adams ran for re-election against Andrew for re-election against Andrew Jackson. Both political parties Jackson. Both political parties attacked the opposing candidate attacked the opposing candidate with malice. with malice.

The Democrats referred to the The Democrats referred to the corrupt bargain of 1824 while the corrupt bargain of 1824 while the National Republicans chose to National Republicans chose to attack the character of Jackson's attack the character of Jackson's wife calling her a bigamist. wife calling her a bigamist.

On Election Day though Jackson On Election Day though Jackson clearly won the election carrying clearly won the election carrying all of the south and mid-western all of the south and mid-western states.states.

Once in office Jackson Once in office Jackson strengthened the executive strengthened the executive branch of government while branch of government while reducing the power of the reducing the power of the federal government as a whole. federal government as a whole.

He rewarded his supporters with He rewarded his supporters with offices and placed Democrats in offices and placed Democrats in public offices (spoils system). public offices (spoils system).

Jackson was very much a man of Jackson was very much a man of the people as seen by his the people as seen by his inaugural ball, which was opened inaugural ball, which was opened to the public in the White House. to the public in the White House. He was very anti-elitist but He was very anti-elitist but accused of trying to be too accused of trying to be too powerful because of the spoils powerful because of the spoils system. system.

In 1828 Democrats in Congress In 1828 Democrats in Congress proposed an extremely high tariff proposed an extremely high tariff on manufactured goods and raw on manufactured goods and raw materials. They placed the tariff materials. They placed the tariff extremely high on purpose to keep extremely high on purpose to keep northern congressmen from passing northern congressmen from passing the bill. This was an attempt to the bill. This was an attempt to damage the Adams administration damage the Adams administration by having him veto a bill that would by having him veto a bill that would have supported New Englanders have supported New Englanders form which he drew his support. form which he drew his support.

The plan backfired as the tariff The plan backfired as the tariff was passed. Most state was passed. Most state governments were outraged, in governments were outraged, in the south flags flew at half-mast. the south flags flew at half-mast. John Calhoun of S. Carolina, the John Calhoun of S. Carolina, the Vice President feared the tariff Vice President feared the tariff would destroy the southern would destroy the southern economy and wrote economy and wrote "The South "The South Carolina Exposition and Protest."Carolina Exposition and Protest."

When a senator proposed that When a senator proposed that land sales in the west be land sales in the west be temporarily restricted the temporarily restricted the debate was once again debate was once again renewed. Westerns viewed this renewed. Westerns viewed this a way to halt the flow of people a way to halt the flow of people west. Southerners supported west. Southerners supported the west in an effort to gain the west in an effort to gain their support in the tariff issue. their support in the tariff issue.

Sen. Robert Hayne of S. Carolina Sen. Robert Hayne of S. Carolina spoke in the Senate about the spoke in the Senate about the evil of the growth of federal evil of the growth of federal power. He supported state's power. He supported state's rights and the doctrine of rights and the doctrine of nullification. Daniel Webster of nullification. Daniel Webster of Mass. argued that the Mass. argued that the Constitution was a compact of Constitution was a compact of the American people and not just the American people and not just of the states, nullification would of the states, nullification would lead to civil war. lead to civil war.

Jackson though a state's rights Jackson though a state's rights supporter believed the power supporter believed the power rested in the hands of the people rested in the hands of the people not the states. At a banquet to not the states. At a banquet to honor the birthday of Thomas honor the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, Jackson restated his Jefferson, Jackson restated his commitment to national unity commitment to national unity against the beliefs of Calhoun who against the beliefs of Calhoun who clearly stated his support of state's clearly stated his support of state's rights. rights.

This would cause a break between This would cause a break between Jackson and Calhoun and his Jackson and Calhoun and his eventually resigning from the Vice eventually resigning from the Vice Presidency.Presidency.

The South Carolina legislature tried The South Carolina legislature tried several times to gain the two-thirds several times to gain the two-thirds majority to nullify the Tariff of 1828 majority to nullify the Tariff of 1828 but had been unable to. Congress but had been unable to. Congress attempted to resolve the issue by attempted to resolve the issue by passing the Tariff of 1832, which passing the Tariff of 1832, which lowered the tariff but did not meet lowered the tariff but did not meet southern demands.southern demands.

In South Carolina they held a In South Carolina they held a convention and nullification convention and nullification supporters gained the two-thirds supporters gained the two-thirds majority to nullify both the tariffs of majority to nullify both the tariffs of 1828 and 1832. 1828 and 1832.

They also threatened to secede if They also threatened to secede if the federal government attempted the federal government attempted to collect customs duties by force. to collect customs duties by force. Jackson then signed the Force Act in Jackson then signed the Force Act in 1833, giving him the power to call 1833, giving him the power to call up troops and collect duties by up troops and collect duties by force if necessary. force if necessary.

Once again Henry Clay Once again Henry Clay intervened in an attempt to take intervened in an attempt to take glory away from Jackson. He was glory away from Jackson. He was a supporter of the tariffs but had a supporter of the tariffs but had no desire to see Jackson gain no desire to see Jackson gain even more support so he backed even more support so he backed a compromise bill in 1833 a compromise bill in 1833 gradually reducing the tariff over gradually reducing the tariff over eight years until it was back at eight years until it was back at the level of 1816, thus ending the level of 1816, thus ending the crisis.the crisis.

Crisis renewed though as Jackson Crisis renewed though as Jackson began to express his of the Bank of began to express his of the Bank of the United States, which he saw as the United States, which he saw as monster because it was a private monster because it was a private institution. The bank's president institution. The bank's president Nicholas Biddle was an arrogant man Nicholas Biddle was an arrogant man who many felt held unconstitutional who many felt held unconstitutional powers. powers.

Jackson felt the bank was a strike Jackson felt the bank was a strike against American democracy. against American democracy. Western farmers also disliked the Western farmers also disliked the bank, which had foreclosed on many bank, which had foreclosed on many farms.farms.

The bank though was a stable The bank though was a stable source of credit and its notes source of credit and its notes were stable in value unlike small were stable in value unlike small private banks whose notes private banks whose notes depended on the bank. depended on the bank.

A war erupted over the bank in A war erupted over the bank in 1832 when Henry Clay and 1832 when Henry Clay and Daniel Webster introduced a bill Daniel Webster introduced a bill to renew the charter of the bank to renew the charter of the bank four years early. four years early.

Clay's main reason for this was to Clay's main reason for this was to make the bank an election issue. make the bank an election issue. Clay felt if Jackson signed the bill he Clay felt if Jackson signed the bill he would lose support of westerns and would lose support of westerns and if vetoed it he would lose support in if vetoed it he would lose support in the east. Jackson vetoed the bill the east. Jackson vetoed the bill declaring it unconstitutional after declaring it unconstitutional after the Supreme Court had declared it the Supreme Court had declared it constitutional in constitutional in McCulloch vs. McCulloch vs. MarylandMaryland..

Jackson's veto was significant Jackson's veto was significant because he was the first President to because he was the first President to veto a bill based on personal veto a bill based on personal preference whereas other president's preference whereas other president's based vetoes on the constitution. In based vetoes on the constitution. In the election Clay of course ran the election Clay of course ran against Jackson. This election was against Jackson. This election was the first in nominating conventions the first in nominating conventions were used and political party were used and political party platforms were established. platforms were established.

The bank charter was set to expire The bank charter was set to expire in 1836 and Jackson began in 1836 and Jackson began removing funds from the bank removing funds from the bank believing he had a mandate from believing he had a mandate from the people. Biddle attempted to the people. Biddle attempted to fight Jackson by causing a financial fight Jackson by causing a financial crisis but Jackson held firm even crisis but Jackson held firm even though his cabinet disagreed with though his cabinet disagreed with him.him.

In 1836 the Deposit Act was passed In 1836 the Deposit Act was passed allowing the Sec. of the Treasury to allowing the Sec. of the Treasury to choose one bank per state to hold choose one bank per state to hold federal funds these become known federal funds these become known as "pet banks."as "pet banks."

Smaller private banks that no longer Smaller private banks that no longer had to abide by policies of the had to abide by policies of the national bank flooded the country national bank flooded the country with money causing an increase in with money causing an increase in inflation. inflation.

Jackson attempted to stop the Jackson attempted to stop the decline by issuing the Specie decline by issuing the Specie Circular that required all western Circular that required all western lands to be purchased with gold lands to be purchased with gold or silver. This ended purchasing or silver. This ended purchasing of lands in the west caused a of lands in the west caused a serious decline in the economy serious decline in the economy and a financial panic in 1837. and a financial panic in 1837.

Jackson was also committed to Jackson was also committed to further westward expansion, further westward expansion, which meant the removal of the which meant the removal of the Native Americans from the Native Americans from the Tennessee and Mississippi river Tennessee and Mississippi river valleys. These tribes had been valleys. These tribes had been recognized as separate nations recognized as separate nations by Washington and all land by Washington and all land acquisitions were made through acquisitions were made through treaties. treaties.

These treaties were often broken These treaties were often broken through economic or military through economic or military pressure though. Many tribes pressure though. Many tribes attempted to integrate themselves attempted to integrate themselves into the American economy and into the American economy and several Christian missionaries were several Christian missionaries were devoted to "civilizing" the tribes. The devoted to "civilizing" the tribes. The most notable of the tribes was the most notable of the tribes was the Cherokee, which had established a Cherokee, which had established a written alphabet and a constitution written alphabet and a constitution based on the U.S Constitutionbased on the U.S Constitution. .

Jackson though was not Jackson though was not impressed with the civilization of impressed with the civilization of the tribes and insisted on their the tribes and insisted on their removal west of the Mississippi. removal west of the Mississippi. The Georgia state legislature The Georgia state legislature knowing they would have the knowing they would have the support of Jackson declared the support of Jackson declared the Cherokee council illegal and took Cherokee council illegal and took control of the tribes affairs.control of the tribes affairs.

The Cherokee appealed to the The Cherokee appealed to the Supreme Court, which declared the Supreme Court, which declared the tribe a nation that should be treated tribe a nation that should be treated as such but Jackson refused to as such but Jackson refused to recognize the decision. On May recognize the decision. On May 28,1830 he signed the Indian 28,1830 he signed the Indian Removal Act, authorizing the Removal Act, authorizing the removal of the Five Civilized Tribes removal of the Five Civilized Tribes of the East: the Creek, Chickasaws, of the East: the Creek, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Seminoles and the Choctaws, Seminoles and the Cherokees.Cherokees.

They numbered around 60,000 They numbered around 60,000 people. The Cherokees tried to people. The Cherokees tried to fight the removal by going to the fight the removal by going to the Supreme Court in Supreme Court in Worchester vs. Worchester vs. Georgia in Georgia in 1832. 1832.

Even though the Court ruled in Even though the Court ruled in favor of the tribe, Jackson ignored favor of the tribe, Jackson ignored the decision and forced the the decision and forced the Cherokee to sign a treaty providing Cherokee to sign a treaty providing them safe passage to new lands in them safe passage to new lands in Oklahoma. Oklahoma.

In October of 1838 15,000 In October of 1838 15,000 Cherokee were loaded into wagons Cherokee were loaded into wagons and began the 1,200 mile trip to and began the 1,200 mile trip to Oklahoma. One thousand other Oklahoma. One thousand other Cherokee had escaped into the Cherokee had escaped into the hills. hills.

Over 4,000 Cherokee died on the Over 4,000 Cherokee died on the forced march during the late autumn forced march during the late autumn and winter. and winter.

The land the government had The land the government had promised as lush and fertile was promised as lush and fertile was really bone dry and covered in oil. really bone dry and covered in oil. This caused the other Indian This caused the other Indian reservations in the area to be shrunk reservations in the area to be shrunk to accommodate more Indian tribes. to accommodate more Indian tribes. The Seminoles though fought the The Seminoles though fought the removal from 1835-1842 by fighting removal from 1835-1842 by fighting a guerrilla war in the Florida swamps a guerrilla war in the Florida swamps led by Chief Osceola. led by Chief Osceola.

In the 1830's the opponents of the In the 1830's the opponents of the Democrats joined together to for Democrats joined together to for the Whig Party. The resented the Whig Party. The resented Jackson's power naming him "King Jackson's power naming him "King Andrew I". They grew strong Andrew I". They grew strong enough to compete on the national enough to compete on the national level from the 1834 through the level from the 1834 through the 1840's. They took their name from 1840's. They took their name from the British opponents of the the British opponents of the monarchy. monarchy.

The party took shape in 1834 The party took shape in 1834 when Clay, Calhoun and Webster when Clay, Calhoun and Webster joined to censure Jackson for joined to censure Jackson for removing funds from the Bank of removing funds from the Bank of the U.S. the U.S.

Democrats: Limited govt., Democrats: Limited govt., increase in political participation increase in political participation of white males, expanding of white males, expanding economic opportunities, economic opportunities, westward expansion, attack westward expansion, attack aristocratic privilege, smaller aristocratic privilege, smaller merchants, working men of merchants, working men of Northeast, Southern planters Northeast, Southern planters against industryagainst industry. .

Whigs: expand power of federal Whigs: expand power of federal government, individual and government, individual and commercial development, limited commercial development, limited westward expansion, industrial westward expansion, industrial future, commercial and future, commercial and manufacturing power, wealthier manufacturing power, wealthier southern planters who favored southern planters who favored ties to Northwestern farmers who ties to Northwestern farmers who were commercial farmers, were commercial farmers, wealthy and aristocratic.wealthy and aristocratic.

In the election of 1836 the Whigs could In the election of 1836 the Whigs could not nominate a single presidential not nominate a single presidential candidate allowing Jackson's hand-candidate allowing Jackson's hand-picked successor Martin Van Buren to picked successor Martin Van Buren to win easily. Van Buren inherited the win easily. Van Buren inherited the economic problems created by economic problems created by Jackson's war with the bank. The Panic Jackson's war with the bank. The Panic of 1837 arrived with Van Buren's of 1837 arrived with Van Buren's inauguration. Banks began to collapse, inauguration. Banks began to collapse, prices dropped and unemployment in prices dropped and unemployment in the factories rose.the factories rose.

Van Buren worsened the situation by Van Buren worsened the situation by sticking with Jackson's policies of sticking with Jackson's policies of Laissez-faire economics. Van Buren Laissez-faire economics. Van Buren instead passed the "Divorce Bill" instead passed the "Divorce Bill" removing the government from removing the government from banking altogether. He established banking altogether. He established an independent treasury where an independent treasury where government surplus would be stored. government surplus would be stored. They would be denied to the banking They would be denied to the banking system as reserves though system as reserves though eliminating available credit eliminating available credit resources.resources.

In the election of 1840 the In the election of 1840 the Whigs nominated William Henry Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison and John Tyler to run Harrison and John Tyler to run against Van Buren using the against Van Buren using the economic crisis. Harrison won economic crisis. Harrison won but died a month later of but died a month later of pneumonia. The election though pneumonia. The election though demonstrated that if candidates demonstrated that if candidates were going to be elected they were going to be elected they would have to appeal to the would have to appeal to the masses.masses.

The aristocracy no longer had the The aristocracy no longer had the influence they had garnered in influence they had garnered in the days of the Federalists. The the days of the Federalists. The election also showed the election also showed the durability of a two party system durability of a two party system separated by distinct policies and separated by distinct policies and philosophies. philosophies.