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Chapter 13 AP U.S 1 . “Old Hickory” v. Clay in 1832. 2 main candidates in election- Jackson (again) and Henry Clay For first time a 3 rd party enters the field Anti-Masonic party- opposed the influence and fearsome secrecy of Masonic order
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“Old Hickory” v. Clay in 1832 • 2 main candidates in election- Jackson (again) and Henry Clay • For first time a 3rd party enters the field • Anti-Masonic party- opposed the influence and fearsome secrecy of Masonic order • Powerful force in New England and middle Atlantic states • Jackson was a mason, so Anti-Masonic party was a Anti-Jackson party
Main Parties in election Democrats Nat’l republicans Led by Clay Pro National Bank Fiscal conservatives Southern States rights • Led by Jackson • He did not support national bank, Indian Removal Act, had much support in south and west, Nullification crisis
Masons v. Jackson • Party also got support from evangelical Protestant groups wanting to use political power to effect moral and religious reforms • Ex: Prohibit mail deliver on Sunday, keep Sabbath holy • Jacksonians- generally opposed to all gov. meddling in social and economic life • Contradiction here?
Anti- Masons and National Republicans adopted formal platforms to publicize their positions on the issues • Henry Clay and Rep. enjoyed advantages like ample funds (50,000$ from Bank of U.S) • Many newspaper editors wrote badly of Jackson • How do we think Jackson will do?
Burying Biddle’s Bank • Bank of U.S was set to expire in 1836 • In 1833 Jackson removed federal deposits from its vaults • Essentially bled the bank dry • Even his closest advisors opposed this • Unconstitutional?
State banks • Death of bank of U.S left a financial vacuum in American economy and kicked of cycle of booms and busts • State Banks that Jackson chose to put money into often “consisted of little more than a few chairs and a suitcase full of printed notes- flooded the country with paper money”
Specie Circular • In effort to reign in economy in 1836, Jackson authorized Treasury to make all public lands purchased with “hard” or metallic money • This contributed to financial panic and crash of 1837 • However by then, Jackson retired to his Nashville home and was seen as a hero. • His successor has to deal with damage done
Birth of the Whigs • Jackson’s opponents condemned him as “King Andrew I” and became Whigs- a name chosen to recollect 18th century British and Revolutionary American opposition to the monarchy • Had many diverse elements to party • Included: supporters of Clay’s American System, southern states’ righters offended by Jackson’s stance on nullification,
Cont’d • The larger northern industrialists and merchants, and eventually many of the evangelical Protestants associated with the Anti-Masonic Party • Thought of themselves as conservatives, yet supported active government programs and reforms.
What where the Whigs for? • Instead of territorial acquisition, they called for improvements like canals, railroads, telegraph lines, and supported prisons, asylums and public schools. • Welcomed market economy, drawing support from manufactures in North, planters in South and merchants and bankers in all sections
Who’s for the common man?! • Viewed Jackson and Van Buren as imperious aristocrats • Jackson was previously viewed as for the “common man” • This turned Jackson rhetoric on its head, now Whigs claimed to defend the common man and declared Democrats the party of cronyism and corruption