The Age of Jackson

The Age of Jackson

The election of 1824 represented a break in the normal presidential nominating process. • As the reigning political organization, the national Republicans chose their candidate by a caucus. • The sitting President usually sent in the name of his Secretary of State and he would be accepted as the new candidate. • James Monroe, based on this philosophy, sent in the name John Quincy Adams.

Unfortunately, the republican Party was splitting into two distinct parties (modern and traditional) National Republicans and Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans; • Adams was a National Republican—Monroe was afraid that Adams would split the party.

In reality Adams was the most qualified man for the executive—before or after him for some time. • He had vast diplomatic experience; was an experienced congressman; had negotiated the Treaty of Ghent—was well-respected by many foreign courts—also negotiated the Adams-Onis Treaty. • Also, the republican Caucus had as its darling at the time Henry Clay—very ambitious.

Henry Clay was a political dynamo; Speaker of the House, senator; a great orator and a political genius at political compromise. • Unfortunately he had many enemies and southerners distrusted his passion for this “American Plan” of his. • Not a viable candidate!

The fear of the “American System” was not that it could eventually make America economically independent of Europe, but to be successful it meant an increase in taxation. • That meant a heavier taxation on agriculture(to protect northern industry and western transportation) and eventually make the federal government powerful enough to economically and politically intervene in the South’s ‘Peculiar Institution.’ • The fact that he was a notorious womanizer, heavy drinker and gambler allowed his enemies to make the argument that he would be just as reckless with the country.

William H. Crawford, a loyal but not very well-known Democratic-Republican seemed the safest choice for many—especially the Southern planter class; • Though an adequate Sec. Of War he had suffered a stroke recently—slightly paralyzed—the caucus nominated Crawford—bad move.

Unfortunately for a very ambitious Clay and the ill advised nominee from Georgia—this campaign would become a ‘mud-slinger’ between Clay, Jackson and Adams. • Jackson was a true live hero; and the common people loved him. • He was a westerner and true Democrat without much Republicanism—but he did believe in the Jeffersonian view to a certain degree.

Andrew Jackson—the Man, the hero of the people. • Heritage of raw-boned Scots-Irish. Orphaned at an early age—died died accidentally, brothers died in the revolution; Mother died nursing the sick on British POW ship. • At 14 he had no one—he possessed a volcanic temper—a limitless capacity for burning hatreds and blind loyalties— • He left South Carolina early—went west; Tennessee to make his way in life.

Education—he was self-taught; he studied and read law; essentially bullied his way into being a public prosecutor. • At 29, he bought his first slave and fought his first duel; was congressman from Tennessee; elected as Senator, but resigned. • Somehow managed to wrangle command of the Tennessee state militia. Became a well seasoned and successful Indian fighter and military commander.

Dispute to how many duels—suffice it to say, he fought many. • Most famous was Charles Dickinson—Dickinson in a dispute over a horse race, slurred Jackson’s wife Rachael. • Earlier while still married to Lewis Robards, who ostensibly had deserted Rachael, Jackson married Rachael—Robards had petitioned the Virginia courts for divorce—after she and Jackson were married he shows back up—

Rachael now had to not only suffer the shame of divorce, but the indignity of an adulteress. • This is the slur Dickinson was referring. It was a set up by Jackson’s enemies—Dickinson was a crack shot— • Dickinson took deliberate aim—and shot Jackson though the chest breaking ribs and puncturing his lung; • Jackson swayed slightly—took deliberate aim and killed Dickinson--

The War of 1812 gave Jackson a platform in which he became well-known—much to the dismay of the Indians and the British. • His soldiers loved him—he suffered as they without fuss, They referred to him as “Old Hickory.” • After the New Orleans success, he was awarded Major-General in Regular Army

First step into the spot light was the Battle of Horseshoe Bend; • March 27th 1814, the Creek Indians had secured themselves against the Tallapoosa River and dug in—well fortified; • Jackson attacked in several prongs and defeated the Creeks

From there, the most famous victory, The Battle of New Orleans. • His diplomatic skills appealed to many Americans, but stunned and shocked many of the diplomatic and political aware Americans. • 1818, he attacked the Seminoles in Tallahassee—which was Spanish territory—Jackson did not care. He evicted the Spanish Garrison at Pensacola and ran up the American Flag—he hung two English citizens as spies—claimed Florida for the U.S.

Assumed the Government would be happy—not so. Adams was in sensitive negotiations with the Spanish Minister Onis—British Minister claimed that Britain was ready for War—huge international incident. • Sec. Of War John C. Calhoun wanted Pres. Monroe to repudiate and reprimand Jackson. • Adams prevailed with a cooler head, defused the British reaction and successfully negotiated Florida into the American realm …

After the ruckus, Jackson returned to Tennessee; He considered himself a Jeffersonian, and if virtue was found with farmers, then they too should be the true voice of American politics; • Politics was fastly dissolving into self and special interest—Jackson wanted it to be the people’s interest. • Ironically Jefferson thought Jackson a nabob uncultured and irresponsible; “A dangerous Man.”

Out of the Blue, Jackson fever swept the nation; After consideration Jackson agreed to run. • He selected Calhoun and began campaigning; He won the popular vote and most of the electoral vote, but not a clear majority. • 12th amendment states, when no clear majority, vote goes to House of representatives.

Ironically, the election of 1800 established the precedent of a peaceful change of power—even if antagonistic; • The election of 1824 proved that even if under dubious circumstances and the election is decided by government rather than the voice of the people, it would still be a peaceful transition. • Ostensibly Clay made a political bargain with Adams—the presidency for secretary of state “A Corrupt bargain.”

Because of Adams suspicious win, his internal improvements projects were defeated, foreign policy was sneered at: Adams was as irascible as his father. • Other countries were making great strides as great nations, while the U.S. “slumbered in indolence and political bickering … while palsied by its constituents.” • In a political democracy with popular vote—don’t condescend to the voters.

Jackson hired New Yorker Martin Van Buren (Sly Fox) to manage the next campaign in 1828. • As Jackson gathered tremendous support, National-Republicans geared up to defeat him. • They began by calling his wife an adulteress and assailed his and her character and honor. What kind of man is this to want to lead your precious children. Jackson swore it was these insults that eventually killed his Rachael—he never forgave them and hated them bitterly to the end of his days.

Well Jackson won in a landslide victory with 56% of the popular vote; • The Old federalist and National Republicans nightmare; uncouth, uneducated, unwashed frontiersmen began to ascend on the capitol to celebrate one of their own—it was a democratic bacchanal.

A pious woman, the slurs to her character and the public embarrassment was too much; • Dec 17 1828 before Jackson took office in March 1829, she had a heart attack and died. • Jackson swore he would see them in hell for what those “vile wretches had done.”

Once in office, Jackson introduced the ‘Spoils System.’ To the victor … he ousted all old federalist, or any of Adams’ cronies or veteran civil service workers and replaced them with political allies and cohorts. • The idea was that term limits would erase the corruption of power. In congress maybe, but not in civil service; • Too many appointed who could neither read nor write. Many had no governmental or diplomatic experience. Bad move.

Jackson saw Clay and the industrialist as enemies and responsible for Rachael’s death; • He vetoed any and all internal improvements and vetoed any attempt at interstate commerce. • He vetoed Clay’s much prized legislation the Maysville Road—it was truly needed for moving goods and services west to east for markets—Jackson said it would give the Gov’t unprecedented powers to interfere with state matters—no, he just hated Clay.

Then what seemed out of character, he signed the new “Compromise Tariff.” reduced the tariff from 45% to 25%, but kept a high end tariff on cotton, wool and iron—southerners felt betrayed. • He had heard that Calhoun had wanted Pres. Monroe to reprimand him in 1818—now was his time to get back at Calhoun. • Calhoun fought back with the attempt at nullification inside SCs borders. States rights issue.

Within the state one could render federal law void. Jackson said no, he would personally lead an army to Sc and hang all who opposed federal law. • The famous Union debate; Robert Hayne spoke for two days on States Rights; • Daniel Webster rebutted; the union had been made by the people not individual states. • “Let us not divide liberty … liberty and union are compatible …necessary to survive … liberty and union now and forever, one and inseparable.”

VP Calhoun tried to persuade Pres. Jackson. • At a birthday party for Jackson, Jackson raised a toast to show what side he took, staring at Calhoun, “Our Union, it must be preserved.” • Calhoun resigned. Jackson signed a “Force Bill” threatening federal intervention if Sc went ahead with nullification—Sc backed down, but did nullify the “Force Bill.”

Robert Haynes asked Thomas Hart Benton if Jackson was serious about the force bill and hanging the instigators; • In wonderful Jacksonian clarity Benton replied, “I tell you Hayne, when Jackson starts talking about hanging, they can look out for the ropes.” • Jackson was serious and won over nullification, but he had his eyes on a bigger prize and something he hated even more than Calhoun; the Bank of the United States.

Bank had been reformed and recharted after War of 1812. Jackson saw it as the culprit for the 1819 Panic. • It regulated the money supply, interest rates and the financial business (loans, etc …) • It collected all customs and duties, could loan and recall loans at will, could print money, but demand payment in specie. • It was the sole source for national investment and the governments duties gave it a constant cash flow—Government money controlled by private businessmen and industrialists.

The Age of Jackson