Essential Question : How did America progress towards greater democracy between 1800 & 1840?

1. Essential Question: • How did America progress towards greater democracy between 1800 & 1840? • Essential Question: • Examine Alexis de Tocqueville’s journey through America in the 1830s & read excerpts from his observations. What did this French visitor observe about U.S. society & gov’t in the 1830s?

2. Alexis de Tocqueville

3. The Growth of White Men's Democracy

4. The Growth of Democracy Less than 50% of white men could vote • From 1824 to 1840, democracy was extended to more Americans: • Before 1800, most states limited the right to vote exclusively to property owners & taxpayers • By 1840, these restrictions were removed for most white men • Nowhere else in the world was the right to vote as widespread as in the USA This increase in “democracy” was a major shift from the “virtuous republic” envisioned by Jefferson & Hamilton 90% of white men could vote

5. The Growth of Democracy There was a growing % of Americans who owned no land White males were seen as equal before the law & in voting • By the 1830s, a “democracy of commoners” became more accepted than a “republic of natural aristocrats” • Positions of power became attainable for “self-made” men • Americans valued equal opportunities among white men, but not necessarily equality Rising industrialization led to a population of low-paid laborers Decreased requirements in the licensed professions Division between commercial farmers & yeoman farmers No clear domestic servant class

6. Before 1800, most states limited the right to vote exclusively to property owners & taxpayers Quick Class Discussion: Why did this unprecedented growth in democracy occur? The Simple Answer: Westward expansion led to an increase in democracy

7. Westward expansion led to increased suffrage for “common” men in the “new states” who did not qualify in the “older states” Jefferson’s vision of “republicanism” did not apply in the West because there were no “virtuous elite” to rule for the people By 1840, more than 90% of all adult white men could vote (“universal white male suffrage”) As more western states extended democracy to “common men,” political parties in eastern states felt pressure to do the same But…this extension of suffrage did not include African-Americans or women

8. Universal Manhood Suffrage • Political parties developed new types of politicking in order to reach “new voters” • In the 1820s, politicians began using campaigns, parades, slogans to appeal to the masses • Well-organized, statewide “political machines” developed • Party loyalty became expected • Partisan newspapers boomed

9. Universal Manhood Suffrage Partisan newspapers played an important role in early American politics Could “mob rule” really work in America?

10. Universal Manhood Suffrage • The 1830s & 1840s experienced: • Massive voter turnout due to the growth of suffrage & increased organization of political parties • Direct methods of selecting presidential electors, county officials, state judges, & governors (replaced indirect methods by state legislatures)

11. What is voter turnout like today?

12. Democratic Culture • Inthe1830s,highliteracy&cheap printing allowed artists & writers to work for a “mass” audience: • Popular genres include romanticism, gothic horror, & landscape paintings • Authors included Wadsworth, Emerson, Melville, Hawthorne, Whitman, Poe; showed human nature, morality, romanticism

13. Kindred Spirits, by Asher Durand

14. Politics:The Elections of 1824 & 1828John Quincy Adams video

15. The Election of 1824 Sec of State under Monroe Sec of Treasury under Monroe • The election of 1824 was a 4-way race among Dem-Republicans: • John Quincy Adams represented New England • William Crawford represented the South • Henry Clay & Andrew Jackson represented the West • Jackson won the popular vote but not a majority of electoral votes Not taken seriously at first; but “war hero” status made Jackson a nat’l candidate Speaker of the House; author of American System

16. But, because no one candidate received 51% of the electoral votes, the House of Reps had to determine the presidential winner JQ Adams won NE Adams won when Henry Clay threw his support behind him Led to charges that Adams had "bought" the presidency (Corrupt Bargain!!) Crawford won VA but few other Southern states Clay’s influence was limited to a few western states Jackson did well in the South & the West

17. J. Q. Adams' Administration • Adams had a difficult presidency: • JQ Adams wanted to continue the nationalist programs of the “Era of Good Feelings” • The depression of 1819 limited the nationalist agenda & few of Adams’ policies became law • A protective tariff was passed to help farmers & industry, but this angered the South One exception: the National Road

18. Jackson Comes to Power • “Jacksonians” prepared for the election of 1828 by creating a well-organized, national campaign • Jackson (TN) formed a coalition with Adams’ VP Calhoun (SC), Van Buren (NY), & 2 newspaper editors (KY) to rival JQ Adams • Formed the basis of 1st modern politicalparty,callingthemselves the “Democrats” “Democrats” distinguished themselves as different from the “Nationalist Republicans” who has strayed from the Jeffersonian ideal But, these “Jacksonian Democrats” are not going to mirror the “Jeffersonian Republicans”

19. Jackson Comes to Power Democrats presented Jackson as “Old Hickory,” uneducated, a hero, a dueler & a man of the people Democrats painted Adams as an out-of-touch aristocrat • The election of 1828 changed American politics: • Showed the effectiveness of political parties in elections • It was the 1st election with overt mudslinging & propaganda • Exciting appeals to average the man (public rallies & barbeques) • Jackson won the election as a “common man of the people” “Ms. Jackson is a bigamist” & “Ms. Adams is a bastard”

20. Jackson’s wild & rowdy inauguration Who is Andrew Jackson?

21. Jackson Comes to Power • Jackson was a popular candidate but it was not clear what type of president Jackson would be: • Jackson’s supporters wanted states’ rights & limited gov’t • During the campaign, Jackson never clarified his stand on major issues: banks, tariffs, etc. • Only stood for Indian removal

22. Conclusions • In the 1820s & 1830s, America became more democratic: • Westward expansion facilitated the expansion of suffrage for common white men • Led to unprecedented voter participation by citizens • Allowed for a new breed of “common man” politicians to come to power

23. Review Questions: • What did the term common man mean in the early 19th century? • In what ways were Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe different from the “common man”?