The Rise of a Mass Democracy

1. The Rise of a Mass Democracy 1824 – 1830

2. Politics for the People • By 1820s, aristocracy was frowned upon & democracy was respectable • Emphasis on common people • Davy Crockett – (semiliterate & elected to Congress) • However, most high offices continued to be filled by “leading citizens”

3. Views of Democracy • Jeffersonian • People should be governed as little as possible • Jacksonian • Whatever governing was to be done should be done directly by the people • The New Democracy • Gov’t in the hands of the common people • Based on universal white manhood suffrage

4. Causes of this New Democracy • Panic of 1819 • Resentment at the gov’t–granted privileges of the banks • Wanted gov’t to stop “embracing” banks, substitute hard money for bank notes, & even to abolish banks completely • Missouri Compromise • Awakening of many Southerners to the importance of politics • Wanted to protect their interest

5. Immediate Results • Strong political parties emerge & viewed as necessary • Voter turnout increased • 1840 – 78% of voters voted • New style of politicking emerged • Banners, badges, parades, etc. . .

6. Changes in Politics • Electoral College • More started electing them directly • More democratic methods of nominating presidential candidates • Congressional selection • State legislatures • Nominating conventions • 1st held by the Anti-Masonic Party

7. Election of 1824 • Four Republican candidates • Andrew Jackson • Henry Clay • William Crawford • John Quincy Adams • John C. Calhoun was the vice presidential candidate on both Adams & Jackson tickets • Jackson won the popular vote but not a majority of the electoral votes • Vote goes to the House of Representatives (12th Amendment)

8. House of Representatives • House would have to choose from the top 3 candidates • Clay was eliminated / Crawford suffered a stroke • Clay was Speaker of the House so he presided over the hearings • Clay met privately with Adams and assured him of his support • Adams becomes president in 1825

9. “Corrupt Bargain” • Adams selects Clay as his Sec of State • Secretaryship of state • 3 of the 4 preceding sec had become president • Adams, the 2nd choice of the people, defeated the 1st choice of the people, Jackson • Jackson condemned Clay – “Judas of the West” • No clear proof that agreement was made • If so, not necessarily corrupt

10. Yankee in the White House • Better Sec of State than President • “Minority president” • Hard to get things accomplished • Political spoilsmen annoyed Adams • Proposals to Congress • Construction of roads & canals • National university • Astronomical observatory ** If federal gov’t could meddle in local concerns like education & roads, what about slavery?**

11. National Republicans – Adams Mudslinging / Jackson Mother prostitute Coffins / duels adulterer Democratic-Republicans – Jackson Mudslinging / Adams Gambling Large sums of money Pimp Campaign of 1828

12. “Revolution of 1828” • Jackson – 178 / Adams – 83 (p. 266) • Jackson • Support from West & South/ common people • Political revolution • Increased voter turnout • Political center of gravity was continuing to shift away from the eastern seaboard to the emerging states across the mountains • Peaceful Revolution • Achieved by ballots instead of bullets

13. “Old Hickory” • Jackson personified the new West • Individualism, jack-of-all trades, opportunism, etc… • Background • Orphaned, brawler, no college education • Born in the Carolinas/ moved to Tennessee • 1st president nominated at a formal party convention • 1st president from the West

14. Jackson’s Political Beliefs • Suspicious of the federal gov’t as a bastion of privilege • Sacredness of the Union & the ultimate supremacy of federal power over that of the states • Demanded prompt & loyal support from his subordinates • Ignored the Supreme Court on several occasions • Frequently used his power of veto

15. Jackson & the Spoils System • Spoil System introduced into the federal gov’t on a large numerical scale • “To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy.” • No party overturn had occurred since the defeat of the Federalists in 1800 • Lead to corruption & incompetence • “Rotation in Office”

16. More Victors than Spoils • Elected as a reformer • Swept out the Adams-Clay gang • Insecurity replaced security & discouraged many able citizens from entering public servant • Men bought their positions • Unqualified • Built a political machines

17. “Tariff of Abominations” • Congress had already increased the tariff of 1824 from 23% to 37% • Woolen manufacturers wanted more • Tariff of 1828 – tariff increased to 45% • Supported by Jacksonites – manufacturing a president • Jacksonites believed that it would not pass; however, it passed • Southerners were shocked

18. Reaction of the Tariff of 1828 • Southern beliefs • Discriminated against them • Cotton was unprotective & manufactured goods were protected • Resulted in artificial inflation (p.263) • Higher prices lead to a reduced volume of purchases, in both directions • South would suffer both as consumers & as producers • “The South Carolina Exposition” • John C. Calhoun • Proposed that the states should nullify the tariff because it was unjust & unconstitutiona

19. “Nullies” in South Carolina • Southerners were still angry over the Tariff of 1828 • Were trying to get the 2/3 vote for nullification • Tariff of 1832 – passed by Congress • Reduced tariff by 10% • SC still threatening nullification & possible secession

20. SC’s Response • Clash of Nullifiers & Unionists • Nullifiers received more than 2/3 majority • Declared Tariff of 1832 “null and void” in SC • Called upon state legislature to take any military preparations necessary • Threatened to secede from the Union if Washington regime attempted to collect customs duties by force

21. Jackson’s Response • Privately threatened to hang nullifiers • Dispatched naval and military reinforcements to SC • Issued proclamation against nullification --Gov Hayes issued counter-proclamation • Civil War?

22. The Great Compromiser • Henry Clay (KY) • Tariff of 1833 • Reduced the Tariff of 1832 by about 10% over a period of 8 years • Squeezed through Congress • Favored by Calhoun & the South • Opposition from New England & the middle states • Force Bill (“Bloody Bill”) also passed • Authorized the president to use the army & navy, if necessary, to collect federal tariff duties

23. Issue of Slavery • Southern reaction to the tariff • Anxieties about possible federal interference with the institution of slavery • Charleston 1822- Denmark Vesey • Free black who plotted a slave rebellion • Washington could next take a stand on slavery • Strong stand against all federal encroachments on states’ rights • South was not developing like other regions • Overcropped land & cotton prices had fallen

24. Cabinet Crisis • Official Cabinet of 6 • Sec of State – Martin Van Buren • “Kitchen Cabinet” • 13 ever-shifting members • Informal meetings with advisors • Group did not gather in the kitchen • Influence was exaggerated • Not unconstitutional

25. Land & Indian Problems • Adams’s land policy • Tried to curb speculation in the public domain • Angered Westerns • Cherokee Indians & Georgia • Georgians wanted Indians out • Adams tried to deal with friendless Indians • Georgian governor threatened to use arms to prevent federal gov’t from helping the Indians

26. Transplanting the Tribes • 1790s – gov’t recognized tribes as separate nations & agreed to acquire land from them only through formal treaties • Indians were repeatedly coerced or tricked into ceding huge tracts of territory to whites • Census in 1830 – 13 million • 1820s - 125,000 Native Americans lived east of the Mississippi

27. Dealing with the Indian Problem • “civilizing” & Christianizing the Indians • Society for Propagating the Gospel Among Indians • Congress appropriated $20,000 for promotion of literacy & agricultural & vocational instruction among the Indians

28. Cherokee Indians • Made remarkable efforts to learn the ways of whites • Agriculture & private property • Cherokee National Council – written legal code • Cotton planters & slave owners • Five Civilized Tribes • Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Seminoles • 1828 - Georgia legislature declared council illegal & asserted its own jurisdiction over affairs & lands • Cherokees applied to Supreme Court

29. Jackson & the Indians • Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Indians • Jackson refused to recognize their decision • “John Marshall made his decision; now let him enforce it.” • Jackson proposed removal of Native Americans • Uproot more than 100,000 Indians • 1830 – Indian Removal Act • Transplanting of all Indian tribes east of the Mississippi

30. Trail of Tears • Countless Indians died • Forced to newly established Indian Territory (Oklahoma), where they were to be free of white encroachments • 1836 - Bureau of Indian Affairs • Administer relations with Indians

32. Conflicts Begin • Sauk & Fox braves from Illinois & Wisconsin lead by Black Hawk resisted • Crushed in 1832 by regular troops (Jefferson Davis & Abraham Lincoln) • Florida – Seminole Indians (1835 – 1842) • Guerrilla war in the Everglades - 1500 soldiers dead • Costliest Indian conflict in American history • Leader Osceola – captured

33. Nationalism & Jackson • Jackson dealt nationalism a blow • Hostile towards roads & canals • State’s rights - federal money should not be used for roads built entirely within individual states • Vetoed the Maysville Rd. (KY) • Victory for eastern & southern states’ rights

34. Robert Hayne – SC Condemned disloyalty of New England during War of 1812 & tariff Nullification was the only means of safeguarding interest of the South Protecting southern rights within the Union Daniel Webster Represented New England Against nullification “people & not the states had framed the Constitution” “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.” Webster – Hayne Debate (1830)

35. Eaton Affair - 1831 • Sec of War – John H. Eaton • Wife, Peggy Eaton, was looked down upon because of her background • Especially by VP Calhoun’s wife • Van Buren gained favor with Jackson • Jackson eventually turned against Calhoun • Calhoun resigned as VP & entered Senate • “Great Nullifier” • Became a defender of states’ rights

36. Cement for the Union • Each section was satisfied with its champion • Jefferson Day Banquet (1830) • Jackson – “Our union, it must be preserved.” • Calhoun – “The Union, next to our liberty, most dear!”