Evaluation of "Era of Good Feelings" Label in 1815-1825 America

1. Thesis Practice • Create a fact list for the following question: • Historians have traditionally labeled the period after the War of 1812 the “Era of Good Feelings.” Evaluate the accuracy of this label, considering the emergence of nationalism and sectionalism. Use the documents and your knowledge of the period 1815-1825 to construct your answer.

2. Democratic Politics, Religious Revival, and Reform1824 - 1840 Chapter 10

3. Rise of Democratic Politics 1824-1832 • Democrats 1830s • People • Andrew Jackson • Martin Van Buren • Beliefs • Suspicious of Fed government • States’ rights • Whigs 1830s • People • John Q. Adams • Henry Clay • Beliefs • National government should actively encourage economic development Pressures: Industrialization in New England Spread of cotton cultivation in South Westward Expansion

4. Democratic Ferment • Most important changes • Universal male suffrage • Party nominating conventions • Popular election of President • Two party system • Rise of 3rd parties • More elected offices • Popular campaigning • Spoils system • Developed at uneven pace • No democracy for ALL • Other changes • Substitution of poll taxes instead of property ownership • Written ballots instead of voting aloud • Appointive offices became increasingly elected • “grass-roots” organization of political campaigns

5. Election of 1824 • End of Era of Good Feelings • Caucasus system splintered • 5 Republican candidates for President • John Q. Adams • Sec. of State under Monroe • John C. Calhoun • SC favored son • William Crawford • Caucasus choice • Suffered stroke • Henry Clay • Dropped out to run unchallenged for VP • Andrew Jackson • Dark horse • War hero • Wives played important part • Particularly Mrs. Adams • 1st election in which popular vote was counted • Outcome • Jackson won popular and electoral votes, but not majority • Election went to House of Representatives • Top three run-off • Adams, Crawford, Jackson • Clay supported Adams • Alliance b/w NE and West • Jackson called it the “corrupt bargain”

7. John Q. Adams as President 1824-1828 • Made several mistakes • 1825 proposed program of federal aid for internal improvements • Opposed by Martin Van Buren • Erie canal proved states could handle infrastructure • Called for national university in Washington, D.C. • Called for government sponsored scientific research • Wanted to send delegates to conference of newly independent Latin American nations • Infuriated South • Did not want to support Haiti which had slave revolt

8. Rise of Andrew Jackson • J.Q. Adams popularity declined • Jackson’s rose • War hero • Hot temper • Supporters organized communities throughout country two years before 1828 election • Martin Van Buren • “new” politician • Built his way up • County politics • Governor of NY • Election 1824 convinced him of need of two-party system • Buren wanted “Old Hickory” to lead new party • Democrats

10. Election of 1828 1st time popular vote determined outcome of election New campaign styles: state candidates gave speeches at rallies, picnic Increase of Partisan newspapers Vicious, mudslinging affair “Democracy vs. Aristocracy”

11. Jackson as President • Outcome of Election • Jackson wins both electoral and popular vote • Highlighted sectional interests • Jackson in Office • Supported “rotation in office” • Removed office holders in rival party • Called spoils system • Not first to use, but employed most harshly • Defended it on democratic grounds • More offices for “plain people” • Took a stand on internal improvements • Thought public officials would use to “woo” voters • 1830 veto for Kentucky roads • Indian Removal Act 1830 • Increased Southern loyalty • Tariff of 1828 • Under Adams • Called Tariff of Abominations • Favored NE and West • Leads to BIG problems

12. Nullification • Jackson vs. Calhoun • Calhoun’s History • Early career • Ardent nationalist • War hawk • Supported tariff of 1816 • 1820s • Shifted to states’ rights • Wanted to be president • Need to support south • Anti-tariff • Rift • Peggy Eaton scandal • Calhoun will resign VP in 1832 • Back-stabbing 1818 • Tariff of 1828 • Problems • Drove up sales of manufactured goods, threatened export of cotton • Calhoun • Thought it unconstitutional • Didn’t raise $ for common purpose • Set too high • Federal laws should favor equally • Jackson • Devised two policies to keep peace • Distribute federal revenue to states • Ease tariffs down

14. Crisis • SC Convention • Nullified Tariff of 1828 and 1832 • Forbade collection of custom duties in SC • Jackson’s reaction • Sends arms to loyalists • Issues proclamation • Nullification is unconstitutional • “single nation” vs. “league of states” • The Olive Branch and the Sword • Olive Branch: • Tariff of 1833 (Compromise Tariff) • Gradual, but significant lowering of duties between 1833-1842 • The Sword: • Force Bill • Authorized President to use arms in SC to collect customs • SC rescinded nullification • The Hero • Henry Clay

16. Bank Veto and Election of 1832 • Problems: • Gap between rich and poor widening • Panic of 1819 • Bank favored wealthy • Political Move: • Daniel Webster and Henry Clay pushed Pres. of Bank of US to recharter bank • Congress passed • Jackson’s Response: • Vetoed bill • Why? • Private and privileged monopoly • Drained west of specie • Immune to taxation • Clay’s Miscalculation: • Thinks it will sink Jackson in election • Backfires • Jackson runs with Martin Van Buren as VP • States’ rights and unionist • Clay runs on “American System” • National bank • Federal support for internal improvements • Jackson wins • People approved of Jackson’s attack on bank • “hydra of corruption”

18. Bank Controversy and 2nd Party System 1833-1840 • War on the Bank • Charter out in 1836 • Biddle began to call in bank loans and credit, 1832-1833 • Jackson devised new policy • State banks • Influenced economy J hated • “pet banks” • Economy expanded- forced to sign Deposit Act of 1836 • Deepened split within party • Soft money vs. hard money • NY locofocos • 1834-1837 Economic problems • Inflation, silver from Mexico • Rise of Whig Opposition • Arose during J’s second term • Broad base in South • Opposed Jackson • Reformers • In North • Abolitionists, temperance • Supported “active” government • Protestants supported • Anti-Masonry Movement • Against Masonic lodges • Abduction of William Morgan 1826 • 1836 • Officially National party • Called Whigs to associate with Patriots vs King “Andrew” I

20. Democrats vs. Whigs • Favored • Local rule • Limited government • Free trade • Equal economic opportunity • Opposed • Monopolies • National bank • High tariffs • High land prices • Supporters • Southerners • Westerners • Urban workers • Small farmers • Favored • Clay’s “American System” • National Bank • Internal improvements • Protective tariffs • Opposed • Immorality • Crime • Blamed on immigrants • Supporters • NE • Mid-Atlantic • Upper mid-west • Old protestants • Middle class professionals

21. Election of 1836 • Democrats • Martin Van Buren • Whigs • William Henry Harrison • Daniel Webster • W.P. Mangum • Problems for Van Buren • Jackson leaves bad economy • Specie Circular 1836 • All future land purchases had to be purchased in gold or silver • Britain restricts flow of specie to US • Panic of 1837 • Economic boom 1835-1836 led to commodity and land prices soaring • 1837 states made commitments to build canals • Domino Effect: • Bad harvest in Europe • Imbalance of trade • Prices tumble • Banks suspend payments • 1839 • Economy crumbled again • Wages dropped 1/3 1836-1842 • Millerites

24. “Martin Van Ruin” • Search for Solutions • 1836 Whigs won governorship of NY and legislative seats • Called for independent treasury • Instead of deposits, government hold revenues and keep from corporations • Called Independent Treasury Bill • Failed to address banks at state level • By 1837 Democrats: • Anti-bank and hard $ • 1840 • Democrats • Van Buren • Whigs • William Henry Harrison • Log Cabin and Hard Cider • Tippecanoe and Tyler too • Outcome • 78% voter turnout • Harrison dominates • Only serves one month in office, dies of pneumonia • 2nd party system matures • Huge jump in eligible voters • Plateau in 1840, lasts a decade

26. Reform Movements