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The New Democrats

The New Democrats. Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison/Tyler, Polk, Taylor/Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan 1829-1861. Andrew Jackson 1829-1837. Jackson. Hero to common man Return to Jefferson Cheap land By 1833 all eastern Indians west of MS R. Except Cherokees Opposed internal improvements

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The New Democrats

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  1. The New Democrats Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison/Tyler, Polk, Taylor/Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan 1829-1861

  2. Andrew Jackson1829-1837

  3. Jackson • Hero to common man • Return to Jefferson • Cheap land • By 1833 all eastern Indians west of MS R. • Except Cherokees • Opposed internal improvements • Eliminated debt

  4. The Tariff Controversy • Modest reduction • SC threatens nullification • Jackson threatens force & gets tariff lowered – SC backs down • Precedent – force against states defying federal authority

  5. Bank War • Privilege attacked • Bank symbol for unfairness (monster) • “pet banks” • Flood of paper money • Speculative boom • 1832 reelected w/54% of vote • Beat Clay

  6. Jackson • Aggressive – pushed congress • Peoples champion • The Veto • “spoils system” • Chief Justice Taney replaced Marshall

  7. Legacy • Extends freedom & opportunity • Common man now included • Democratic Party

  8. Democrat Contradiction • Party of states rights, slaveholders, & individual freedom

  9. Martin Van Buren1837-1841

  10. 1836 Election • VB defeats 3 Whigs • Adams-Clay Nat. Rep. Party • Anti-Jackson abuses • Public convinced nation going in right direction

  11. Problems • Texas issue • Trail of Tears (4000 die) • Panic of 1837 • Easy money = get rich quick speculative boom • Deep depression • Cotton fell 50%, banks suspend specie payments • Unemployed protest

  12. Independent Treasury est. • Gov’t $ buried in subtreasuries • Public lost trust in Jackson’s banking system • Huge opportunity for opposition party

  13. Whig Party Take Over • 1840 Harrison easily defeats Van Buren • Colorful campaign • Democratic defeat will not end Jackson paradigm • Dies in 30 days • John Tyler former Democrat • Betrayed Whig economic program • Stole victory from Whigs

  14. Democrats Back • 1844 Polk defeats Clay in close election • Program • Expansion - TX, CA, OR • Reduce tariff • Ind. Treas. • 1 term promise

  15. James K. Polk1845-1849

  16. Achievements • OR Terr. • Mexican War • Easy victory • CA & southwest • Gen. Zachary Taylor a hero • Reduced tariff • Ind. Treas. • Why were Dems. not rewarded

  17. The Wilmot Proviso • New terr. threatens sectional balance • Northern Dems betrayed by pro-South tilt of party • 1846 Sen. Wilmot antislavery • Bill would ban slavery from new terr. • Not just about slavery • economics & politics

  18. Northern View • South blocking nations industrial development • Protective tariff • RR subsidies • More slave states make it worse

  19. Southern View • North attracting immigrant wage earners • Urban centers • Controlling credit & investment $ • Fear becoming second class colony to tyrannical North • Must expand slavery west

  20. 12 Year Struggle • Sectional conflict • Slavery the topic • Economics & political power

  21. Election 1848 • Free Soil Party “Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men” • Took 10% of vote • “conscience” Democrats • Taylor defeats Cass • Whigs gain WH • Taylor dies • Fillmore pres.

  22. Millard Fillmore1850-1853

  23. Compromise of 1850 • Fate of slavery in new territories • Great senate debates • Henry Clay & Stephen Douglas • Terms • North got CA & DC slave trade abolished • South pop. sov. in NM & UT. & fugitive slave law • Did not repeal MO Compromise

  24. Uncertain Future • RR growth & CA gold = best economy since Panic 1837 • Abolitionism growing in NE • Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe • 1850’s 300,000 copies

  25. Franklin Pierce1853-1857

  26. Democrats Return to WH • 1852 slavery issue settled • Pierce schemes to add Cuba • Far West RR • Jefferson Davis South route (easier) • Stephen Douglas North route • 1854 KS-NE Act • Pop. Sov. • Repealed MO Compromise

  27. Tension Builds • Civil war in Kansas • Both sides send supporters

  28. Republicans • antislavery • Ex-Free Soilers & “conscience” Dems • All North & no compromise w/ South • Business policies • High tariffs & internal improvements • Federalist/Whig

  29. Election 1856 • “bleeding Kansas” • Dems pick Buchanan • Whigs break up • Republicans pick Fremont • “Know Nothing” Party pick Fillmore

  30. Results • Know-Nothings – 22% • Buchanan Dems – 45% • Republican 11 of 16 free states • South knows abolitionists going to be a problem

  31. James Buchanan1857-1861

  32. Disaster to Disaster • Dred Scott Case • Taney Court • Slavery legal in every terr. • North outraged

  33. Kansas • Proposed slave state • Rigged • North outraged • Douglas leads attack • MN & OR added free • KS denied

  34. Buchanan • Dominated by South • Interests of N & W ignored • Trying to pacify South • Cuba? • Mexico?

  35. John Brown • Raid on Harpers Ferry, VA • Celebrated in North – martyr • South stunned by North response

  36. Panic of 1857 • Deep depression • Cotton prices soared this time • South emboldened by economic power

  37. 1850’s Excess of Democracy • Changes in society, economy, frontier produced excess of individualism • General rejection of traditional political authority & solutions • Any attempt to curb individual behavior was undemocratic • “Mob rule” – Federalist greatest fear

  38. Election 1860 • Abe Lincoln (R) • Obscure • Against spread of slavery • Pro expanding industry • Stephen Douglas (D-North) • Powerful senator • John Breckinridge (D-South) • Southern Dems split from North

  39. Republicans • Exploited key contradiction in Dem • Individual freedom & slavery • Jefferson freedom w/ Hamilton’s economics • Promised free homesteads • Big party for all - except slavery • No room for credible opposition

  40. Republican Victory • Lincoln 40% • North finally in charge • No sympathy for South • South facing permanent minority status • SC & 10 others bolt from Union • Jackson paradigm split in two rival armies • Civil War

  41. Was It Just About Slavery? • Fight over the future • Wealth & power shifting North • Railroads replacing cotton as key to economy • 18 free vs. 15 slave states • Way of life (soil vs. industry & transportation) • Slavery tool crush the South

  42. Summary • 32 years • Return to Jefferson • Expand democracy • Fought privilege & helped common man • Extended frontier for ordinary people • Removed Indians • End national bank, lowered tariffs, cut fed spending • Dems dominate all three branches of govt

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