Transcript Jacksonian Democracy

The Rise of Democratic Politics
1824-1832
Era of Good Feelings?
Monroe
1817-1825
Side note:
Voter turnout
in the 21st
century
averages at
60%
Why an increase in voter
turnout?
Changes in Politics
• 1820-1840: white males of lower middle class
began to vote in large numbers
• 1824: Lots of interest in voting (350,000 votes
for president) by 1840, increases to 2.4 million
• Reasons:
- Changes in suffrage laws (include all white
males, also dropped property restrictions)
- Appt. offices became elected (electoral college)
- Change to written ballot
- Improved education / transportation
- Increase in partisan newspapers
Stump-speaking
The Second Party System
(1828-1854)
Martin Van Buren’s
role?
Election of 1824
How did this election contribute to the
increase in voter participation?
Election 1828
• Jackson started campaigning right after
election of 1824 ended…
• Joined forces with John C Calhoun
(South Carolina Congressman)
Attacks on Jackson were unparalleled
in American political history.
His opponents accused him of
murder,
gambling,
slave trading
and treason.
They called him a 'military chieftain,'
and said his mother was a prostitute,
his father a mulatto man,
and his wife a bigamist.
"Mrs. Jackson once found her
husband in
tears pointing to a paragraph
reflecting on his mother and said,
'Myself I can defend; you I can defend;
but now they have assailed
even the memory of my mother."
Andrew's response to Rachel's death
was one of shock, devastation, and perpetual mourning.
He believed adamantly that his political enemies had
precipitated her death.
Once he took office, he sought retaliation for his loss.
What did Jackson stand for?
1. Laissez Faire
2. Gov. protected business and industrial elements of society
at the expense of others, especially its banking and
inflationary momentary policies.
3. Jackson believed the government should not
favor any segment of society period.
4. Government should strike down any obstacles that
granted privilege to certain groups (i.e. banks).
5. Jackson depicted the Nationalists (or the party of
privilege), standing for aristocratic privilege and big
business at the expense of agrarian ideals.
What did Jackson stand for?
6.
Jackson promoted mass democracy
7. The common man had a natural virtue.
8. The aristocratic nationalists were suppressing
the common man.
9. Jackson as the champion of the common man.
10. Big Voting and Mass Political Parties
Election of 1832
Jacksonian Democracy
"an honest man and the idol of the
worshippers of military glory, but from
incapacity, military habits, and habitual
disregard of laws and constitutional
provisions, altogether unfit for the office.“
- T. Jefferson
President Jackson
1828-1836
Key Events
Tariff of Abominations 1828
• Satisfied northern manufacturers
• Alienated southern planters
• VP John C. Calhoun
– Anonymous publisher of “South Carolina
Exposition & Protest”
– Claimed: Federal laws harmful to the interest
of individual states could be declared null &
void = Nullification Crisis
– Jackson signed “Force Bill”, would not put-up
with state rebellion.
– “Compromise Tariff”  Henry Clay.
Southern Agriculture
Second Bank of the United States
• Henry Clay’s economic plan?
– American System:
• a tariff to protect and promote American
industry
• a national bank to foster commerce
• and federal subsidies for roads, canals, and
other 'internal improvements' to develop
profitable markets for agriculture."
Second Bank of the United States
• Constitutionality was being debated
• Jackson always intended to destroy it
(campaign issue 1932) Felt that it was run
by privileged elites and did not promote
the interests of the “common man”
• H.Clay & D. Webster promoted a bill to
re-charter bank
• Congress passed bill, but Jackson vetoes
• Bank collapsed, eventually lead to a Panic
of 1837.
Election of 1836
Panic of 1837
• AJ ordered distribution of surplus funds from BUS (1836)
= inflation
• AJ recognized problem; Issues Specie Circular (1836)
Required hard money payment for public land
• Depression worsens
• Britain stopped specie investment into US
• Depression worsens
• Disillusioned American Public blames:
Everyone in power
US institutions (gov.)
US Business practices
Election of 1840
• Whigs: William Henry Harrison
• Dems: Martin Van Buren
• Whig Strategy:
Run single candidate
Nominate men with few enemies
Positive campaign
Paint Van Buren as aristocrat
• Democrat Strategy:
Label Harrison as old man & “backwoods”
• 80% voter turn out (1828-1836 about 50%)
Election of 1840