Chapter 13 THE RISE OF MASS DEMOCRACY

Chapter 13 THE RISE OF MASS DEMOCRACY

The Era of Good Feeling Panic of 1819 & MO Compromise Leads to political conflict Strong Political Parties Dem-Rep vs. National Rep Strict vs. loose Campaigning Increased rate of political participation

Corrupt Bargain (Election of 1824) Jackson vs. Clay vs. JQ Adams vs. Crawford West vs. West vs. North vs. South No electoral majority House chooses among top 3 Clay out Crawford has stroke Clay: Speaker of House HATES Jackson Leaves JQ Adams similar ideas except don t like each other really Clay announced as Sec. Of State

John Quincy Adams Yankee President Prim, proper no political skills No Patronage Nationalist & American System supporter Wanted to use tariffs to pay (affect South) What is to stop from interfering w/ Peculiar Institution Slowed Western speculation Deal fairly w/ Cherokees

Election of 1828 Jackson vs. JQ Adams Common man vs. Corrupt Aristocrat Mudslinging S/ W Jackson N/ M split West becoming powerful

Old Hickory Irritable, sickly, uneducated, violent temper 1st Prez from West King Mob during Inauguration Spoils System Reward supporters w/ office Any man good enough to be in office Bring in new blood Scandal bought office Samuel Swartwout Cemented loyalty to Party

Common Man Intense distrust of Eastern establishment, monopolies, & special privilege. His heart & soul was with the plain folk. Belief that the common man was capable of uncommon achievements.

Tariff of Abominations Tariffs protected, but drove prices up 1828 Push for increase tariff to hurt JQA Passed Southern reaction to tariff Believed South was most hurt North experienced boom in manufacturing West was prospering from rising property values Southwest was expanding into new cotton lands Farm produce sold on world markets unprotected Forced to buy manufactured goods in market protected

Deeper Issue - Slavery Increased concerns that federal government might interfere with slavery Debate over Missouri Compromise (where northerners began expressing abolitionist sentiments) 1822 slave rebellion in Charleston led by free black Denmark Vesey Pressure on British West Indies to end slavery Strong stand against tariff would show South would accept no encroachment on states rights (from tariffs to slavery)

Nullification John C. Calhoun Tariff unconstitutional Declare null & void inside state South Carolina votes on this issue Nullies Threatened to secede Jackson sends army Henry Clay gives compromise (lowers tariffs) Tariff of 1833 Took away worst parts of 1828 Tariff Force Bill South Carolina backs down Authorized Prez to use army & navy to collect federal tariff duties Partly passed to assert that federal government was supreme, even if South Carolina gave in and compromised

Trail of Tears Western Expansion 1790 s separate nations Tried to civilize 1828 GA overrides & would take over Appealed to Sup. Ct. On Indian Side Jackson ignored John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it. Voluntary removal (100,000) Indian Removal Act of 1830 Thousands of Indians died on forced marches Sent to Oklahoma area, where they were to be permanently free from whites 1836 Bureau of Indian Affairs

Trail of Tears Black Hawk Wars Saux & Fox resisted until crushed in 1832 1835 1842 Seminole Indians in Florida carried out guerilla warfare while hiding in Everglades 1837 Osceola (Seminole leader) captured by US troops (while flying a truce flag) Most Seminoles removed to Oklahoma; some stayed in hiding in Everglades

The Bank War Hated big business How banks operated in 19th century Government minted gold and silver coins State/ Private banks issued paper money Value of money = health of bank & amount of paper issued Enormous power over economy Bank of US Acted almost like branch of government Controlled much of US s gold and silver Principal depository of government Keep notes stable 80/ 20 accountable to Elite Nicholas Biddle (very powerful) Profit 1 st priority West foreclosures

The Bank War Clay/ Webster vs. Jackson Made election issue (1832) Jackson signs Lose support W/ S Veto Lose support E (minority) Vetoed Bill as unconstitutional Vetoed because thought harmful Ignored Supreme Court Exec. Over Judicial President # 1

Election of 1832 Jackson vs. Clay vs. Anti-Masonic Party National nominating conventions Formal platforms Nasty campaigning Jackson wins (of course )

Burying the Bank 1833 removes deposits Biddle s Panic Called in loans Hoping for crisis Stabilizing Force Gone!! Booms/ busts Pet banks Wildcat banks 1836 Specie Circular All public lands bough w/ HARD $$ Stopped speculation Crash of 1837

The Birth of the Whigs Opposition to Democrats & King Andrew Organized incompatibility Groups opposed to Jackson Progressive Government programs & reform Internal improvements Market Economy Absorbed anti-masonic Blunted common man appeal

Election of 1836 Martin Van Buren vs. 3 Whigs Appointed by Jackson 1st real American Statesman Handicaps Resentment of Democrats Turmoil & Trouble Rebellion of Canada (1837) Slavery &Texas Panic of 1837

Panic of 1837 Causes Rampant speculation Bank War & Specie Circular Failures of crop = increased prices Failure of 2 GB banks Called in loans Widespread hardship Banks collapsed Commodity price decrease Public land sales decrease Customs revenues decrease

Panic of 1837 Whig Proposals Expansion of bank credit Higher tariffs Subsidies for internal improvements Van Buren Rejects & Proposes Divorce Bill Independent treasury Deny to banking system as reserves Believed speculation caused by private banks having access to government money Government money protected Excess credit in economy erased

Independent Treasury Passed in 1840 after long debates Repealed in 1841 (when Whigs elected) Repassed in 1846 and in place until Republicans created network of national banks during Civil War

Texas 1819 US traded claim to TX to Spain for FL 1821 Mexican independence 1823 Stephen Austin brings 300 families Friction over slavery, immigration, local rights Mexico emancipated slaves in 1830 & no further importation Mexico also prohibited further immigration by whites Refused to obey Mexican decrees 1835 Santa Anna wiped out local rights 1836 independence The Alamo & Goliad Delayed Mexican advance Galvanized American opposition April 1836 captured Santa Anna 1837 recognized Texas No annexation due to slavery

1840 Election Van Buren vs. Harrison Aristocrat vs. log cabin & hard cider End to high flying banks & aggressive corporations vs. Expand & stimulate economy Harrison wins

Changes in Politics Rise of popular democratic style democracy seen as a bad thing by founders Curry favor w/ voting masses Offices were still filled by elites, but they had to get support of commoners (and pretend to be common) 2 Party System Distrusted parties as factions - would hurt country Jeffersonians had adopted most of Federalists positions No parties during Era of Good Feelings Jackson (and those who opposed him) laid foundation for parties Differences Similarities Social diversity w/ in party Geographical diversity (compromise on slavery right now)