Andrew Jackson decided to retire Martin van Buren was hand picked by Jackson to be the Democratic Candidate Was Jackson s 2 nd vice President From New York
Whigs ran several favorite son candidates They wanted to split up the electoral vote and send the election to the House of Representatives William H. Harrison Hugh White Daniel Webster Willie Magnum West South New England South Carolina
The Whig strategy failed Martin Van Buren elected president First native born President First President not of English ancestry Dutch Spoke Dutch as first language until his school days. Also a widower Never remarried
Shortly after Van Buren became president the economy crashed. This downturn was called the Panic of 1837 Serious economic depression Unemployment was high Banks failed Businesses closed Eviction rates were high
Pet Banks Made many loans and printed their own money. People used loans and inflated paper money to purchase land from the government. Government was flooded with inflated paper money in exchange for land. President Jackson required that land be paid in gold and silver (specie) Specie Circular People took paper money back to banks to exchange for specie. Banks failed when they had no specie
President Van Buren was blamed for the Depression. Actually, the Specie Circular was the cause and that was the act of President Jackson But van Buren did nothing to help solve the economic crisis. Government, at that time, did nothing to interfere with or control the economy.
Trail of Tears Armisted Controversy Slave ship high jacking and trial of the African mutineers Aroostoock War Bloodless conflict in Maine over border with Canada Mormon War in Missouri
Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison Democrats ran Martin van Buren Again
Whig Strategy John Tyler was the Vice Presidential Candidate Tippecanoe and Tyler too Log Cabin Campaign Whigs wanted to show Harrison as a Common Man He was actually quite wealthy
Electoral Vote 234-60
Harrison Elected easily Inauguration Day Gave longest Inauguration speech in Presidential History Two Hours / 8444 words Speech delivered in a cold rain Harrison wore no coat nor hat Also rode in the parade on horseback Became ill and died a month later Shortest Presidency in History. William H. Harrison
Virginian Slave Owner Often derided as His Accidency His wife was the first First Lady to die in the White House.
Controversy over his status as President His assumption of the Office of President became a precedent. Did not become Constitutional until the 25 th Amendment Kept Harrison s entire cabinet. Tyler s political views were different from other Whigs.
Tyler vetoed almost every Whig piece of legislation that came out of Congress. Even though he was a Whig. Caused great controversy Was even an impeachment attempt. Led by John Quincy Adams Was then a member of the House of Representatives Only President who later was elected to the House. J.Q. Adams
Entire cabinet (except for Secretary of State Daniel Webster) resigned on the same day Whig party kicked him out of the party while he was still President. Daniel Webster
Law passed in 1841 to solve the problem of Squatters and Claim Jumpers
First American settlers moved into Mexican California in 1841. Attracted by land grants from the Mexican government.
Attempted several times after 1836 to be admitted as a state to the United States. Would be a slave state Upset the balance in the Senate Admission was opposed by northern anti-slavery factions. 1844 President Tyler pushed for admission
Democrats ran James K. Polk For Texas Admission Whigs ran Henry Clay Against Admission of Texas
Before the Inauguration of James K. Polk Texas was admitted to the Union as a slave state.