SSUSH7 C, D, E & SSUSH8 C Jacksonian Democracy and a Changing America
Jacksonian Democracy The New President Many American s admired Andrew Jackson as the People s President. Most remembered him as the tough frontiersman known as Old Hickory. Others still thought of him as a Military Hero for his victories at the Battle of New Orleans (1814) and his Capture of Spanish Florida (1818). He returned the people s admiration for him by utilizing the Spoils System (granting government jobs to loyal supporters). He also supported a change in the nomination of presidential candidates from the Caucus System to the new National Nominating Conventions. (Party Selection) (Selection by the People)
Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian Crisis The Tariff of 1828 increased Sectionalism in the U.S. Southerners called it the Tariff of Abominations because it had few industries. Many South Carolinians threatened to Secede from the Union. Vice-President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina suggested the idea of Nullification to solve to dispute.
Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian Crisis Nullification was an idea that states had the right to declare any Federal Law null and void (or not valid). The issue continued with the Webster-Hayne debate of 1830. The debate focused between Defending the Union and the issue of States Rights. President Jackson echoed northern sentiments in 1832 by stating Our Federal Union It Must be Preserved.
Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian Crisis The war of words erupted into a full confrontation when Congress passed the Tariff of 1832. Immediately, a special state convention in South Carolina adopted an Ordinance of Nullification declaring the tariffs unconstitutional. President Jackson considered the nullification to be an act of treason by South Carolina. In 1833, Congress passed the Force Bill authorizing the president to use the military to enforce the law.
Jacksonian Democracy Policies Toward Native Americans The President intended to move all Native American s to the Great Plains. Many Americans believed the Great Plains was an un-useable wasteland. Many Westerners believed the move would end the nation s Indian conflicts. In 1830: Congress passed the Indian Removal Act that targeted the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee (Georgia & Alabama) Chickasaw (Mississippi) Choctaw (Mississippi & Alabama) Creek (Georgia & Alabama) Seminole (Florida)
Jacksonian Democracy Policies Toward Native Americans Most Native Americans resettled except for the Cherokee of Georgia who hired lawyers to fight the Federal Government. In 1832: The Supreme Court ordered state officials to honor Cherokee property rights in Georgia. However, in 1835 the Cherokee signed the Treaty of New Echota ceding all their land in Georgia to the U.S. By 1838, the forced relocation of the Cherokee resulted in over 4000 dead along the well known Trail of Tears.
Jacksonian Democracy Jackson and the National Bank The President and most Westerners considered the Second National Bank as a Wealthy Class Monopoly. In 1832, when Congress tried to extend the bank s charter for 20 years, the President Vetoed the bill. In 1833, after being re-elected, the President withdrew all government deposits from the National Bank and deposited them in State Banks. Although this put an end to the Bank of the United States, it left the country in danger of inflation and other financial woes for years to come.
Rivalries Over the Presidency By the mid-1830 s: The Whig Party rose in America to oppose President Jackson s forceful style of leadership. The Whigs believed in: Larger Federal Government Industrial & Commerical Development Strong Centralized Economy However, because the Whigs couldn t decide on a candidate, Martin Van Buren (a Democrat) was elected president in 1836.
Rivalries Over the Presidency President Martin Van Buren had to immediately deal with a crippling economic crisis in the United States known as the Panic of 1837. Because he believed in limited federal government, he did little to stop the nation s banks and businesses from failing The Whigs saw an opportunity to nominate a hero of the War of 1812 as their candidate for President: William Henry Harrison However, when Harrison died of pneumonia (32 days after taking office), Vice-President John Tyler became the 10 th President of the U.S.
America s Changing Culture Between 1815 1860 the U.S. experienced a massive influx of immigrants Immigrants came to America for several different reasons: Violence & Political Turmoil at home. Escape Starvation and Poverty. Opportunity for a Fresh Start in life. Availability of Land and Jobs. New found sense of Freedom & Liberty. The largest wave of immigrants came from Ireland (almost 2 Million) The second largest group of immigrants came from Germany (1.5 Million).
America s Changing Culture Unfortunately, some immigrants encountered Discrimination in America American hostilities toward foreigners became known as Nativism. Many American s who were anti-catholic discriminated against the Irish. Several secret Nativist Groups formed on the pledge never to allow Catholics or Immigrants to obtain political office. Since membership was secret, and they were obligated to say nothing if questioned, the new American Party became known as the Know-Nothings.
America s Changing Culture The Second Great Awakening was a religious movement that began around 1790, gained momentum in the early 1800 s, and rose rapidly after 1820. It began in Kentucky among the frontier farmers and spread quickly to the rest of the nation The new religious revival was based on several key beliefs: Rejection of Calvinist views that only a few were chosen Readmit God and Christ into your daily lives Purify Society in preparation for the second coming of Christ
America s Changing Culture Several Religious Denomination grew rapidly as various Missionaries and Circuit Riders held Revivalist styled Camp Meetings. The greatest number of new converts were female and young people under the age of 25. The most well known new religious denomination to form during this period was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was founded in the 1820 s by Joseph Smith. Known more commonly as Mormons, they would eventually migrate to Utah with Brigham Young.
America s Changing Culture Optimism created by the Second Great Awakening also influenced some of America s greatest Poets and Authors: Washington Irving (1819) James Fenimore Cooper (1826) Edgar Allen Poe (1842) Nathaniel Hawthorn (1850) Herman Melville (1851) Many of these writers adopted two key tenets of the period: The power of one s feelings over reasoning, known as Romanticism. Man s ability to overcome all odds, known as Transcendentalism.
America s Changing Culture The Second Great Awakening also inspired many new Reform Movements that became responsible for establishing many Benevolent Societies. In 1826: Presbyterian Minister Lyman Beecher helped establish the American Temperance Society. The society initially advocated the voluntary abstinence of all alcoholic beverages and later promoted prohibition. 1841-1853: Activist Dorthea Dix worked tirelessly to effect changes in both Prisons and Insane Asylums. Her efforts helped pave the way for new Hospitals for the insane and Rehabilitation programs in prisons.
America s Changing Culture Many reformers also believed that the United States could only survive if the nation was made up of well educated and informed citizens. 1837: Massachusetts Senator Horace Mann pressed for public education by promoting a bill that created the first State Board of Education. 1837-1848: He spent 12 years improving teacher salaries, building 50 high schools, and Normal Schools for teachers. 1814: Emma Willard founded a girl s boarding school in Vermont. 1837: Mary Lyon opened the first Female Seminary in Massachusetts.
America s Changing Culture The influences of the Second Great Awakening also effected American s ideas of the traditional family and the role of women in raising children. Many felt the women was the family s moral compass. 1841: Catharine Beecher (daughter of Lyman Beecher) wrote A Treaties on Domestic Economy that gave women instruction on childcare, cooking, and health issues. However, some women argued that they also had a responsibility to be politically involved in the greater moral crusades of society. 1845: Margaret Fuller wrote Women in the Nineteenth Century that is considered the first Feminist book to promote women s rights in America.
America s Changing Culture 1848: Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were Women s Rights Activists who organized the first women s movement. 19-20 July 1848: Seneca Falls Convention First Women s Right s Convention in the World. First Presentation of the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions on Women s Rights in the United States. First mention of Women s Voting Rights