The three essential questions for our study of this period (roughly 1820-1844) are:
What defined this period politically?
Is Jacksonian Democracy an appropriate label for the time period?
How were divisions in society reflected in the politics of the time?
Blog your summaries in the comment section... be sure to do the following:
Write clearly and in a concise manner.
Include all vocab words from your section.
Explain the significance of your terms (taken together as a whole)
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Henry Clay used his influence in the House of Representatives to provide John Qunicy Adams with enough electoral votes to win the election of 1824 despite the fact that Jackson won the popular vote. Clay was then appointed Secretary of State by Adams. This event was labled the "corrupt bargain" by Jsckson's supporters. The popular choice of the voters failed to win office because of secret political maneuvers.
The Bank of the United States was a major concern of Jackson’s during his presidency; he believed it to be unconstitutional. Nicholas Biddle the National Banks president managed the bank efficiently. Biddle was very arrogant and contributed to Jackson’s suspicions of the bank abusing its power for protecting the interest of the wealthy. The nation is also split up into a two party system (the Democrats or the Whigs). The Democratic Party was more or less like the old Republican Party, while the Whigs were like the Federalist Party. Democrats favored local rule, limited government, free trade and equal economic trade; opposed monopolies, national bank, high tariffs and high land prices; supporters were southerners, westerners, small farmers and urban workers. Whigs favored national bank, federal funding, and protective tariffs; opposed immorality, vice, and crime (blamed on immigrants); supported by New Englanders, mid-Atlantic and upper-middle-western states, Protestants of old English stock, middle class urban professionals. Aiding President Jackson in creating “pet banks” was the Secretary of the Treasury Roger Taney; he transferred the funds of the national bank to various state banks. Pet banks were banks created by Andrew Jackson within the states. When Jackson eliminated the national bank, he mad federal funds to go directly to state banks, which then caused an issue for supporters of the National Bank. The use of the pet banks contributed to a national panic later on that year. By the end of 1836, there were ninety-one pet banks. The banks created more money then gold and silver could ever cover. Specie circular was an executive order issued by pres. Andrew Jackson. Specie circular was required payment for purchases of public lands in gold or silver. Therefore the circular attempted to reduce the amount of paper money in circulation and ultimately limit the land speculation. In the end the result was deflation, which contributed to the economic crisis called the Panic of 1837. The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the U.S. Immediately after Martin Van Buren took office, the country suffered tremendously, as each state across the country was forced to close its doors. Jackson had an opposition towards the rechartering of the Bank of United States was only one of the issues. Then the Whigs unexpectedly were quick to put the blame on the democrats for their laissez-faire economics, which excluded federal involvement in the economy.
Martin Van Buren immediately became president after Andrew Jackson, and once in office the country fell into a depression, other know as the panic of 1837. Lastly is the “log cabin and hard cider “ campaign of 1840. The Whig party in the 1840 election created the “log cabin and hard cider” campaign. Overall in the end the Whig party established itself as a political era, and the Jacksonian era was coming to an end because of the Mexican war.
The Jacksonian democracy was very similar to the Jeffersonian democracy in terms of constraining powers and wanting a strong central government. Yet the Jacksonian democracy supported a strong presidency and the writing of state constitutions. During this period states rights were becoming more dominate within the country but since Jackson supported states rights it led to the nullification crisis. Even though each state under Jackson’s presidency had the right to create their own constitutions they did not have the right to null or void any federal law. Many did not support the fact that the states now has the power to do this including Webster. Webster did not like the idea that any state could defy or leave the union under the federal government and the tariffs placed on the states including the Tariff of 1828 and 1832 which led to the Webster-Hayne debate. Since the idea of nullifying both tariffs came up in this debate John C Calhoun created a convention to get the tariffs eliminated. The last event that sets the Jacksonian democracy apart from the Jeffersonian democracy was the Proclamation of the People of South Carolina. This prevented the act of nullification from taking place again because it was seen as ‘disunion and treason’ to the federal government. Although some aspects of the Jacksonian and the Jeffersonian democracy were similar the Jacksonian period set itself apart with states’ rights and going against the federal government with state constitutions.
The divisions in society during the era of Jackson were large, with the nullification crisis and the battles over states rights vs. federal power. The southern states generally wanted the states to have more power than the federal government, while the northern states generally wanted the federal government to be supreme. Sectional feelings were abundant at the time, with the north and south being almost polar opposites in terms of economy, politics, and views on slavery. The "states-righters" of the south, such as John C. Calhoun, believed in the "nullification theory"- the idea that a state could override a federal law and refuse to follow it if they so chose. President Jackson would respond to to this with the "Proclamation of the People of South Carolina", stating that nullification and secession would be considered treason. To bring weight to this proclamation, congress passed the Force Act, which allowed Jackson to send troops to dissenting states.
Before Andrew Jackson was elected president, Congress passed the tariff of 1828("tariff of abominations").It satisfied northern manufacturers and brushed aside southern planters. The tariff was created for internal improvements as well. Jacksonians prior to this beleived internal improvements and aiding manufacturing was a waste of money and unconstitutional.Jackson ran for president in the election of 1828 as Adams was looking for reeelection. To gain the advantage, Jackson used party organization tactics or popular campaigning. This type of campaigning was done through parades and rallies. Sometimes candidates would turn to more personal issues as Adams and Jackson did in this election. It made the election more interesting as three times the amount of voters last year voted. Jackson had come out victorious due to his reputation as a war hero of 1812 and a man of the western frontier. He was the front man of an emerging working class and middle class. These people became known as the "common man." He developed his own unique role as president. His decisions were made to protect the common man. For example, he vetoed 12 bills from Congress, more than the previous six presidents combined. Along with taking advantage of the role of president, he believed in the rotation of office. He limited the time in office of his cabinet to one term and would appoint new members. Going back to the common man, he affirmed that one good man was as good as another. In fact, he was a protector of the common woman too. Known as the Peggy Eaton affair, Jackson ordered his cabinet to accept the wife of secretary of war, Peggy Eaton. After Jackson's order, most of his cabinet resigned including vice president John C. Calhoun. Martin Van Buren was then chosen to be vice president due to his loyalty.
The Jacksonian period was a time for change in democracy and for the people. White men not only in the upper class but the middle and the lower class or the common man, had the right to vote. This was known as the universal male suffage. The lower and middle classes did have much say in politics because it was more for the upper class man. This gave them the chance to be a part of the government. There was a party nominating convention. At this convention the party politicians along with the voters would get together to elect candidates. There was also the "king caucus" which was a meeting for political party leaders and the state legislature was the old way of nominating candidates into office. With all the white men being able to vote it lead to popular election of the president.This was important because now the people had the say in who they wanted to lead the country and not congress. During this time two new parties emerged, the Anti- Mosonic Party and the Workingmen's Party. The two political parties interested groups of people who weren't particularly into politics. Jackson wanted loyal democrats to be in office. in doing this Jackson created the spoils system. Any one not loyal was immediately kicked out of office. Politics were a major change in the Jacksonian period.
In 1830, President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act as a law. He believed in migrating Native Americans to lands west of the Mississippi River. By 1835 most of the tribes willing to move had done so and the Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed to help resettle the natives. His actions were supported by many of the prominent politicians of his time. Many states starting making laws requiring Cherokees to move. When they challenged the law in the supreme court, (Cherokee Nation v. Georgia 1831) it ruled the Cherokees didn't have the right to sue in court. A year later during Worcester v. Georgia, the court ruled Georgia's laws didn't apply to the Cherokee Nation. Jackson sided with the states during this case and said "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." After he had left office in 1835 the U.S. Army forced fifteen thousand Cherokees out of Georgia on the "Trail of Tears". Four thousand of these poeple died along the way.
In 1830, President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act as a law. He believed in migrating Native Americans to lands west of the Mississippi River. By 1835 most of the tribes willing to move had done so and the Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed to help resettle the natives. His actions were supported by many of the prominent politicians of his time. Many states starting making laws requiring Cherokees to move. When they challenged the law in the supreme court, (Cherokee Nation v. Georgia 1831) it ruled the Cherokees didn't have the right to sue in court. A year later during Worcester v. Georgia, the court ruled Georgia's laws didn't apply to the Cherokee Nation. Jackson sided with the states during this case and said "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." After he had left office in 1835 the U.S. Army forced fifteen thousand Cherokees out of Georgia on the "Trail of Tears". Four thousand of these poeple died along the way.
In 1830, President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act as a law. He believed in migrating Native Americans to lands west of the Mississippi River. By 1835 most of the tribes willing to move had done so and the Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed to help resettle the natives. His actions were supported by many of the prominent politicians of his time. Many states starting making laws requiring Cherokees to move. When they challenged the law in the supreme court, (Cherokee Nation v. Georgia 1831) it ruled the Cherokees didn't have the right to sue in court. A year later during Worcester v. Georgia, the court ruled Georgia's laws didn't apply to the Cherokee Nation. Jackson sided with the states during this case and said "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." After he had left office in 1835 the U.S. Army forced fifteen thousand Cherokees out of Georgia on the "Trail of Tears". Four thousand of these poeple died along the way.
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