Jacksonian Democracy
A. The “New” Democracy
1. New effort among politicians to appeal to to the
masses.
2. New Democracy based on universal manhood
suffrage rather than property qualifications
a. Common man much more influential.
b. 1812-1821 – 6 new western states granted universal
manhood suffrage.
c. 1810-1820 – 4 eastern states significantly reduced voting
requirements.
d. Caused by Panic of 1819
i.
ii.
Western farmers resented eastern bankers and BUS
Push to get more involved in politics to affect change.
B. “The Corrupt Bargain”
1.
4 Candidates
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
3.
Andrew Jackson (TN)
John Q. Adams (MA)
William Crawford (GA)
Henry Clay (KY)
Jackson popular vote winner, but
no majority in E.C. (needed 131 to
win.
House of Reps gets to decide
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Picks from top 3 (Clay out but
Speaker of the House)
Clay throws his weight behind
Adams – Adams becomes President
Clay becomes Secretary of State.
“Wha wha what?” – A. Jackson
Dubbed the “corrupt bargain” by
Jackson and his supporters.
C. The “Tariff of Abominations” (1828)
1.
Biggest issue of Adams’ Presidency
a.
Congress increased duty from 23% to 37%
on dutiable goods.
Jackson supported tariff,
b.
a.
b.
c.
thought it would NOT pass and give Adams a
political black eye.
Actually backfired, because it passed and he
inherited it as President.
Webster supported it (reversal from 1816)
because it would protect northern
manufacturers.
South HATED it as they imported and
exported A LOT (Europe passed retaliatory
tariffs)
d.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
John C. Calhoun anonymously (he was VP)
wrote the “South Carolina Exposition”
Denounced tariff as unjust and
unconstitutional.
Said states should nullify it (similar to VA and
KY Resolutions of 1798.
No states joined in SC’s protest.
D. Election of 1828
1.
Intense feud within the
Democratic-Republican party.
a.
National Republicans supported JQ
Adams
Democratic Republicans supported
Jackson.
b.
2.
Jackson defeats Adams 178-83
(E.C.)
a.
First President from the west –
seen as a great common man
(although he owned 142 slaves)
Dubbed “the Revolution of 1828”
b.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
No sitting President had been voted
out since J Adams in 1800.
Increased voter turnout
Balance of power shifting from East
to West
America heretofore had been ruled
by educated wealthy elites.
Inauguration found huge rowdy
crowds in the White House.
E. “Old Hickory”
1. 6’1’’ 140 lbs., sickly and violent
tempered.
2. Personified the new West
3. Saw federal gov’t as a haven
for the wealthy and detached
from common folk experience.
4. Nationalist and a unionist
5. Rewarded loyal supports with
gov’t jobs
a.
b.
c.
“spoils system”
“Every man is as good as his
neighbor”
Many corrupt and incompetent,
but helped cement emerging
two party system loyalty.
F. Jacksonian Democracy
1.
2.
3.
Increased manhood suffrage
End of the caucus and beginning of
nominating conventions.
Spoils system
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
4.
Reward political supporters with
public office.
Rotation in office
National political machine built
around Jackson
Competence and merit
subordinate to loyalty
Corruption resulted.
“Kitchen Cabinet”
a.
b.
Unofficial group of 13 advisors to
the President
Critics branded these members
“Kitchen Cabinet”
i.
ii.
c.
Angry that these advisors not
answerable to Congress.
Congress saw it as a threat.
Not unconstitutional however
G. Webster Hayne-Debate
1.
Webster introduced bill to curb
sale of western lands.
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
Senator Robert Hayne (SC)
a.
b.
c.
3.
West obviously against it
South sided with the West
Debate in Senate lasted 9 days
in Jan. 1830
Each side thought it won.
Accused NE of disloyalty during
War of 1812
Blasted northern tariffs
Championed Calhoun’s doctrine
of nullification.
Senator Daniel Webster (MA)
a.
b.
c.
Insisted that people, not states
had framed Constitution.
Assailed doctrine of nullification
“Liberty and Union, one and
inseparable, now and forever”
H. Peggy Eaton Affair
1. Wife of Sec. of War Eaton being
snubbed by othr Cabinet
members’ wives, esp. Mrs.
Calhoun
2. Jackson, remembering trauma
inflicted on his late wife Rachel,
defended Mrs. Eaton
a.
b.
c.
d.
Demanded Cabinet members
make their wives include her.
Began purging Calhoun allies in
Senate in 1831
Martin Van Buren gained
Jackson’s attention by being nice
to Mrs. Eaton
Split between Jackson and
Calhoun caused mostly by tariffs,
but this didn’t help.
I. Nullification Crisis of 1832
1. South Carolina still
steamed over “Tariff of
Abominations” of 1828.
2. Tariff of 1832
a.
b.
c.
Jackson tried to lower
tariff of 1828 to 35% from
45%.
Still protective in nature
(south didn’t like that) and
fell short of southern
demands.
South Carolina nullified
tariff of 1832 and
threatened Secession if
Jackson tried to collect
tariff by force.
3.
Jackson’s Reaction
a.
b.
4.
Compromise Tariff of 1833
a.
b.
c.
d.
5.
Violently angry in private;
threatened to hang nullifiers,
incl. Calhoun.
Dispatched modest army and
naval force to SC - prepared
sizable army quietly
Introduced by Henry Clay
(surprise)
Tariff would be reduced by
10% over 8 yrs.
Rates would eventually be at
1816 level (20-25%)
Just squeaked through
Congress.
Force Bill
a.
b.
c.
Congress and Jackson
followed this showdown up
with face-saving legislation
President, in the future, could
use military to collect federal
tariffs if necessary.
Dubbed “the Bloody Bill” by
South Carolinians.
1.
2.
3.
J. Election of 1832
Henry Clay (National
Republican “Whigs”) vs.
Jackson (Democrat)
Clay lost to Jackson in E.C.
219-49.
New political trends in 1832
campaign
a.
b.
4.
First third party in US
Presidential Election (AntiMasons)
National nominating
conventions in all three
Jackson’s second term goals
a.
b.
c.
d.
Divorce government from
the economy.
Anti-monopoly – common
should have a chance to
succeed.
Return to Jeffersonian
democracy; gov’t role should
be limited.
Give more power to the
states to promote equal
opportunity.
K. Bank War
1. Jackson distrusted BUS
and huge businesses.
2. Clay tried to ram bank
recharter before election
to tie up Jackson
a.
b.
c.
Signs it – alienates
western support
Vetoes it – alienates
wealthy and influential in
east.
Jackson – “The Bank is
trying to kill me, but I will
kill it”.
3.
Jackson VETOED BUS’s
recharter in 1832.
a.
Assailed it as monopolistic
and unconstitutional.
i.
ii.
iii.
4.
Criticized Nicholas Biddle,
Prez of BUS
Ignored SC ruling of
McCullough vs. Maryland
(1819) which declared
bank constitutional.
Became major issue of
1832 election.
“Pet Banks” Scheme
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Jackson hoped to weaken
BUS by transferring fed’l
funds out of BUS and into
23 “pet banks”
Hoped to bleed BUS dry
and irrelevant
Cabinet saw this as a
mistake
Financial crisis ensued
Wildcat banks unstable
and issues depreciated
notes
5. Benefits of the BUS
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sound organization that
reduced bank failures.
Issued sound paper notes
while US flooded with
depreciated paper.
Spurred economic
expansion by making
credit and currency
available.
Safe depository for
federal gov’t funds.
6. “Specie Circular”
a.
b.
c.
“wildcat” banks unstable
and issuing depreciated
currency.
A Jackson required all
western land sales to be
paid for with hard money.
Brought hard times to
westerners.
L. Economic Expansion under Jackson
1. General incorporation laws
a. State granted corporate
charters traditionally
monopolies.
b. States began to make
incorporation easier
i.
ii.
c.
Small and medium business
growth spurt.
Limited liability – allowed
business owners to be
separated from their
business entity – reduced risk
of business ownership.
Part of increased
democracy under Jackson
2.
Charles River Bridge decision
(1837)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Chas. River Bridge builders
given monopoly for bridge
from MA in 1780.
1828 – Warren Bridge Co.
granted charter by MA to
build bridge 300 yds away.
Chas. River Bridge Co. sued
Warren Bridge Co. for a state
interfering with a contract
protected by Constitution.
Supreme Court granted
Warren Bridge Co. right to
build
Significance: Encouraged
economic development in
transportation and elsewhere
via competition.
Another step towards
democracy under Jackson.
M. Jackson and States’ Rights
1. Jackson believed in
supremacy of national laws,
but also a proponent of
states rights.
2. Refused to spend federal
money for intrastate
improvements.
a. Vetoed bill for improving the
Maysville Road in KY
b. Similar to Madison’s veto of
Bonus Bill for internal
improvements in 1817.
3. Removal of Native
Americans
a. Indian Removal Act (1830)
i.
Jackson wanted to remove
remaining tribes (5 Civilized
Nations) that still lived east
of Mississippi River to
Oklahoma Territory.
ii. Individual natives could stay
if they adopted white ways.
iii. More than 100,000 natives
forcibly uprooted and
moved in 1830s
iv. Bureau of Indian Affairs est.
in 1836 to administer
relations with natives.
b. Cherokee
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Tried to assimilate into white
society
Sequoya created 85 character
alphabet and created their own
newspaper.
Had a written constitution
similar to US
Established agriculture-based
economy.
Still not accepted by white
society.
Cherokee sat on valuable land
in northeast GA.
•
•
Gold discovered in 1829 –
whites want it
Could also be used for cotton –
coveted by farmers too
vii. Cherokee right to land
recognized by Treaty of 1791
viii. Many Georgians ignored federal
laws however.
c.
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
i.
ii.
iii.
Sam Worcester (missionary)
arrested for living on
Cherokee territory and not
leaving when ordered by
state to do so.
John Marshall ruled that
Georgia’s laws had no
jurisdiction within Cherokee
nation boundaries.
Jackson defied ruling
•
•
•
Did not release Worcester
Reportedly said “John
Marshall has made his
decision, let him enforce it”
1838 – forcibly removed
Cherokee from their homes

Marched 1,000 mi to
Indian Territory (OK)

4,000 died en route

25% of Choctaw died
en route in 1831-35

3,500 of 15,000
Creeks died during
removal in 1836.
N. Jackson’s Legacy
1.
Positive Contributions
a.
b.
c.
2.
Demonstrated value of strong
executive
Became the champion of the
common people.
Established the Democratic Party
(and sparked the two party
system)
Liabilities
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Spoils System
Killing BUS led to bank failures
and economic crisis.
Snubbed authority of Supreme
Court.
Trail of Tears
Break with Calhoun led to deeper
sectionalism.
O. Election of 1836
1.
Birth of the Whig Party
a.
Extension of Hamilton’s
Federalist ideas
Emerged when Clay and
Calhoun joined forces to oppose
Jackson’s removal of federal
deposits from BUS.
Mutual hatred of “King Andrew
I”
Evolved into a national political
party of groups alienated by
Jackson.
b.
c.
d.
2.
3.
War hero William Henry
Harrison chosen as candidate
over Henry Clay
Martin Van Buren was Jackson’s
hand-picked successor.
i.
ii.
Ran for third term vicariously
though Van Buren
Defeats Harrison 170-73
Second Two-Party System
a. Whigs
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Supported by northern
industrialists and
merchants (wealthiest)
Supported Clay’s
“American System”
Sought to reduce spoils
system
Southern states rigths
advocates angry at
Jackson’s stand on
nullification.
Later supported social
reforms like abolition and
temperance.
Sought to use national
gov’t to solve ills of
society
b. Democrats
i.
Supported by the
common people and
political machines in the
east.
ii. States’ Rights – opposed
to “American System”
iii. Favored spoils system
iv. Anti-monopoly – favored
increased competition
v. Believed federal gov’t
should not be involved in
people’s personal lives.
P. Van Buren’s Presidency
1. First President born
under American flag.
2. Smart and deft NY
politician – dubbed “The
Little Magician”.
3. Further developed the
2-Party System
4. Presided over the Panic
of 1837 (Jackson’s
policies a major cause)
5. Formalized the
Independent Treasury
System (“pet banks”)
Q. Panic of 1837
1. Causes
a.
b.
c.
d.
Overspeculation (risky loans)
Jackson’s Policies
High Grain Prices
Failure of 2 major British
Banks
2. Effects
a.
b.
c.
d.
American banks failed and
took several million dollars
of gov’t funds with it.
Prices and land sales
dropped
Custom revenues dried up
Factories closed –
unemployment soared
3. “Divorce Bill” or
Independent Treasury
Bill of 1840
a.
b.
c.
Outcry among Whigs for
gov’t to DO something
about Panic
Van Buren stayed true to
Jacksonian separation of
Gov’t from economy.
Decided to separate gov’t
funds from private banks
entirely.
i.
ii.
iii.
Removed gov’t funds from
pet banks and locked it up
in vaults in some select
large banks.
Money was safe, but not
available to make loans
Repealed a year later, but
returns in 1846 with Polk.
1.
2.
P. Election of 1840
“Van Ruin” re-nominated by Dems
Whigs chose Harrison again and
made John Tyler his running mate
(“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!”)
a.
b.
3.
4.
5.
Not the ablest (Clay and Webster
overlooked) but the biggest votegetterest (!?)
Issueless and enemyless
Voters blamed Van Buren and
Democrats for depression.
Whigs created a myth of Harrison
being a poor western farmer who
grew up in a log cabin (“Log Cabin
and Hard Cider” campaign)
Harrison defeats Van Buren
a.
b.
First mass turnout of voters
Campaign more style over substance