CHAPTER 9: THE ASCENSION AND PRESIDENCY OF ANDREW JACKSON
How did the Panic of 1819, and the Missouri Crisis increase citizens’ awareness
of politics and government?
The recession caused by the panic made farmers and lower income citizens
take more of an interest in politics because they did not want to be shaken
by the economy again. They wanted to do whatever they could to help
prevent economic downturn. The Missouri Crisis increased the awareness
of the slavery debate AS WELL AS the way the government functions.
(House and Senate, voting procedure, etc.…)
An Expansion of voting rights:
-“Universal white male suffrage” was immediately adapted in frontier
states.
-By 1824, 18 of the now 24 states in the Union allowed the voters, and
not legislatures, to elect members of the House of Representatives.
*This alters the political ideologies of many of the political leaders heading
into the 1820s.
Andrew Jackson; “Old Hickory”, Tennessee, war hero, states rights
John Quincy Adams; experienced, internal improvements
Daniel Webster; Massachusetts, Nationalism, opposed Jackson.
Henry Clay; great compromiser, pragmatic
John C. Calhoun; South Carolina, states rights, pro-slavery
Martin Van Buren; “the little magician”, aligned with Jackson
Election of 1824, “a corrupt bargain”
-Jackson wins popular vote, loses P.O.T.U.S. to Q. Adams.
-Votes were split amongst 3 candidates in the Dem. Republican
Party, tiebreaker went to House of Reps and Clay (finishing 4th)
asked his supporters to back Adams.
Clay then made Sec. of State.
-Calhoun gains vice presidency
Presidency of John Quincy Adams:
-Attempted to raise tariffs, create more internal improvements and
solidify the role of the National Bank.
-Only achieved tariff goal (Tariff of 1828, “the tariff of abominations”)
Why did both farmers AND wealthy Americans support a
high tariff?
Election of 1828, Jackson wins, the Democratic Party is founded.
-Jackson defeats Adams (178 to 83 electoral college). Use of smearing
tactics against Adams.
“The Democracy” is created (donkey)
“JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY”
What challenges did Jackson face as he attempted to translate “popular
support, into public policy”?
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Spoils System
Tariffs and the Nullification Crisis
The re-charter of the National Bank
Relations with Native Americans
SPOILS SYSTEM:
- Jackson often relied more on informal advisors than his cabinet.
(“Kitchen cabinet”)
- This most likely had much to do with the significant and powerful
political figures that opposed him in this era.
- Jackson established a precedent of choosing loyalty over merit.
TARIFFS AND THE NULLIFICATION CRISIS:
-In order to get elected, Jackson had to appeal to many different
Factions of people.
-Vice President John C. Calhoun had a different view on tariffs than
Jackson.
Both were southerners that supported farming and the frontier
-Calhoun began to speak of nullification: the right of states to void
federal laws within their borders.
-This was a major threat to the unity of the country.
-Webster Hayne Debate ensues:
Daniel Webster: supports the tariff
Robert Hayne: supports nullification
-Jackson sides with Webster, leads to a high 1832 tariff, and
South Carolina threatening nullification and possibly secession.
What might be interesting about Jackson choosing
Webster over Hayne/Calhoun?
-Ultimately ends with the Force Bill: gives P.O.T.U.S. authority to use
military to enforce national laws in S. Carolina.
However, Jackson does agree to work with Congress on lowering
the tariff.
THE NATIONAL BANK:
-A good example how Jackson’s popular appeal “wins” as his loyalties
were put to the test by the wealthy.
-Clay and Webster pressured Nicholas Biddle, head of the National
Bank, to push for an early re-charter in the summer of 1832.
-Their hope was for Jackson to veto it, which would divide the
Democrats just before Jackson’s potential re-election.
Why would his veto do this?
-Jackson DID veto the re-charter (“It is a monster….I will kill it!”),
HOWEVER, it benefitted him, and he won re-election in 1832.
**Jackson used the veto more often than any other president.
RELATIONS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS:
-Jackson had a long-standing fear and hatred towards Native
Americans.
-Event nations attempting to “Americanize” like the Cherokee had no
sympathy in the mind of Jackson.
-Jackson saw Indians as a major threat to the frontier, which he was from
(Tennessee)
-Passed The Indian Removal Act (1830), which forced various tribes
west of the Mississippi River and out of the United States. He used
federal troops to ensure their removal (“The Trail of Tears.”)