Jacksonian Democracy at Flood Tide
1830-1840
The American Pageant
Chapter 14
“Nullies” in S. Carolina
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Before 1832: “Nullies” in SC could not muster 2/3 vote in SC leg. to
nullify Tariff of 1828.
1832: Congress passes new Tariff – did undo worst parts of 1828, but
fell far short of southern demands.
“Nullies” in S. Carolina (2)
 1832: “Nullies” in SC got 2/3 maj. in state legislature.
 SC state leg. nullified tariff within SC, called for military preparations.
 Jackson privately threatened to hang nullifiers.
“Nullies” in S. Carolina (3)
 Jackson sent modest military/ naval reinforcements to SC, quietly
prepared larger army. Issued proclamation against nullification.
 Clay negotiates compromise Tariff of 1833, South in favor.
“Nullies” in S. Carolina (4)
 Congress then passes Force Bill to save face: authorized army & navy
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to collect tariff duties.
SC, not having other states join, strong unionists within, repeal
nullification of tariff, but nullify Force Bill.
Victory for Union & Nullies
 Union victory: no armed clash, SC repealed ordinance, union
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preserved.
SC victory: forced reduction of tariff against large odds, did not
surrender principle.
Victory for Union & Nullies (2)
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Some say appeasement of SC led to Civil War; Jackson should have
crushed nullies.
However, other states may have joined, unionist not prepared for
armed conflict.
BUS as Political Football
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Jackson distrusted monopoly banks, like BUS.
Clay, in attempt for presidency in 1832, brings up bank re-charter in
Senate 4 years early.
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If Jackson signs bill: alienates West.
BUS as Political Football (2)
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If Jackson vetoes, loses support of eastern elites.
Clay’s mistake: presidency no longer req’d support of elites.
Jackson vetoed, called BUS unconstitutional, anti-western, antiAmerican (foreign inv.).
BUS as Political Football (3)
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Veto increased power of pres.: Jackson’s veto was not really based on
constitutionality (McCulloch v. Maryland), but b/c he thought it
harmful.
Clay made veto issue, but veto made sense to common people.
Brickbats for the Bank
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Jackson’s charges against BUS had some merit: was certainly run by
aristocracy, hostile to western “wildcat banks.”
 Run by high-handed Nicholas Biddle (“Czar Nicholas I”).
Brickbats for the Bank (2)
 Corruption: Biddle lent money to get influence, e.g. members of
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Congress, newspaper editors.
Yet Bank was sound financially, imposed restraint on less sound
banks, reduced bank failures, issued sound money.
Brickbats for the Bank (3)
 BUS also provided safe place for US Treasury deposits.
 Very important and useful institution, but seemed to conflict with
democratic ideals.
“Old Hickory” def. Clay
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Campaign of 1832: Jackson (Democrat) vs. Clay (National
Republican).
Also, 1st third party: Anti-Masonic party. Opposed secre-cy of
Masons, wanted to bring moral & religious reform.
“Old Hickory” def. Clay (2)
 1832 campaign also saw three nominating conventions, two party
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platforms.
Clay had impressive advantages ($ from BUS, influence), yet Jackson
won easily.
Poor outnumbered the rich.
Badgering Biddle’s Bank
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Jackson felt he had mandate from people to take on BUS: no more
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new deposits, gradually drained US Treasury funds out.
This would bleed bank dry, ensure it would not be rechartered in 1836.
Badgering Biddle’s Bank (2)
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Federal funds placed in various state “pet banks” favorable to Jackson.
Biddle forced to call in loans (“Biddle’s Panic”), drove some banks to
wall, tried to force Congress to recharter.
Badgering Biddle’s Bank (3)
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1836: Bank died, and with it, sound paper currency.
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Brought hard times in West.
Jackson issues Specie Circular – all public lands must be pur-chased
with metallic (“hard”) money.
Transplanting the Tribes
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1830: Pop. of US 13 mil., 3x 1790 pop.
Most states east of Miss. admit-ted, little room for Indians.
1790s: US gov’t viewed tribes as separate nations, used treaties to
acquire land.
Transplanting the Tribes (2)
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Some tribes adopted some white ways, e.g. Cherokees (GA) had
cotton, 1,300 slaves, 3-branch gov’t, alphabet, legal code, etc.
Along with Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Seminoles: “Five
Civilized Tribes.”
Transplanting the Tribes (3)
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1828: Georgia leg. asserted control over Indian affairs.
Cherokee appealed to Sup. Ct, which sided with them 3 times.
Jackson: “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce
it.”
Transplanting the Tribes (4)
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Jackson, who had raised Indian boy, did want to protect them, but
wanted their land.
Proposed moving remaining tribes, esp. 5 civ. tribes, beyond Miss.,
supposedly voluntarily.
Transplanting the Tribes (5)
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1830: Congress passes Indian Removal Act – led to forced removal of
over 100,000 Indians to Oklahoma. In OK, to be permanently free
from whites.
Many died on “Trail of Tears.”
Transplanting the Tribes (6)
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1836: Bureau of Indian Affairs est.
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Sauk & Fox tribes resisted, bloodily crushed in 1832.
Whites expanded faster than expected, “permanent” frontier only
lasted about 15 years.
Transplanting the Tribes (7)
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1835-1842: Seminoles in FL retreated to Everglades, waged guerrilla
war, 1500 US lost.
Broken when leader Osceola seized through trickery.
About 3,000 survive currently in OK.
Lone Star Flickers
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Spain had wanted to populate Texas, but Mexico won independence.
1823: Mexico negotiated with Stephen Austin to bring 300 Catholic
families to Texas, were to adopt Mexican culture.
Lone Star Flickers (2)
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Texas pioneers ignored stipulations, numbered about 30,000 by 1835.
Incl. adventur-ers Crockett, Bowie, Houston.
Individualist pioneers conflicted with Mexico over slavery,
immigration, local rights.
Lone Star Flickers (3)
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1833: Austin went to Mexico City to negotiate, Santa Anna jailed him
for 8 months.
1835: Santa Anna wiped out all local rights, raised army.
1836: Texans declared indepen-dence behind Sam Houston.
Lone Star Flickers (4)
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Santa Anna brutally attacked at Alamo, Goliad; enraged Americans,
many came to help.
April, 1836: Houston attacked at siesta hour, wiped out Mexi-cans,
forced Santa Anna to re-cognize Rio Grande as border.
International Derelict
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Mexico upset that US allowed its citizens to assist TX rebels.
Jackson wanted to recognize TX as independent republic, but would
make slavery issue at time of 1836 election (Van Buren).
International Derelict (2)
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After Van Buren wins election, Jackson recognizes TX day before he
leaves office (1837).
1837: TX petitions for annexa-tion, but slavery issue prevents.
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TX, afraid of Mexico, sends feelers to Britain, France.
Whigs & 1836 Election
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1830s saw formation of new political parties, e.g. Democrats in 1828
and Whigs in 1834.
Whigs formed out of Clay, Calhoun’s opposition to Jackson on BUS
issue.
Whigs & 1836 Election (2)
 Whigs attract groups alienated by Jackson: American System
supporters, southern states’ righters, northern merchants, evangelicals
of Anti-Masonics.
 Whig plan: run several “favor-ite sons,” get election to House.
Whigs & 1836 Election (3)
 Leading “favorite son” was Gen. Harrison (Tippecanoe), opposing
Jackson’s handpicked successor, Van Buren.
 Whig plan failed, Van Buren won majority of Electoral College.
Whigs & 1836 Election (4)
 Jackson legacy: more power to executive branch, led common people
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into national politics and united them with Democratic party
However, blamed for spoils system, destroying needed BUS.
Woes for “Magician”
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Van Buren intelligent, capable, but resented as machine-made.
Had Jackson’s enemies, but not his popularity.
Inherited making of depression from Jackson, spent most energy
battling panic.
Depression Doldrums
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Panic of 1837 caused by land speculation, Specie Circular, wheat crop
failures, failure of English banks.
Hundreds of US banks collap-sed, including pet banks, lost millions of
US gov’t funds.
Depression Doldrums (2)
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Whigs proposed remedies, but Van Buren, like Jackson, believed in
hands-off economy.
Van Buren proposed “Divorce Bill,” to remove US deposits from
banks altogether.
Depression Doldrums (3)
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1840: Divorce Bill (Independent Treasury Bill) passes, removes much
needed capital from economy, but gov’t funds are safe.
 Repealed in 1841 by Whigs, reinstated in 1846 by Dems.
“Tippecanoe” vs. “L. Van”
 Panic blamed on party in power, Van Buren in trouble.
 Whigs renominate Harrison, as his opinions unknown, no enemies.
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Tyler is running mate.
Whigs run “hard cider” & “log cabin” campaign.
“Tippecanoe” vs. “L. Van” (2)
 Actually, Harrison a FFV, lived in 16-room mansion in Ohio.
 Van Buren, reared in poverty, portrayed as eastern aristocrat.
 Whigs portrayed Harrison much like Jackson.
Log Cabins & Hard Cider
 Campaign of 1840 had little discussion of issues, just image.
 America experienced 1st mass-turnout election.
 Harrison wins, protest against hard times, bad precedent for future
campaigns.
2-Party System Emerges
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Jeffersonians absorbed so many Fed programs that 2-party system did
not develop, led to Era of Good Feelings.
Parties regarded by Americans as factious, harmful in virtuous
republic.
2-Party System Emerges (2)
 1840: But with Jackson’s impe-tus, 2-party system in place.
 Democrats: individual liberty, guard against privilege of gov’t, states’
rights, federal restraint.
2-Party System Emerges (3)
 Whigs: harmony of society, use gov’t to achieve objectives, new BUS,
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protective tariffs, internal improvements, public schools, moral
reforms.
2-party system slowed develop-ment of sectional parties.