Chapter #13: The Rise of a Mass Democracy – Big Picture Themes
1. Andrew Jackson felt he’d been robbed the presidency in 1824. This motivated the regular
folks to political action. He vowed to win for the people’s sake, and did so.
2. A conflict started to brew between the north and the south. The issue was the tariff (import
tax) and whether the south had the right to “nullify” or wipe it out. The trouble was worked
out, but it foreshadowed bigger trouble to come, over slavery.
3. Jackson distrusted banks—he thought they were tools for the rich to milk money off the
poor. He killed the National Bank and threw the whole banking system into chaos.
4. By the time William Henry Harrison ran for president in 1840, popular, mass politics had
grown into the circus-like monster that it’s known as today.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
American System (1824)
A plan proposed by Henry Clay, in 1824, to work on economic reform. Henry Clay wanted to
help stabilize the country and begin the pursuit for worked recognition. The plan called for a
protective tariff to be put in place for the manufacturers, a new Federal Bank to be put in place,
and to begin work on many internal improvements.
Corrupt Bargain
Immediately after John Quincy Adams became President, he appointed Henry Clay as Secretary
of State. Jacksonians were furious because all former Secretaries of State became Presidents.
This "corrupt bargain" occurred after the Election of 1824 when Andrew Jackson had the most
electoral votes, but not majority. Then, Henry Clay (having the least of the electoral votes) gave
them to John Q. Adams, giving him the majority and making him President. Jacksonians
question whether John Q. Adams made Henry Clay Sec. of State for payback in giving his votes.
Tariff of Abominations (1828)
In 1828, the US Congress passed the first import Tariff, a protective tax. The tariff increased the cost of
imported goods, and thus protected some of the new industries of the North. The South, whose economy
was based on the export of the cotton and did not manufacture significant products opposed the tariff, as a
result, the tariff became known as the "tariff of Abominations". today
Nullification
What: states that any law passed by the federal government can be declared null and void by the states
When: 1828; the South was extremely upset about the extremely high Tariff of Abominations. " The
South Carolina Exposition" written by John C. Calhoun denounced the tariff as unjust and
unconstitutional. The document bluntly proposed that the states should nullify the Tariff. Why: The
theory of this nullification was further publicized. The even more dangerous doctrine of secession was
foreshadowed.
Force Bill
The Force Bill authorized President Jackson to use the army and navy to collect duties on the Tariffs of
1828 and 1832. South Carolina's ordinance of nullification had declared these tariffs null and void, and
South Carolina would not collect duties on them. The Force Act was never invoked because it was passed
by Congress the same day as the Compromise Tariff of 1833, so it became unnecessary. South Carolina
also nullified the Force Act.
Five Civilized Tribes
The Five Civilized Tribes were the five Native American nations: the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw,
Creek, and Seminole, which were considered civilized by Anglo-European settlers during the colonial and
early federal period because they adopted many of the colonists' customs and had generally good relations
with their neighbors. George Washington and Henry Knox proposed cultural transformation for Native
Americans; the Cherokee and Choctaw were successful at integrating aspects of European-American
culture which they found useful. The Five Civilized Tribes lived in the Southeastern United States before
the government forced their relocation under Indian Removal to other parts of the country, especially the
future state of Oklahoma.
Trail of Tears (1838)
The Trail of Tears was the relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts
of the present-day United States. It has been described as an act of genocide. The removal included many
members of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, and Choctaw nations among others in the United
States, from their homelands to Indian Territory (eastern sections of the present-day state of Oklahoma).
The phrase originated from a description of the removal of the Choctaw Nation in 1831. Many Native
Americans suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation while on route to their destinations, and many
died, including 4,000 of the 15,000 relocated Cherokee.
Nicholas Biddle
An American financier who served as the president of the Second Bank of the United States.
1832 - Jackson, in his veto message of the re-charter of the Second Bank of the U.S., said that the bank
was a monopoly that catered to the rich, and that it was owned by the wealthy and by foreigners.
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
A pamphlet published by the South Carolina legislature, written by John C. Calhoun. It spoke
against the "Tariff of Abominations," and proposed nullification of the tariff. Calhoun wished to
use nullification to prevent secession, yet address the grievances of sectionalist Southerners.
These sectionalist ideas helped lead to the Civil War.
Martin Van Buren
The eighth Vice President (1833–1837) and the 10th Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson (1829–
1831). He was a key organizer of the Democratic Party, a dominant figure in the Second Party System,
and the first president not of British descent—his family was Dutch. He was the first president to be born
an American citizen, his predecessors having been born British subjects before the American Revolution.
Specie Circular (1836)
The Specie Circular (Coinage Act) was an executive order issued by U.S. President Andrew Jackson in
1836 and carried out by President Martin Van Buren. It required payment for government land to be in
gold and silver.
Webster-Hayne Debate (1830)
A famous debate in the U.S. between Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and Senator Robert Y.
Hayne of South Carolina that took place on January 19-27, 1830 regarding protectionist tariffs. The
heated speeches between Webster and Hayne themselves were unplanned, and stemmed from debate over
a resolution by Connecticut Senator Samuel Foote calling for the temporary suspension of further land
surveying until land already on the market was sold (this would effectively stop the introduction of new
lands onto the market). Webster's "Second Reply to Hayne" (1830) was generally regarded as "the most
eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress .
The Battle of the Alamo (1836)
A pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President
General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de
Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas). All but two of the Texian defenders were killed. Santa Anna's
perceived cruelty during the battle inspired many Texians—both Texas settlers and adventurers from the
United States—to join the Texian Army. Buoyed by a desire for revenge, the Texians defeated the
Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the revolution.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
The "Corrupt Bargain” or 1824
Know: Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, King Caucus, Corrupt Bargain
1.
What was unusual about John Quincy Adams's victory in the presidential election of
1824?
A Yankee Misfit in the White House
Know: John Quincy Adams
2.
Was John Quincy Adams well suited to be president? Explain.
Going "Whole Hog" for Jackson in 1828
Know: Old Hickory, Mudslinging, Rachel Robards
3.
Describe the tone and tactics used in the 1828 election.
“Old Hickory” as President
Know: Inaugural Brawl, King Mob
4.
What was there about Andrew Jackson which made him a man of the people?
The Spoils System
Know: Spoils System, Rotation in Office
5.
Defend Andrew Jackson's use of the Spoils System.
The Tricky “Tariff of Abominations”
Know: Tariff of Abominations (of 1828), Denmark Vesey
6.
What circumstances led to the passage of the Tariff of Abominations?
"Nullies" in South Carolina
Know: Nullies, Henry Clay, Tariff of 1833, Force Bill
1.Describe the nullification crisis.
The Trail of Tears
Know: Cherokees, Five Civilized Tribes, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears, Indian Territory,
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Seminoles
8.
What was particularly unfair about the treatment of the Cherokee Tribe?
The Bank War
Know: Bank of the United States, Nicholas Biddle
9.
Do you agree or disagree with Nicholas Biddle’s nickname, “Czar Nicholas I?”
Explain.
"Old Hickory" Wallops Clay in 1832
Know: Anti-Masonic Party
10.
What two things were unique about the election of 1832?
Burying Biddle’s Bank
Know: Mandate, Pet Banks, Specie Circular
11.
"Andrew Jackson's killing of the BUS forced him to issue the Specie Circular."
Assess.
The Birth of the Whigs
Know: Democrats, Whigs
12.
What is so alluring about being associated with “the common man?”
The Election of 1836
Know: Favorite Son, William Henry Harrison, Martin Van Buren
13.
Describe the development of the second party system from 1828-1836.
Big Woes for the "Little Magician"
Know: Martin Van Buren
14.
Why was Martin Van Buren unpopular?
Depression Doldrums and the Independent Treasury
Know: Panic of 1837, Speculation, Divorce Bill, Independent Treasury
15.
What caused the Panic of 1837, and what was done by the president to try and end it?
Gone to Texas
Know: Stephen Austin, Davy Crockett
16.
What made Texas so appealing to Americans?
The Lone Star Rebellion
Know: Sam Houston, Santa Anna, Alamo, W. B. Travis, Goliad, Lone Star Republic, San Jacinto
17.
How did Texas, a part of Mexico settled by Americans, become independent of both?
The Log Cabins and Hard Cider of 1840
Know: Log Cabin, Hard Cider, "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too"
18.
What does the election of 1840 tell you about politics and voters in America at that
time?
The Two-Party System
19.
Who were the Democrats and what did they believe? The Whigs?