Era of Good Feelings: Period of
National Unity
Election of 1816
Candidates
a. Republican party caucus
selected James Monroe over
William H. Crawford 65 - 54,
continuing the "Virginia Dynasty,"
and Daniel D. Tompkins (NY) was
nominated for Vice-President.
b. Nationally Monroe was
opposed by Rufus King ,
Federalist
Results
The discrediting of the Federalist
party gave Monroe a 183-34
electoral votes four abstentions.
Monroe carried all states except
for Mass, Conn and Delaware.
Presidential Tour (May- September
1817)
•
•
President Monroe toured the eastern
seaboard north of Baltimore and as far west
as Detroit, a symbol of the triumph of
national feeling over party animosity.
Americans, especially in New England,
warmly received the President so that the
Boston Colombian Centinel referred to the
times as the era of good feelings .
•
The designation is superficial and misleading
because the seeds of sectionalism were
sown during this administration.
•
Although no formal political parties
existed, new party factions arose during this
period and new controversies were created
as magnified in the circumstances
surrounding the election of 1824.
Jackson and the First Seminole War
A fort in Spanish-held East Florida,
built by the English during the War of
1812, had become a refuge for
runaway slaves and hostile Indians.
Command of the forces along the
Georgia and Florida border was
transferred to Andrew Jackson
(December 1817), with orders to
pursue hostile elements, usually
Negroes and Indians, across the
border as far as the Spanish posts.
Jackson wrote Monroe in the Rhea
Letter that if given the word that
Florida was desirable to the US, he
could accomplish the task in sixty
days.
When nothing was said from
Washington about the letter, Jackson
interpreted this as approval and
proceeded to seize several Spanish
posts.
During the campaign, Jackson
captured, court-martialed and
executed 2 British traders, Alexander
Arbuthnot and Robert Ambrister , for
aiding the enemy.
A debate in the US Congress,
however, led by anti-Jackson forces,
especially Henry Clay in the House,
produced unfavorable reports against
Jackson but no proceedings were
made against him.
In the southwest, however, popular
approval of Jackson's Seminole
campaign, which brought all of East
Florida under US military control,
kept Monroe from taking action
against Jackson.
Jackson's raid strengthened Monroe's
hand diplomatically, because while
Jackson moved militarily against
Spanish Florida, Secretary of State
John Adams was negotiating with
Spain’sForeign Minister Luis de Onis.
Panic of 1819
Commodity inflation, wild
speculation in western lands,
overextended investments in
manufacturing, mismanagement
of the Second Bank of the US,
collapse of foreign markets and
contraction of credit, led to the
first real American economic
depression.
The Congressional order in 1817
to resume specie payments
strained the resources of state
banks, caused many failures and
created hardships for debtors,
especially in the southwest.
To end wild land speculation,
Congress canceled the easy credit
terms of the land law of 1800, but
kept the price at $1.25 per acre
for a minimum of 80 acres.
(a) "Squatters" often settled on
and improved government land,
not yet for sale.
(b) Their champion was Sen
Thomas Hart Benton (MO)
Widespread resentment against
the National bank was created in
the West, where it was referred
to as "The Monster" by Benton
from Missouri.
Dartmouth College vs Woodward
February 1819
In 1816 the Republican dominated New
Hampshire legislature altered the royal
charter (1769) of Dartmouth College,
switching the administration to a state
appointed board of trustees.
The old board of trustees sued the secretary
of the university asserting that the legislative
act was unconstitutional, in violation of the
obligation of contracts.
•
After the state court upheld the legislature,
the Supreme Court under Marshall held that
the charter constituted a contract, ruling the
legislative act unconstitutional.
•
The decision placed charters of existing
private corporations outside the jurisdiction
of states that chartered them, encouraged
business growth, but led to abuses of
corporate privileges.
African Slave Trade 1820
A law in March 1819 paid
a$50 bounty for
information on illegal
importation of Negro slaves
into the US or seized at sea.
The president was
empowered to return all
such slaves to Africa.
1820 the foreign slave trade
was declared piracy which
could result in forfeiture of
vessels and death penalty
for all US citizens engaged in
importing slaves.
Missouri Compromise March 1820
Both Missouri and Maine applied for
statehood by the end of 1819 when
the US had eleven slave (VA, MD, DE,
KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, MISS, LA) and
eleven free (MASS, CO, RI, VT, NH, NY,
NJ, PA, OH, IN, IL) states.
While the slave-holding South had 81
votes in the House to the North's 105,
a political balance was maintained in
the Senate between 1802-19 by
admitting alternately a free and a slave
state.
South realized its political future lay in
the Senate.
Talmadge Amendment: Rep. James
Talmadge 's (NY) bill prohibited further
introducing slaves into the Upper
Louisiana territory and freed at age 25
all children born of slaves in MO after
statehood. Passed in the House but
not in the Senate.
Taylor Amendment January 1819
When the organization of Arkansas
Territory came before Congress, Rep
John W. Taylor (NY) moved that
slavery not be allowed in the
territory.
The amendment was defeated before
Arkansas territory was created with
its northern boundary at 36 30' with
no restrictions on slavery.
The debate over Missouri
Sen Rufus King (NY) stated that
Congress was empowered to forbid
slavery in Missouri and should do so
as a condition to admittance.
MISSOURI COMPROMISE
Sen William Pinckney (MD) replied
that since the union was composed
of equal states, Congress could not
restrict Missouri's freedom of action.
Thomas Amendment
(a) In February 1820 at the same time
that Maine petitioned to become a
state, Alabama was admitted as the
22d state.
Senator Jesse B. Thomas (IL)
introduced a compromise measure to
permit Missouri as a slave state, and
Maine as a free state but to prohibit
slavery in the Louisiana Purchase
(excluding Missouri) above the 36 30
line
The Senate agreed to admit Maine as
a free state if Missouri were admitted
as a slave state, but the House passed
a measure similar to the Taylor
amendment.
In the deadlock that resulted, a
congressional conference removed
the Taylor amendment, inserted the
Thomas amendment and the House
passed this compromise measure 9087.
The decisive vote was made final by
the defection of Northern legislators
whom John Randolph described as
doughfaces .
Maine was effectively admitted as
the 23d state in March and Missouri
was admitted in August, when
Congress approved its state
constitution which permitted slavery
but after it struck out a provision
which excluded free Negroes and
mulattos
Missouri Compromise
Cumberland Road Bill Veto May 1822
Construction of the National Road or
Turnpike stopped with the panic of
1819.
Congress voted to repair roads,
establish toll gates and collect tolls.
Although supporting a national
system of internal improvements, he
vetoed it because Congress lacked
jurisdiction without a proper
constitutional amendment.
Monroe Doctrine December 1823
Great Britain was not sympathetic to the
republican governments in Spain's
former new world provinces, it did not
want a revival of or extension of Spanish
or French power in the New World,
hoping to keep open to British commerce
the rich markets of Latin America.
England moved to come to an
understanding with the United States
over the issue, having had difficulties
before over Cuba.
Quadruple Alliance
(France/Austria/Russia/Prussia) agreed at
the Congress of Verona (November 1822)
to act to restore the Spanish authority of
King Ferdinand VII, who in 1820 had been
forced to accept a constitutional
monarchy.
US minister to Britain referred the
offer to Monroe who consulted with
Jefferson and Madison, both
supporters of close cooperation with
Britain
France was authorized to invade Spain,
but no action was taken on its request to
intervene in South America.
Britain proposed joint AngloAmerican action against the
intervention by the Holy Alliance in
the New World.
Secretary of State Adams believed
the US should act alone to assert its
strength and independence in order
to create an American system in the
Western Hemisphere
MONROE DOCTRINE
He also believed that Britain could
not be trusted to be disinterested
Britain desired a US renunciation of
plans to take Cuba in exchange for
their cooperation.
French were not a threat in South
America because Britain controlled
the Atlantic Seas, seeing Russian
designs in the Pacific as a greater
threat.
Polignac Agreement
Britain secured from France a
renunciation of all intentions to
conquer or annex the SpanishAmerican colonies.
The desire for a joint Anglo-American
conference waned.
Monroe announced the US policy in
his annual address to Congress
(1823), (essentially John Q. Adams'
ideas on foreign affairs in the western
hemisphere).
The Monroe Doctrine
non-colonization: The American
continent should no longer be seen
as subjects of future colonization by
European powers;
non-intervention : Because the
political system in the Americas was
essentially different from the
Europeans,
the US would consider dangerous to
its peace and security any attempt by
a European power to extend their
political system to any point in the
Western hemisphere;
Monroe Doctrine
The US would not interfere with
existing colonies or dependencies
of European powers in the New
World, with the internal affairs of
European nations, nor take part
in European wars of solely foreign
interest.
At the time of its announcement,
the world's powers took little
note of it, but it served as the
classic definition of US role in
international affairs, although its
major significance emerged only
after the middle of the 19th
century.
Henry Clay's American System –
March 30, 1824
To win support for a
protective tariff in 1824,
Clay defined an American
system
• It combined the protective
tariff with a national system
of internal improvements to
expand the domestic
market and lessen US
dependence on overseas
sources
Election 1824
•
William Crawford of Georgia was
supported by traditional DemocraticRepublicans such as Jefferson and
Monroe. A stroke that he suffered in
the campaign cost him votes.
•
John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts
was supported by New Englanders and
many people of the upper class. He
was conservative and lacked tact and
charisma.
•
Andrew Jackson of Tennessee was a
military hero. He appealed to
Westerners, small farmers, and
laborers.
•
Henry Clay of Kentucky developed the
American System, a plan which tried to
provide something for all sections of
the country. He was known as a
compromiser.
• Jackson received the greatest
number of electoral votes, but
not a majority.
• Since no candidate received a
majority of the Electoral College
votes, the House of
Representatives had to
determine the president.
• The House of Representatives
voted 13 states for Adams, 7 for
Jackson, and 4 for Crawford.
• Clay threw his support to John
Quincy Adams.
• Clay’s awarding by Adams of the
position of Secretary of State
angered Jackson and his
supporters. They felt that the
election was stolen from them.
Election 1824
• The “Era of Good Feeling”
was definitely over.
• Jackson’s supporters never
forgave Adams and Clay
because of the “corrupt
bargain”.
• Seeds for two new political
parties were set.
• The followers of Jackson
became known as
Democrats.
• The supporters of Adams
and Clay became known as
the National Republicans or
‘Whigs”.
Gibbons
v
Ogden
1824
It involved Congress's power to
New York courts upheld the state
regulate interstate and foreign
commerce.
In 1807, Robert Fulton successfully
invented a practical steam-propelled
craft which operated up the Hudson
at the speed proscribed by NY law,
and obtained a monopoly of steam
navigation on the state's waters.
Many challenged the monopoly
.
One challenge involved Aaron Ogden
who had a state-required FultonLivingston license and Thomas
Gibbons who had a federal coasting
license and ran a competing boat
line. New Jersey –New York
monopoly given to Fulton-Livingston
.
Daniel Webster, speaking for
Gibbons, interpreted commerce
broadly and argued that the states
had concurrent power over
commerce between the states.
Marshall, speaking for the court,
defined commerce expansively,
beyond mere exchange of goods, to
include persons and steamboats.
Concurring Justice William Johnson, a
nationalist (SC), added that the
power to regulate interstate
commerce was the exclusive right of
the national government -- Congress
is supreme in all aspects of interstate
commerce over state powers which
could not limit Congress
John Q. Adams 1825-29
Civil Service Policy
Adams did not employ the usual
practice of rotating Federal
appointive offices (patronage)
usually aimed at political
opponents, which cost him
means of building political party.
Renominated any officeholder
that did not warrant removal for
official misconduct or
incompetence, which resulted in
no more than twelve removals.
Many incumbents in the JacksonCalhoun faction worked against
Adams.
Revival of the Tariff Issue-1824
Tariff of 1824 did not stop British
competition with wool-growing
and woolen textile interests
Northeastern interests
introduced a bill in 1827 to
substantially raise import duties
to make the importation of those
articles virtually prohibitive.
Although the Bill passed the
House, VP Calhoun cast the
decisive vote in the Senate,
agreeing with anti-tariff forces
.
Southern Opposition:
dependent on the world
market for the disposal of its
agricultural commodities,
opposed a protective tariff
because it caused an increase
in manufactured goods.
Thomas Cooper in a speech in
Columbia SC, condemned the
economic ambitions of the
North as a menace to
Southern equality in the Union
and suggested that the South
would reevaluate its role in
the Federal Union -- facing
either submission or
separation
Tariff of Abominations May 1828
The dominant Jacksonian faction in the 20th
Congress exploited the tariff issue to
discredit Adams, expecting New England
vote to back Adams and Southerners to
agree with Jackson;
The Jacksonians submitted a tariff (31
January 1828) with such high duties that no
section was expected to vote for it;
Adams would get blamed for the defeat of
the measure and protectionists in the
Pennsylvania steel industry would be
alienated from Adams;
Middle state-Southern alliance voted down
every attempt to amend the tariff, expecting
it to be defeated;
The measure passed the House, however,
105-94 and the Senate, 25-21, raising the
tariff to its highest level before the Civil War.
Because it embodied the principle of
protective tariffs, New England's legislators
voted for it despite its deficiencies, to the
Jacksonian's surprise;
Western and Middle State Jacksonians voted
for the measure as well to deprive the ClayAdams faction of a campaign issue.
South Carolina Resolves -- SC's legislature
passed 8 resolutions, calling the tariff
unconstitutional, oppressive and unjust and
were joined by protests from MS, GA and VA.
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
(1) With the resolutions was a lengthy essay
written but not signed by John C. Calhoun,
espousing the theory of state sovereignty
and minority rights.
(2) Calhoun formally abandoned nationalism,
maintaining that states possessed the right
to determine if acts of Congress were
constitutional or not, states' rights doctrine .
(3) With it, Calhoun identified himself with
the particularist views of his state and
section.
Broadening of Democracy
Many states (NJ in 1807; MD in
1810) began removing propertyholding and taxpaying
qualifications for voting,
Trend continued with the
admission of new western states
after 1815, like IN (1816), IL
(1818), AL (1819) and Maine
(1820), whose constitutions
permitted white male suffrage.
Many older states liberalized
their constitutions between 1816
and 1830, like CN (1818), Mass by
amendments (1821) and NY
(1821) which removed property
qualifications.
Religious qualifications for voting and
office holding also were removed by
amendment.
Other trends
A trend toward counting population
rather than taxpayers began.
An increase in popularly elected offices
occurred.
The selection of presidential electors was
gradually transferred from state
legislatures to the people.
By 1828, only SC and DE still chose
electors through state legislatures.
Election of 1828
Democrat-Republicans:
Andrew Jackson ,
nominated by Tennessee's
legislature (October 1825),
resigned his Senate seat to
run for president.
VP John C. Calhoun was
placed on the ticket with
Jackson.
National Republicans in
Harrisburg PA nominated
John Quincy Adams for a
second term and added
Richard Rush (PA) for Vice
president.
Democrats attacked on
personal grounds and their
opponents retaliated in
kind.
The "corrupt bargain"
charge was used effectively
against Adams and Clay.
Jackson was hailed as a
frontier military hero,
champion of the common
man and supporter of the
"American system."
Election 1828 Results
Jackson 647,231 popular (178
electoral) votes to Adams
509,097 popular (83 electoral)
votes
Calhoun was reelected Vicepresident with 171 electoral
votes.
Crucial states of Pennsylvania and
New York both went for Jackson.
In New York, Jackson received
140,763 votes to Adams 135,413,
with the support of Martin Van
Buren and William L. Marcy , NY
leaders who had gained control
over the old Republican machine
and maintained power by using
the "spoils system."
Andrew Jackson 1829-37 7th President
Inauguration
Jackson pledged himself to
economy in government, a
proper regard for states'
rights, a "just and liberal"
Indian policy and a
revamping of Federal civil
service.
He did not refer to the tariff,
internal improvements,
currency or Bank of the US.
Western frontiersmen
mingled with Washington
society at the inaugural ball,
signaling arrival of the
common man
Kitchen Cabinet
After taking office Jackson
suspended the practice of
holding cabinet meetings,
relying on a small group of
unofficial political confidants
for advice on policy.
These "lower cabinet"
meetings known as the
"Kitchen Cabinet," included
Amos Kendall , Isaac Hill ,
William B. Lewis , Andrew J.
Donelson and Duff Green .
After the Cabinet was
reorganized in 1831, Jackson
relied on it for counsel.
Eaton Affair
Split in the cabinet between
Calhoun's supporters and Van
Buren's supporters magnified in
Washington social feud involving
a barmaid, Peggy O'Neale , who
in 1829 had become the second
wife of Secretary of War John H.
Eaton .
Calhoun's wife and other cabinet
wives refused to receive her,
Jackson's support of Mrs. Eaton
soon became a political issue.
When issue was raised in a
cabinet meeting, only one to
support Peggy Eaton besides the
President was the widower,
Martin Van Buren.
Van Buren resigned, for a Cabinet
reorganization; Eaton also offered his
resignation
Jackson then asked for the
resignation of the Treasury Secretary,
Secretary of the Navy, and Attorney
General, all gave resignations.
Jackson appointed Van Buren
Minister to England, although the
Senate rejected it (his critics believing
that it would end his career) role of
Calhoun and Eaton governor of
Florida.
Cabinet was reorganized to promote
harmony, leaving only Postmaster
General William T. Barry from the
original cabinet.
Maysfield RoadBecause
Vetothe1830
road lay within a
In his annual message, Jackson
addressed the constitutional
objections over internal
improvements and
recommended the distribution of
the surplus revenue among the
states according to their
Congressional apportionment,
allowing the states to use the
funds at their own discretion.
When Congress authorized a
government subscription of stock
($150,000) in the Maysville,
Washington, Paris and Lexington
Turnpike Road Company, to
construct 60 miles, Jackson
vetoed it on strict constructionist.
single state, Kentucky, and had
no connection to an established
system of improvements, the
government had no jurisdiction.
A constitutional amendment
would sanction Federallysubsidized roads and canals, if
desired.
By vetoing the measure, Jackson
made concessions to the South
without abandoning his general
support for internal
improvements.
Who is from Kentucky that
Jackson disliked?
Webster-Hayne Debate January 1830
Attempts to temporarily restrict
western public land sales, led by Sen
Sam A. Foot (CO), were challenged by
Western Senators esp. Thomas Hart
Benson (MO) and Robert Y Hayne (SC)
Advocating strict constructionism and
states' rights views over Federal
interference, Hayne stated the very life
of our system is the independence of the
States, and that there is no evil more to
be deprecated than the consolidation of
this government.
Sen Daniel Webster (Mass) answered
Hayne and their exchange eventually
concern the origin and nature of the
Constitution and the Union.
Hayne supported state sovereignty
and nullification.
Webster, denying the validity of
constitutional doctrines, expounded
on the nature of the Union
A disagreement between the states
and the national government is
settled by the Federal courts, the
amending process or regular
elections.
Hayne countered: Federal
government was a compact between
the states, and that each party was
the rightful judge of infringements
upon its rights.
Questions of sovereignty are not
subject to judicial consideration
Webster-Hayne (cont.)
Webster countered that the
Constitution was not a
compact but was
established as a popular
government with a
distribution of powers
binding upon the national
government and the states.
Webster ended with Liberty
and Union, now and
forever, one and
inseparable
Jefferson Day Dinner 13 April 1830
At a dinner arranged by Benton and
Hayne to align Democrats with
Jeffersonian principles and to signify
the alliance between the West and
the South, numerous toasts alluded
to the propriety of state sovereignty
and nullification.
Jackson's well-phrased toast stated
Our Union: It must be preserved .
(later amended when printed to read
Our Federal Union . . .
John C. Calhoun responded: The
Union, next to our liberty, most dear
. May we always remember that it
can only be preserved by distributing
equally the benefits and burdens of
the Union ..
This illustrated growing differences between
Jackson and Calhoun
Nullification Crisis 1832
Jackson agreed with the Tariff of 1828
("of Abominations") and
protectionism but to support South,
he recommended tariff revision.
Tariff of 1832 (33%), while somewhat
milder, retained the principle of
protectionism but was used by South
Carolina nullifiers to win a decisive
victory in state elections
Southerners opposed Western land
development as much as New
England manufacturers, because rich
new lands attracted wealth from the
washed out soils, but neither section
sought solutions to their lack of
growth, only defended their power.
The South blamed the tariff also for
their declining wealth, not
overproduction.
Ordinance of Nullification
During 1830-31, nullification forces
gained strength in South Carolina,
although Unionist sentiment could
not be overcome.
Calhoun’s letters to the governor:
nullification was constitutional and
legitimate means of redressing acts
deemed harmful to state.
His theory was based on:
Sovereignty lay in the people of the
states, not the people in the Union.
Gov. Hamilton Jr called for a special
session of the SC legislature which
authorized a convention, which met
in Columbia, SC in November
Convention adopted an ordinance by
a vote of 136-26, nullifying the tariffs
of 1828 and 1832.
NULLIFICATION CRISIS
South Carolina Ordinance prohibited
the collection of duties within the
state effective 1 February 1833;
required a test oath for all state
officeholders except legislators;
forbade appeal to the Supreme Court
of any case in law arising from the
ordinance
use of Federal force was grounds for
secession.
The state legislature appropriated
funds for a state military force.
Jackson's response
Secretary of War ordered to alert the
forts in Charleston Harbor & Winfield
Scott was given command of army
forces in South Carolina.
Jackson's December message to
Congress recommended a reduction
of the tariff.
Jackson issued his Proclamation to
the People of South Carolina , among
his most important state papers.
(1) Nullification was an impractical
absurdity .
(2) The sovereign and indivisible
Federal government was supreme.
(3) No state could refuse to obey the
laws of the land or could leave the
Union.
(4) Disunion by armed force is
treason.
South Carolina's Response
Sen. Robert Y. Hayne elected
governor, Calhoun was elected
Senator in his place and therefore
resigned the vice-presidency, the first
to do so
Crisis Comes to an End-Civil War Averted
Counter proclamation call for general
convention of states to consider relations
between the Federal and state governments,
but many states condemned nullification and
secession.
Force Bill January 1833
Jackson ask Congress for authority to
enforce militarily the revenue laws, if
needed.
Henry Clay forged a compromise tariff, which
passed both houses in 1833.
Crisis Ends -- late January 1833
Learning that a compromise tariff was being
sought, SC suspended nullification ordinance
A state convention in March adopted a facesaving ordinance which declared the Force
Bill null and void, allowing both sides to claim
victory.
Compromise Tariff 1833 return to 1816 rate
(20%)
Bank Veto July
1832
Jackson revealed an intent to
Under management of Nicholas Biddle
, the Bank of the U.S. prospered and
expanded, aided business, stabilized
currency & curbed inflation.
Policy of branch drafts force state and
local banks to contract their note issues,
making the bank unpopular among
debtors especially in the South and
West
(1) Southern states' rights groups
questioned the bank's constitutionality.
(2) State banks sought government
deposits.
(3) Van Buren and his NY supporters
disputed Philadelphia's financial
leadership.
(4) Biddle's domination of conservative
Bank policies made him a target for
anyone resenting monopolies,
corporations and a moneyed aristocracy.
eliminate the national Bank.
He questioned its constitutionality,
asserting that it had not established a
sound and uniform currency.
Clay advised Biddle to apply early for
renewal of its, forcing issue on
Jackson before the presidential
elections;
Recharter bill passed the Senate
(June) and House (July), Jackson
vetoed it as an indictment against
monopoly and special privilege,
making the Bank the major issue in
the presidential campaign of 1832 .
Jackson maintain each branch of
government was independent of the
others and bound to support the
Constitution as each understands it
and not as others understand it.
Senate failed to override his veto on
13 July.
Election of 1832 - Use of a National Nominating Convention
Beginnings of Splinter Political Parties
Workingmen's Party – began 1828 in
Philadelphia:
free public education and the protection
of mechanics against competition from
prison contract labor.
Split by Jackson-supporters of Van
Buren.
Anti-Masonic Party
Reporter William Morgan mysteriously
disappeared after preparing an expose
of Freemasonry, an investigation did not
solve the mystery of his disappearance,
but revealed that most NY officeholders
were Masons
Opponents of Jackson, also a Mason,
use the popular reaction against
Freemasonry to form an Anti-Jackson
political party.- declined after 1836 and
was absorbed by the Whigs.
Democrats, as they were now formally
called, in Baltimore renominated
Andrew Jackson for a second term and
Martin Van Buren for Vice-President
but Southerners forced the adoption of
a two-thirds rule -- nominees had to
have 2/3 of the delegate vote before
receiving the nomination.
National Republican convention in
Baltimore nominated Henry Clay for
President and John Sergeant (PA) for
Vice-President.
Anti-Masons in Baltimore
Dislike for secret societies spread to
other states and a national convention
of Anti-Masons nominated William Wirt
(MD) president and Amos Ellmaker (PA)
for vice-president.
FIRST third party in the U.S.! the first
party to hold a national nominating
convention! first to announce a
platform!
Specie Circular July 1836
The use of paper currency was expanded by
Biddle's banking policies, causing inflation and
land speculation to increase.
In 1823 the average Bank notes issued was $4.5
million but by 1831 it increased to $19 million
Credit and currency more abundant in the West
and South, causing land sales to skyrocket
($2,623,000 in 1832 to $24,877,000 in 1836).
Jackson ordered the issuance of the Specie
Circular which provided that after 15 August
1836, only gold, silver or Virginia land scrip
would be accepted by the government in
payment for public lands, although paper money
was permitted until 15 December for parcels of
land up to 320 acres purchased by actual settlers
or residents of the state in which the save was
made.
The purpose -- to repress "alleged
frauds" from "the monopoly of the
public lands in the hands of speculators
and capitalists" and the "ruinous
extension" of bank notes and credit
Effects: Public-land sales were
reduced in the West, the circular
taxed the inadequate resources of
the state "pet" banks, drained specie
from the East, led to hoarding, and
weakened public confidence in the
state banks.
After Jackson defended the circular in
his annual message in December
1836, and recommended that land
sales be limited to actual settlers,
Congress passed a measure that
rescinded the Specie Circular, but it
was pocket-vetoed by Jackson.
The Specie Circular was repealed
May 1838.
Jackson's Indian Policy
In 1830 Congress made provision for the
removal of Indians.
Under a series of treaties beginning in
1791, Cherokees in Georgia were
recognized as a separate nation with
their own laws and customs.
White settlement on their lands in GA
and on neighboring Creek lands and
encroachment on Choctaw and
Chickasaw lands in MS and AL created
tensions.
When gold was discovered on Cherokee
lands, the Georgia legislature in 1830
voided the previous laws, from which
Cherokees sought relief from the courts.
Cherokee Nation vs Georgia - the
court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction
because the Cherokees were "a
domestic dependent nation," not a
foreign state.
Worcester vs Georgia - the court
ruled that the national government
had exclusive jurisdiction over
Cherokee territory, a decision defied
by Georgia.
Jackson supported Georgia stating
“John Marshall has made his
decision, now let him enforce it”
making supporters of state’s rights
think he supported them so SC
moved against the Tariff of
Abominations
Election of 1836
The name Whig , adopted in 1834,
came to designate the coalition of
political groups led by Clay, Webster
and Calhoun, who opposed Jackson;
National Republican supporters of Clay,
Adams, the "American System”
states' rights groups opposed to
Jackson's stand on nullification;
former Jackson supporters who were
alienated by his Bank policy;
Southern planters and Northern
industrialists; and,
gradually after 1836, the remnants of
the Anti-Masonic party.
Loco-Focos Faction, called "loco-focos,"
fought the financial interests that
applied for bank and corporation
charters; Its name was derived from
the new self-igniting friction matches,
called "loco-focos"
(a) They advocated the abolition of
monopolies, and special privileges
(b) They desired hard money,
elections by direct popular vote,
direct taxes, free trade and
Jeffersonian strict construction.
Democrats in Baltimore May 1835
unanimously nominated was Martin
Van Buren for President and added
Richard M. Johnson (KY) for vice
president.
Whigs, unable to agree upon a single
candidate, decided to nominate
several strong local candidates to
throw the election into the House of
Representatives.
Election 1836
(1)Hugh L. White was chosen by anti-Jackson
Democrats in Tennessee, and found support in
Illinois and Alabama.
(2) Supreme Court Justice John McLean,
nominated by an Ohio caucus, withdrew in
August.
(3) Daniel Webster was nominated by a
Massachusetts legislative caucus
Anti-Masons in Harrisburg PA (December 1835)
nominated William Henry Harrison (OH) for
president and Francis Granger (NY) for vicepresident
Van Buren pledged to continue in the
footsteps of Andrew Jackson.
All other candidates represented antiJackson factions throughout the
country.
Only time in US history, since none of
the 4 vice-presidential candidates
received a majority of the electors, the
vice-presidential election was thrown
into the Senate, where Richard
M.Johnson received 33 votes to 16
(February 1837).
Panic of 1837
The reckless land speculation and the
specie circular resulted in a serious
downturn in the US economy which
worsened as Van Buren took office.
(1) The price of cotton fell by one-half in
New Orleans.
(2) New York's unemployed demonstrated
against high rents and inflated food and
fuel prices and one mob broke into food
warehouses and sacked their supplies.
(3) Several banks, beginning in New York,
suspended specie payments.
(4) Public land sales fell from 20 million
acres (1836) to 3 1/2 million acres (1838).
The effects of the panic persisted until
1842-43 particularly in the South and
West.
•
Independent Treasury Act
Van Buren supported a specie
currency, criticized state-chartered
banks, and desired a scheme to
establish Treasury depositories
independent of state banks.
The House did not pass it because of
a split in Democratic ranks, which did
not occur in the Senate, out of fear of
Whig nationalist tendencies.
A reorganization of the 26th Congress
in which Democrats gained control of
the House, when Calhoun's faction
united with Democrats, to pass the
measure in June
Numerous bank failures aroused
dissatisfaction with using state banks
as depositories for public funds,
creating sentiment for an
Independent Treasury.
The Independent Treasury gave the
government exclusive care of its own
funds, requiring progressive
enforcement of the legal-tender
clause until all federal payments and
disbursements were made in hard
money after 30 June 1843.
(5) The Act was repealed in 1841.
In July 1840, Congress debated an
independent treasury bill to establish
Federal depositories independent of
state banks and private business.
•
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ELECTION OF 1840
•
William Henry Harrison was the Whig presidential
candidate (hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe).
•
Martin Van Buren was the Democratic incumbent
president.
•
Known as “log cabin and apple cider” election.
•
Whig campaign slogan was “Tippecanoe and Tyler
too”.
•
It emphasized Harrison’s military background and
supposed poor background and Tyler’s Southern
background.
•
Harrison was the oldest president elected before
Ronald Reagan.
•
Harrison gave the longest inauguration speech.
•
He served the shortest term of any president.
•
John Tyler became the first vice-president to
assume office after the death of the president.