THE RISE OF A MASS
DEMOCRACY
AP U.S. History
Chapter 13
Transformation of American Politics,
1824-1832
• 1824 – Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren
(Democrats in 1830s) and Henry Clay, JQ
Adams (leading Whigs) - all Republicans
• Why separate?? Industrialization in New
England, spread of cotton in South, westward
expansion
• Republicans who feared strong federal
government, preference for states rights –
Democrats!
• Republicans (with many former Federalists)
who thought government should encourage
economic development - Whigs
The "New Democracy"
• By 1820s – politicians appeal to voters!
• Written ballots instead of voting aloud (no
intimidation)
• Focused on increasing the electorate, esp in
areas where weak
• Do have poll taxes instead of property, but…
• Universal white manhood suffrage – no
property qualifications
– Between 1812 & 1821, 6 new western states granted
universal manhood suffrage
– Between 1810 & 1821, 4 eastern states significantly
reduced voting requirements
• Result – MOST WHITE MALES COULD VOTE
REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL STANDING, POLITICAL
OFFICES HELD BY LOWER/MIDDLE CLASS
Causes of the New Democracy
• Panic of 1819
– Workers and farmers blamed banks
– Answer - get more politically involved
• The Missouri Compromise
– Northern opposition to Missouri’s admission as a slave state
made southerners fearful that the federal gov’t would violate
states' rights.
– Goal of white southerners: Control federal gov't to protect
South
• Two-party system reemerged by 1832: Democrats vs.
National Republicans/Whigs
• Third parties too! Anti-Masonic and Workingmen’s parties
• Voter turnout rose dramatically: 25% in 1824; 78% in 1840
• New style of campaigning developed
(Banners, parades, barbecues)
• Negative campaigning too
• Voting reform
• first nominating convention held (PEOPLE participate)
• Electoral College changed too – Electors chosen by
PEOPLE, not state legislatures
THE “CORRUPT BARGAIN” OF 1824
• Sectional tensions brought
Era of Good Feelings to an
end with ‘24 election…
• Candidates: Clay rep the
West, Crawford from GA and
John C. Calhoun from SC rep
the South, and John Q.
Adams rep New England.
Then here comes Andrew
Jackson, also from the West!
-- All "Republicans”
• Jackson wins
more popular and
electoral votes,
BUT NOT
MAJORITY!!!
• House of Reps must choose among first 3
finishers (Jackson, Adams, and Crawford)
• Clay finished 4th but was Speaker
of the House and in charge of election.
• Henry Clay hated Jackson. Also wanted to link
West and Northeast.
•So….
• House elected Adams president.
– Clay's influence
• Jackson lost despite having largest
% of popular vote.
• Clay - Secretary of State
the
"corrupt bargain"
• Jackson's supporters -
JQA as President
• Full of controversy
– Federal aid for internal
improvements – Jeffersonians
and Martin Van Buren (NY
Governor) – NOOOOO!!!
– Send American delegates to
Latin American conference –
southerners – NOOOOO!!!
– Appointed opponents to high
positions
GOING “WHOLE HOG” FOR JACKSON
IN 1828
• As Adams’s popularity
declined, Jackson rose.
• Martin Van Buren – two
party competition
• Election of 1828
• National Republicans J.Q. Adams
• Democratic Republicans
– Jackson
• Jackson defeated Adams
• Ugly campaign!
178 electoral votes to 83
• First President from the West; seen as a great
common man
• Jackson’s support: West, South, and laborers on
the east coast— “common man”
• Adams won New England and wealthy voters in
the Northeast.
"The Revolution of 1828"
• No sitting president had been
removed since John Adams in 1800
• Increased voter turnout was
decisive
• Balance of power - East to
expanding West.
“OLD HICKORY” AS PRESIDENT
• Like Jefferson - reduce role of federal gov’t in favor of
states’ rights
– Hated Clay’s "American System"
– Congress should not favor one section/interest – should
focus on what benefits ALL Americans
– Maysville Road veto – No federal money for intrastate
improvements (roads & canals). Vetoed bill for improving
the Maysville Road in Kentucky (Who’s state???)
• At times defied will of
Congress and the Supreme
Court
• veto 12 times
• "King Andrew I"
THE SPOILS SYSTEM
• Rewarding political supporters with public office
• "rotation in office"
• Removed many officeholders of rival party (corrupt)
• Goal: Let as many citizens as possible hold
office for at least a short time (one term).
• Consequences
– A national political machine was built around Jackson
– Political corruption resulted
"Kitchen Cabinet"
• Unofficial group of about 13 temporary advisors
• Not answerable to Congress - seen as a threat
• Influence greatly over-exaggerated
Peggy Eaton Affair
• Peggy Eaton - wife of Sec. of War
Eaton
• Snubbed by wives of Jackson's
cabinet members, especially Mrs.
Calhoun
• Jackson defended Mrs. Eaton
• Jackson began purging Calhoun’s
allies in the cabinet
• Jackson turned increasingly
against Calhoun
Jackson and the
South…
• Veto of Maysville Road bill and Indian Removal
Act made Jackson popular in south.
• Tariff issue would test loyalty…
THE TRICKY “TARIFF OF
ABOMINATIONS”
• Northern bankers, merchants, and manufacturers
favored high tariffs to protect American goods
from foreign competition. Southern planters
feared that high tax rates would increase the cost
of nearly everything they bought. Also
diminishes exports of cotton and other staples.
• Congress increased the tariff in 1824 from 23%
on dutiable goods to 37%
• 1828 Bill (under Adams by some Jackson
supporters!) – Tariff of 1828 – 45%
Jackson vs. Calhoun
• Calhoun – State’s Rights! SC – economic
decline as cotton spread West. High tariffs
hurt, were sectional legislation.
• Calhoun’s argument – only tariffs
that raised money for a COMMON
purpose were constitutional. Tariff
of 1828 too high to raise revenue,
doesn’t benefit everyone
EQUALLY.
• Anonymously wrote South
Carolina Exposition and Protest –
tariff is unconstitutional, states
have right to nullify within their
borders (similar to Jefferson’s and
Madison’s Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
of 1798)
• Southerners worried about
something other than tariff.
If federal government can
pass a tariff law that
benefits one section of the
country, can they pass laws
that interfere with
SLAVERY???
• Denmark Vesey (1822
• Nat Turner (1831)
• William Lloyd Garrison’s
The Liberator (1832)
“NULLIES” IN SOUTH
CAROLINA
• Tariff of 1832 - Jackson attempted lowering
tariff
– 35% from about 45. Lowered rate on many items
but still affirmed the principle of protectionism.
• Personal issues between Jackson and Calhoun
made matters worse – Eaton affair and rumor
that Calhoun wanted Jackson punished back in
1818 for invading FL
• Jefferson Day Dinner (1830) - Jackson
proposed a toast, fixed his eyes on Calhoun
and stated: "Our Union: It must be preserved!
Calhoun replied: "The Union, next to our
liberty the most dear! May we always
remember that it can only be preserved by
distributing equally the benefits and burdens
of the Union."
• November 1832 – S.C. state convention
• nullified Tariffs of 1828 and 1832, forbade
collection of customs duties within the state
• Also make necessary military preparations
• Threatened to secede from the Union if
Jackson attempted collection by force.
Jackson's reaction
• HATED NULLIFICATION – “abominable
doctrine”
• Threatened to personally lead a federal army
into SC
– "hang" nullifiers, including Calhoun
• Standoff threatened a possible civil war
• No federal troops marched
The Olive Branch and the
Sword
• Compromise Tariff of 1833
– Tariff reduced by 10% over eight years.
– Henry Clay
• Force Bill – authorizing the President
to use arms to collect customs duties
in SC
• S.C. – didn’t abandon nullification
(nullified Force Bill!), but did end
nullification of tariffs
Aftermath
• Stepping stone to Civil War
• SC gradually abandoned nullification in favor of secession
by 1860
• Calhoun resigned in 1832
– Became leader in the Senate & champion of
states’ rights in SC
– Rigorously protected slavery and states rights’