The Age of Jackson, 18281840
Empowerment of the “Common
Man”
The “New Democracy”
 Comparison to Jeffersonian Democracy
– “government for the people” vs. “government
done by the people”
– Universal Manhood Suffrage!
 No property qualifications
– New Western States
 Eastern States reduce voter requirements
*Frederick Jackson Turner*
“The Significance of the Frontier in
American History”
 Cheap, available land has developed the
“American character”.
– Critics look for more complex thesis
– Impact on Americans’ psyche
Rise of Workingman’s Parties
 Laborers in the East
– 10 hour day
– Education for children
– No debtor’s prison
– “Locos Focos”, 1820s
Causes of the New Democracy
 Panic of 1819
– Speculators
– BUS
 McCullough v. Maryland, 1819
 Missouri Compromise (Compromise of 1820)
– Balance between Slave and Free
 New Political Age
– Two-Party system: Democrats vs. National Republicans, 1832
 Replaces “Era of Good Feelings”
– New style of campaigning
– Demise of the caucus
 Electoral College by popular vote
 Nominating conventions
Election of 1824
 Corrupt Bargain: Jackson vs. Adams
– House of Representatives
– Support of “American System”
 Henry Clay, Secretary of State
The Tariff of Abominations, 1828
 Congress increases Protective Tariff
– Protective Tariff, 1816
– Tariff of 1824: 23% to 37%
– Ploy by Jacksonians to defeat Adams
 Election of 1828
 John C. Calhoun’s “The Southern Carolina
Exposition”
– Theory of Nullification (Virginia/Kentucky Resolutions)
Election of 1828
 A lot of “mudslinging”
– The “Revolution of 1828”
 First president from the West
 No sitting president since John Adams
 Voter turnout – Universal Manhood Suffrage
“Old Hickory’s” Administrations,
1828-1836
 New section of the West
– Hero of the Common Man
– Hated American System
– Defied the Supreme Court and Congress
 Number of Vetoes
 “King Andrew I”
Jacksonian Democracy
 Increase in manhood suffrage
– Use of State conventions
 End of Caucus
 Spoils System!!!
– Martin Van Buren, “Albany Regency”
– Rotation in office, “turn about is fair play”
– Set precedent for “clean sweeps”
– Political corruption
Jackson’s Cabinet and Resignation
of Calhoun
 “Kitchen Cabinet”
– Unofficial 13 advisors
 Webster-Hayne Debate, 1829
 Cause: Bill to curb sale of public lands
 Lasted 9 days in Senate
 States’ Rights versus Federal Government
– “Liberty and Union…”, articulation of Union
 Jefferson Day Toast, 1830
– “Our Union, it must be preserved!”
 Eaton Affair, 1832
– Peggy Eaton
Nullification Crisis, 1832
 South still angry – Tariff of Abominations
– Tariff of 1832 (35% from 45%)
– South nullifies Tariff of 1832
 Threatens secession
– Clay proposed a compromise!
 Tariff of 1833
 Force Bill passed by Congress (face-saver)
Election of 1832
 Clay versus Jackson
– Clay’s American System
– Jackson’s “Divorce Bill
 End BUS (ploy by Clay)
– Bank Wars (Nicholas Biddle)
 McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819)
 BUS strengths:
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–
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Organized
Reduced Bank Failures
Issued sound Bank notes
Credit and currency available
Bank Wars (Nicholas Biddle)
 McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819)
“Pet” Banks
 State banks
– 23 banks
– Overseen by Roger B. Taney
– Specie Circular: public lands bought with “hard”
money