Jacksonian Democracy

Chapter 13 notes

1824-1840 known as the time of Jacksonian Democracy

• He was president during the years of 1829-1837, but his imprint was much bigger.

Change of Pedigree

• Being from the west, and born in a log cabin was the ideal

• No longer cool to be a FFV (first family of Virginia)

• Being raised a federalist was a bad thing

• Manners, dress, cleanliness, and education were best if unpolished

The aim of Jacksonian Democracy was to have the

people govern (this meant all white males of voting age—slaves, blacks, and women

were ignored). This meant an end to property qualifications

for voting and the like.

Economic and political problems brought about this new

democracy.

• The Panic of 1819

– Banks were not forced to close when payments could not be made

– Farmers lost their farms, investors lost their $, but banks stayed open

– Due to corrupt deals between politicians and banks (in the opinion of many)

• The Missouri Compromise

– White southerners disliked the intervention of the gov’t into Southern Affairs -- and states’ rights (as they viewed them)

– The west, while not disagreeing w/ the decision, feared too much gov’t reg. (especially since the Panic caused them to view gov’t as corrupt)

Corrupt Bargain (election of 1824)

• Jackson--99 electoral votes; JQ Adams--84; Crawford—41; Clay 37

• Crawford had a stroke and played no future role

• There was no candidate with a majority of the vote, so it would go to Congress to decide.

• Clay despises Jackson, so he backs out of the race to help support Adams.

• In exchange, Clay was awarded the position of Sec. of State for President Adams.

• Adams was tainted from the start, and spent 4 years as a “lame duck” president.

Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations)

• Jackson supporters wrote a bill that pushed tariffs as high as 45% on manufactured items

• New England did agree to it to continue policy of protection—and the south had to pay the tariff—and were upset!

• At this time, the S was hurting, and blamed the tariff (and set the stage for an us v. them in the future

The issue prompted John C. Calhoun to write the “South Carolina Exposition” in 1828

—a tract which stated that states had the right to declare

certain laws null and void within their own borders. (via

KY and VA resolutions)

Election of 1828

• Jackson wins by count of 178 to 83

• Harsh, mudslinging affair, w/ Jackson and wife taking the hardest of blows

• Still, it was clear that now the people ruled—Jacksonian Democracy.

Jackson viewed the government apparatus as corrupt. It was his aim to help the people out from under this “rotten body”. It is

ironic, then that Jackson started the “Spoils system”. This was a

system which rewarded supporters with jobs in the government. Isn’t this what

Jackson accused Adams of doing for Clay?

Sectional Disputes

• Jackson, w/ his states-rights view, could not support gov’t support for Clay’s American System (building of roads w/in states).

• Calhoun resigned from the Vice-presidency in 1832—realizing he would not be the next president.

• Webster-Hayne Debate

– Hayne argued for nullification—but only to protect minority rights

– Webster argued for the Supreme Court’s right to decide on issues of constitutionality. “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseperable”

Status of regional feelings circa 1830:

• Jackson: “Our Union: It must be preserved!”

• Calhoun: “The union, next to our liberty, most dear!”

Pick a topic to use for a political cartoon

• The election of 1824

• The campaign leading up to the election of 1828

• The falling out between Jackson and Calhoun

• The debate between Hayne and Webster