Nationalism, Sectionalism and the Rise of Mass

DemocracyFrom the Era of Good Feelings through the Age of Jackson 1815-

1844Chapters 12 and 13 American

Pageant

The Election of 1828 Adams lost to Jackson

Andrew Jackson (“Old Hickory”)Popular war hero—“a man of the people.”

The first western president

Jacksonian Democracy: political power exercised by ordinary Americans

The “politics of deference” (the politics of electing those better than us) ends

Democratic Trends: Voting Requirements are Lessened

Democratic Trends: Voter Turnout Increased

Additional Signs of Democratization Party nominating committees

were replaced by conventions increasing those involved in the process

Spoils system: rotation of office by giving supporters jobs in the government

Cemented party affiliations and loyalties

Rise of Third Parties (spirited opposition)

Popular campaigning made politics entertaining

Much mud-slinging and “false advertising”

The Reign of King Mob

Jackson Controversies: The Indian Removal ActFive major Native American groups lived in the southeastern United States

White Americans called them the “five civilized tribes” because many of them had adopted aspects of European and American culture.

Many white Americans viewed them as inferior.

Farmland was becoming scarce in the East, and white settlers coveted the Indians’ lands

Controversies: The Indian Removal Act

Indian Removal Act (1830): called for the relocation of the five nations to an area west of the Mississippi River called “Indian Territory” (now Oklahoma)

Even with a written constitution, the state of Georgia refused to recognize the Cherokee as a “nation”

Worcester v. Georgia (1832): The Supreme Court ruled against Georgia, denying it the right to take Cherokee lands.

The Cherokee had the right to self-government Georgia's extension of state law over them declared unconstitutional

“John Marshall has made

his decision.

Now let him enforce it!”

– PresidentAndrew Jackson

Of the 18,000Cherokee

forced to leave their

homes, about

4,500 died on the march, which

becameknown as the

Trail of Tears.

Jackson Controversies: The B.U.S.The Second B.U.S. was a national bank overseen by the federal government to regulate state banks.

Established in 1816 and given a 20-year charter

Opponents of the B.U.S. (including Jackson) thought that the Constitution did not give Congress the authority to create the bank.

Opponents also recognized that state banks were more inclined to make loans to poorer farmers in the South and West—the very people who supported Jackson.

They viewed the bank as an institution devoted to the interests of wealthy northern corporations.

After his re-election, Jackson orderedmoney taken out of the B.U.S. and deposited in select state banks (“pet banks”).

In 1836 the Second Bank of the United States was reduced to just another state bank.

“The Bank is trying to kill me but I will kill it!”Andrew Jackson in his feud with Nicholas

BiddleFears of financial disaster lead to another panic later

Jackson Controversies: The Nullification Crisis In 1828 Congress raised the “Tariff of

Abominations” (so named by V.P. John C. Calhoun) on British manufactured goods. Welcomed by northern industrial states: it

increased the price of British goods and encouraged Americans to buy American goods.

Despised by southern agricultural states: forced southerners to buy northern goods instead of the less expensive British goods.

Southern cotton growers, who exported most of their crop to Britain, opposed interference with international trade.

Nullification, anyone?

When Congress passed another tariff in 1832, South Carolina declared the tariff law “null and void” They threatened to secede from the

Union if the federal government tried to enforce the tariff

Hayne (S.C.) and Webster (Mass.) debate Senator Robert Hayne (with Calhoun) argues Southern view of tariff, and states’ rights

Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts defends Union

Calhoun resigns from the vice-presidency

Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.

The Union, next to our liberty, most dear.

Our Federal Union—it must be preserved.

WEBSTER CALHOUN JACKSON

Meanwhile… Jackson asked Congress to pass

a Force Bill explicitly authorizing the use of military force to enforce the tariff

At the same time, Henry Clay worked out a compromise that tariffs would be reduced over a period of 10 years.

Jackson signs both the Force Bill and Clay’s Compromise Tariff Bill at the same time

Can youguesswhat

strategythe

Whigsemploye

d in

thiselection

? Did itwork?

Martin van Buren Andrew Jackson’s hand-

picked successor thatgot to deal with all ofJackson’s enemies

The Whigs come of age Supporters of the American

System Southern states’ righters Northern industrialists and merchants Active government programs and reforms

A tough coalition to hold together

The Van Buren Presidency1836: Martin Van Buren wins w/ Jackson’s support

Pet banks print bank notes in excess of gold, silver they have

Government demands specie (gold, silver) to pay for public lands (this was known as the specie circular)

Rush to exchange paper money for specie, banks stop taking paper money

Panic of 1837bank closings, collapse of credit systempeople lose savings, businesses bankruptedmore than a third of population out of work

Andrew Jackson in 1844 (one year before his death)

America is moving west