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Explore the backdrop, Monroe's legacy, inconclusive election, Clay's American System, election by House, corrupt bargain, Jackson's presidency, and the birth of political parties. Dive into the political conflicts, tariffs, Calhoun's plan, and the election of 1828. Discover the rise of the Democratic Party and the legacy of Andrew Jackson.
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Backdrop • Era of Good Feelings ends 1824 • Westward migration • Growing commercial activity • Increasing sectional conflict over slavery • Beginning of second American political party system
Monroe’s Legacy • Republican candidates for president in 1824 election • John Calhoun-War • William Crawford-Treasury • John Quincy Adams-State • Henry Clay-Speaker of House • Andrew Jackson-newcomer • Elected Tennessee Senator 1823
One = None • No Federalist even stood a chance • Only 1 party meant effectively NO PARTY • Conflicts over nationalism and sectionalism • No real method for selecting the candidate
Inconclusive Election • Adams: New England, NY • Clay: KY, OH, MO • Crawford: VA, GA, DE • Jackson took Southeast, IL, IN, Carolinas, PA, MD, NJ • Inconclusive electoral and popular votes
Clay’s American System • Defeated in election • NE & NY against internal improvements • South & SW against protective tariffs • Sectionalism incompatible with national system
Election by House • Clay, as Speaker, becomes “president maker” • Clay sees Jackson as unfit • “I can’t believe that killing 2500 Englishmen at New Orleans qualifies for the various, difficult and complicated duties of Chief Magistracy.”
Clay vs. Jackson • Natural rivalry as the West’s leading political figures • Bitter enemies since Clay condemned Jackson’s invasion of Florida in 1818 • Crawford seriously ill & states’ rights opponent of American system
Clay Supports Adams • Adams wins 13 states • Jackson wins 7 states • Crawford wins 4 states • Adams picks Clay as Secretary of State • “The Corrupt Bargain”; “The people have been cheated.”
Yet Another Duel • John Randolph of VA criticized Clay and Adams • “Unholy alliance between the Puritan and the black-leg.” • Clay challenges Randolph to a duel • 3 shots fired; neither injured but political damage done
Inaugural Address • Emphasized “spirit of improvement” • Recommended • National university • Astronomical observatory • Uniform standard of weights & measures
Recommendations cont • Reform patent system • Department of Interior\ • Exploration of western territories • Vast system of roads, canals, and harbor facilities
In the Shadow of 1824 • Could not defuse/neutralize criticism coming from Jackson supporters • Could not deflect country away from sectionalism and states’ rights • Did not build new bases of support
Tariffs • Tariff of 1824 • Higher duties on woolens, cotton, iron, other finished goods (good for NE) • KY got tariff on hemp and raw wool • Also on sugar, molasses, coffee and salt
Calhoun’s Plan • 1827 to support Jackson • Outrageously high tariffs on raw materials • Even eastern manufacturers would join South to defeat it • Jackson supporters in NE could pretend support, etc.
Foiled Again • John Randolph of VA saw through the scheme • Only manufacturing supported by this bill was the “manufacture of a president.” • Tariff failed but Jackson won in 1828 anyway
Single Term President • President is: • custodian of the public good • Aloof from partisan politics • Alienated supporters by naming opponents to high office • Good way to only serve 4 years
Adams Jackson • Very popular as hero of New Orleans • Committees supporting his candidacy formed 1828 • Adams’ men vs. Jackson’s men vs. Clay’s men • On verge of new political system
Martin Van Buren • Son of a tavern keeper (middling)Worked his way to being governor of New York • Albany Regency: powerful political machine • Arch-rival of DeWitt Clinton • Genial and good political sense
Need for 2 Parties • Evidenced by 1824 election • Republicans splintered into sectional pieces • No candidate electoral majority • House decided under charges of corruption • Let parties clash with a clear winner
1828: Political Parties • Democratic Party • Andrew Jackson aka “Old Hickory” as president • John Calhoun as Vice Prez • National Republicans • John Quincy Adams as Prez • Richard Rush (Sec of Treas) as Vice Prez
Campaign of 1828 • Mudslinging at its worst. • National Republicans attacked Jackson as a drunken gambler, adulterer, and a murderer. • Jackson’s supporters accused Adams of wearing silk underwear, being rich, and gaining favor of Tsar of Russia
More Mud Backfires • Jackson’s appeal is enhanced by charges he is an illiterate backwoodsman • Clash between “the democracy of the country, on the one hand, and the lordly purse-proud aristocracy on the other.”
Is there any truth? • Jackson a common man, mind unclouded by learning, morals simple & true • Jackson was really a wealthy planter; slaveholder; had studied law
1828 Election Results • Jackson wins by comfortable margin • Electoral vote 178 to 83. • Adams took all of New England except for Maine and some NY • Popular vote 642,553 (56%) to 500,897 (44%)
Inauguration Day • Jackson breaks with tradition by inviting public to White House for reception • Wild party; crowd pressed to shake Old Hickory’s hand; lots of damage to glasses, china, interior
Inauguration Day 2 • Jackson escapes out the back • People finally “lured” outside with promises of more alcoholic beverages outside on the lawn. • “It was the people’s day, and the people’s President, and the people would rule.”
More Democracy • More white men gain right to vote • Poll Tax replaces property ownership as requirement • Election of 1824 • 335,000 people voted • Election of 1828 • 1,100,000 people voted
Spoils System • Believed majority should rule • Ordinary citizens should serve in government • Appointed his supporters to government jobs • Forced out large numbers of government employees to place his own people
Spoils System 2 • Since government jobs were “so plain and simple,” they should be rotated at will and given to supporters • Idea of revolving door so that more people could be educated about government
Internal Improvements • Thought public works was favors to special interests and corrupt giveaways • Rejected federal support for roads in states • 1830 vetoed federal money for road in KY for purely local character
Southern Support • Strongest supporters • Indian Removal Act of 1830 • Southern support tested by Tariff of 1828, however • Tariff originated under Adams, so “Tariff of Abominations should hurt Adams.” Jackson took the heat for this though.
Electoral System Change • Caucus System: Members of Congress “caucus” to select presidential candidate • National Nominating Convention • State delegates gather to decide on party’s nominee • 1832 Jackson is renominated
Jackson v. Calhoun • Tariff of 1828 causes rift between Jackson and VP Calhoun • Calhoun originally a nationalist, war hawk, supporter of 1816 protectionist tariffs • Helps defense by ending dependence on foreign goods
Jackson v. Calhoun 2 • Country not as concerned about defense now • Calhoun ambition to be prez • Assumed would succeed A.J. • Required continued support in South which was growing increasingly anti-tariff
South Carolina • Center of cotton production shifted to AL and MS • Voters blamed resulting economic decline of 1820s on tariffs • Tariffs drive price of manufactured goods
SC 2 • Tariffs threaten sale of British textiles in US • Maybe lower English demand for Southern cotton & cut cotton prices • With NE industrialization, tariffs appear more and more as sectional legislation
KY & VA Resolutions • 1798-99 • Union compact by which STATES gave certain limited and specified powers to the federal government • Calhoun believed protective tariffs were unconstitutional
Nullification • Tariff of 1828 could raise little revenue, so unconstitutional • Calhoun anonymously wrote South Carolina Exposition and Protest • Tariff unconstitutional • States had right to nullify the law within their borders
First Tariffs then Slavery... • South against tariffs for economic reasons • But scared that Fed Govt could pass sectional legislation interfering with Slavery • SC: African-Americans were majority of population in 1830 • Afraid of riots/abolitionists
Keep the North Happy • Jackson distributed federal revenue to the states • limit hint of sectionalism • limit fed govt spending • Ease tariffs down from high 1828 levels
Petticoat War • 1829: John Eaton (Sec of War) married widowed Peggy O’Neal • Peggy accused of flirting with Eaton while 1st husband alive • Eaton and Peggy snubbed by Calhoun’s wife and friends in cabinet
Petticoat War 2 • Jackson remembered own experience with wife Rachel • Befriended Eatons • Concluded that Calhoun initiated snubbing to advance own presidential aspirations • Guess who doesn’t run as VP in 1832?
Calhoun Admits • 1831: he wrote South Carolina Exposition and Protest • November 1832: SC nullified the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 • forbade collection of customs duties within SC
“Mad” Jackson • “abominable doctrine” • Result in anarchy • SC: unprincipled men who would rather rule in hell than be subordinate in heaven.” • 12/1832: Nullification is unconstitutional • Sent arms to Unionists in SC
Making Nice • March 1833: “The olive branch and the sword” • Tariff of 1833 (Compromise) gradually reducing tariffs • Force Bill: Authorized prez to use arms to collect customs duties in SC
Back at you • SC nullifies the Force Bill • But sees Compromise Tariff as concession • rescinds nullification of tariffs of 1828 and 1832 • “In SC, he (AJ) received a humble birthplace. May he not find in it a traitor’s grave.”
Henry Clay’s Role • Moving force behind Compromise Tariff • Afraid Force Bill would bring civil war • Wanted to stay in the public eye and not get lost in Jackson’s popularity • Clay = Great Compromiser
Jackson vs. the Rich • Gap between rich and poor growing 1820-1830 • Okay to get rich through hard work • But, wealthy often grew richer by securing favors from corrupt legislatures