3-6: The Jacksonian Era1824-1840

Some Weird Political Cartoons!

Election of 1824

All Democratic-Republicans

Sectional Candidates

North: John Q. Adams

South: William H. Crawford

West: Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay

Results

Jackson—plurality of popular vote

No majority of electoral votes

Corrupt Bargain

Clay (Speaker of House) convinces

Congress to swing votes toward Adams

in exchange for job as Secretary of State

Adams Administration, 1825-1829

Dissolution of Democratic-Republican Party

End of “Era of Good Feelings”

New two-party system imminent

Adams—National Republican

Jackson—Democrat

Key Issues

Internal Improvements

Native American affairs

All debate sectional

Election of 1828

Issue—American System

Candidates

Andrew Jackson (wins S, W)

John Q. Adams (wins N)

Universal Manhood Suffrage

No caucus

Nominating conventions

“Era of the Common Man”

Jacksonian Democracy

Belief in the Common Man

Expansion of Suffrage

Rotation in Office

Opposition to “career bureaucrats”

Support for patronage

Placing political supporters in office

Spoils System

“To the victors go the spoils”

Increase loyalty to president

Second Party System

Democratic Party

Led by Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren

Supporters—small farmers, urban workers

Favored states’ rights and opportunity for all

Similar to Jeffersonian Republicans

Whig Party

Led by Henry Clay, John Q. Adams, Daniel Webster

Supporters—bankers, merchants, manufacturers, large landowners

Pro-business, regulated by a strong national government (2nd B.U.S.)

Similar to Federalists

Jackson as President

The Veto

More vetoes than all previous

presidents combined

Even if Constitutional, but bad policy

Veto threat increases power over Congress

Maysville Road—opposition

to internal improvements

“King Andrew”

Jackson as President

Nullification Crisis

Tariff of Abominations (1828)

Doctrine of Nullification—John C. Calhoun

Based on KY & VA Resolves

Webster-Hayne Debate

Begins with land sales, moves to states’ rights

Concludes with Daniel Webster (W): “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable”

Jackson as President

Nullification Crisis

Threat of Secession

SC nullifies the tariff

Threatens to leave if federal

government attempted to collect payment

Force Bill

Jackson will enforce law with military force

Compromise Tariff

Restored rates to 1816 levels

SC withdraws original nullification, nullifies Force Bill

Jackson as President

Native American Policy

Indian Removal Act

Worcester v. Georgia

Upheld rights to tribal land

Trail of Tears

Jackson as President

Bank War

Jackson vetoed re-charter of B.U.S.

Viewed as tool to oppress poor

Foreclosures

Restricted issuance of paper money

Rivalry with bank president

Jackson removed deposits

Placed in state “pet banks”

Jackson as President

Bank War

Result

Expansion of credit and speculation

State “wildcat banks” issued own currency

Vast borrowing and spending—inflation

Specie Circular—gold/silver required for land purchases

Strengthening of Whig Party

Van Buren Administration, 1837-1841

Election of 1836

Van Buren (D) defeats 3 Whig candidates

Panic of 1837

Foreign loans called in

No national bank

No gold reserves (Specie Circular)

Bank failures

Independent Treasury System

Election of 1840

Harrison (W): Log Cabin/Hard Cider Campaign

First Whig Presidential Victory