Politics of the Antebellum EraPolitics of the Antebellum Era

The Rise of the “Common Man” The Rise of the “Common Man” & “Jacksonian Democracy”& “Jacksonian Democracy”

(1824-1840)(1824-1840)

Jacksonian Democracy in Jacksonian Democracy in antebellum Americaantebellum America

• Expanded Suffrage• “Common Man” gains

political power & respect over “notables”

• Animosity toward those seen as elite/educated

• Support of patronage as reward for loyalty

• Westward expansion favored• Strict constructionist, though

expanded presidency

• “Old Hickory” becomes the hero of the “Common Man” and the new Democratic Party

• War Hero• “Self-made” man• Westerner•(even though rich planation owner)

Andrew Jackson John Quincy Adams• Intellectual & Diplomat was the symbol of the nationalist “establishment” in the early 19th C.

• Harvard Educated• Son of a President• New Englander

Election of 1824 & alleged “Corrupt Bargain”

Ends “Era of Good Feeling”

Jackson’s “Revolution” of 1828

The reign of “King Mob” at Jackson’s Inauguration

Jackson Increases Political Patronage (“Spoils System”)

II. Jackson & the II. Jackson & the Native AmericansNative Americans

Should strong executive powerShould strong executive poweract in favor of the “common man” act in favor of the “common man”

over “alien savages”?over “alien savages”?

“Trail of Tears”

III. Jackson & the III. Jackson & the “Tariff of “Tariff of

AbominationsAbominations””

How should the central government act How should the central government act

when a state or region objects towhen a state or region objects to

national policies?national policies?

Nullification Nullification CrisisCrisis

• States Rights vs. Nationalism

• 1828 - “Tariff of Abomination”

• John C. Calhoun & South Carolina Exposition

• Jackson uses military intimidation – Force Act

• “Compromise” Tariff of 1833

IV.IV. Jackson and Jackson and the 2the 2ndnd B.U.S. B.U.S.

Should the central government check the Should the central government check the

power of business interests & the social power of business interests & the social

elite to please the “common man”?elite to please the “common man”?

The “Bank War” of 1832The “Bank War” of 1832Whether or not to re-charter theWhether or not to re-charter the 22ndnd BUS BUS

sparks a class & cultural debate between: sparks a class & cultural debate between:

• Rich vs. Poor• East vs. West

• Elite vs. Common Man

Jackson as “King Veto”

Jackson ignoresSupreme Court (again)and vetoes a 3rd BUS -

puts federal $into state “pet banks”

V. Legacies of the V. Legacies of the Jacksonian EraJacksonian Era

• “Populism” adopted by both political parties

• Increases the influence of the Presidency

Martin Van Buren

(1837 – 1841)

Panic of 1837