The Rise of Mass Politics, 1820-1840

APUSH – Mr. Hesen

The “New Democracy”• 1820s-1840s • Politicians made an effort to appeal to common man• Most politicians were wealthy• Change in emphasis:

– Jeffersonian – Govt. for the people– Jacksonian – Govt. should be done directly by the people

The “New Democracy”• Based on universal male suffrage – No more property qualifications– No African American males

• New voters demanded politicians that looked out for common interests

The “New Democracy”• Rise of workingmen’s parties– Laborers in the East– Working demands – 10-hour day, etc.– Violent groups (esp. during depressions)– Locos Focos – NY Democrats – demanded worker rights

Rise of Mass Politics, 1824-1840

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1824 1828 1832 1836 1840

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Whig (NationalRepublican in1828 & 1832)

Democrat

Election of 1824: “The Corrupt Bargain”

• AKA “The Corrupt Bargain”• Candidates:– All “Democratic-Republicans”– Andrew Jackson– John Quincy Adams– William Crawford– Henry Clay

Election of 1824

• Jackson – most popular votes – didn’t have the electoral vote– 12th Amendment – HoR must choose from top

three finishers– Clay (Speaker of the House) was in charge of

selection process– Chose John Quincy Adams – hated Jackson

Tariff of Abominations

• Biggest issue of JQA’s presidency– Congress increased tariffs from 23% to 37%– Most New Englanders approved the tariff– West and South opposed tariff– John C. Calhoun’s “The South Carolina Exposition”

Election of 1828

• Support came from West, South, and East Coast laborers

• Most support came from political machines in NY and PA

• “Revolution of 1828” – peaceful, but showed changes– Shifting from New England to West

Andrew Jackson

“Old Hickory”– Personified the new West– Govt. needed to be for the common folk• Hated Clay’s “American System”• Like Jefferson’s ideas• STRONG PRESIDENCY – “King Andrew I”

Jacksonian Democracy

Spoils System– Rewarded political supporters with public offices– Allows any number of people to hold office– National political machine was built around

Jackson

“Kitchen Cabinet”– Jackson’s unofficial group of advisors– Did not answer to Congress – no checks and

balances– Congress snubbed Jackson• “KC” was unconstitutional – not really

Webster-Hayne Debate– Cause: NE senator introduced a bill to

stop the sale of public lands• Western and southern senators opposed• New England was by itself• Webster-Hayne Debate lasted nine days

(January 1830)

Senator Robert Y. Hayne– From South Carolina – Calhoun protégé– States rights– Accused NE of disloyalty– Proclaimed that nullification was the only

means of protecting Southern rights

Daniel Webster– Spoke out for NE– Insisted that people not states framed

Constitution– Assailed nullification– “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and

inseparable”

Peggy Eaton Affair– Wife of Sec. of War – John Eaton– Snubbed by Jackson’s cabinet members– Purged Calhoun’s allies from Cabinet– Calhoun resigns in 1832• Tariff controversy weighed hard on the relationship• Became a FIERCE sectionalist

Nullification Controversy (1832)– South Carolina still fuming over ToA– Tariff of 1832• Jackson lowered the tariff to appeal to South• Lowered only 10% - NOT EVEN CLOSE ENOUGH• SC – nullified the Tariff – threatened to secede from

Union• Henry Clay – Tariff of 1833 (Compromise…AGAIN)!

– Favored by South– Force Bill (1833) – President could use military force to collect

tariffs

Election of 1832– Henry Clay (National Republican) vs. Andrew

Jackson (Democrat)– Clay ran on his “American System” – Jackson killed

the BUS– Jackson beats Clay (219-49)• Jackson had mass support from voters

Significance of Election of 1832– Appearance of first 3rd Party System: Anti-Masonic

Party– Opposed the Masonic Order – George Washington

and Ben Franklin– Accused secrecy in government – attracted

evangelical groups (religion)– National nominating conventions were organized

by all three parties

Jacksonian DemocracyEconomics and States’ Rights• Main aim: Divorce government form economy

– Laissez faire economics• End of the BUS– Vetoes charter in 1832– “Pet Bank” scheme – transferred federal money to

23 state “pet banks” - kills 2nd BUS– Specie Circular – public land now had to be

purchased with hard currency

Indian RemovalIndian Removal Act (1830)– Jackson proposed the removal of Indians from

South (Five Nations: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminoles)

– More than 100,000 Indians were forcibly uprooted and moved in 1830s – Bureau of Indian Affairs

– Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1832)– Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Trail of Tears– 1838 – 18,000 Cherokees force marched to Oklahoma

• 4,000 died as a result – malnutrition, exposure, cholera, and treatment

• 25% Choctaws perished

– Black Hawk War – 1832 – Illinois and Wisconsin natives refused land removal west of Great Lakes• Crushed by U.S. troops – opened up Lake Michigan to settlement

Panic of 1837– Causes:• OVERSPECULATION…..AGAIN!!!!• Speculated to build canals, roads, and spread slavery• Jackson’s presidency hurt economy• British banks failed and called in foreign loans

– Results:• American banks collapsed• Prices fell sharply • Factories closed; unemployment soared• Van Buren chose to stay out of the Panic – limited

government

Treasury Bill of 1840 (Divorce Bill)– Wanted to divorce government from banks– Felt federal funds given to private banks fueled

Panic of 1837– Independent Treasury System• Govt. placed surplus funds in banks in larger cities • Condemned by Whigs

Election of 1840– William Henry Harrison (“Tippacanoe and Tyler

Too!!!/Log Cabin and Hard Cider)– Martin Van Buren renominated by Dems– Van Buren was blamed for the Panic– Harrison pummels Van Buren (234-60)– Significance• First mass turnout election in history• Propaganda and slogans set example for future• Liberty Party – third party in election