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Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
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CHAPTER 13
THE RISE OF JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY---1824-1830
In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy and
virtue, every man is equally entitled to the protections by law; but when the laws undertake to
add to those natural and just advantages artificial distinctions . . and exclusive privileges . . .
the humble members of society---the farmers, mechanics, and laborers . . . have a right to
complain of the injustice of their government.
Andrew Jackson, 1832
Introduction
The so-called Era of Good Feelings was never completely tranquil

But even the illusion of national unity and consensus was shattered by
1.
The Panic of 1819
2.
The Missouri Compromise

1820s and 1830s were dominated largely by concern over economics and slavery

People used to fear vigorous political conflict, but now they celebrated it as necessary for a healthy
democracy

New political parties emerged

New styles of campaigning took hold

By 1840, the political landscape, which had been the same for a quarter of a century, had changed
completely
The apathy of the Era of Good Feelings gave way to boisterous democracy and strong political parties

of the Jacksonian era
The old attitude of suspicion of political parties was replaced by acceptance on the contentiousness of

political life --- Vigorous party conflict came to be seen as necessary for a healthy democracy

In 1828, a new party, the Democrats, captured the White House

By the 1830s, the Democrats faced a vigorous opposition party called the Whigs

The two-party system came to constitute an important part of the country’s checks and balances on
political power
New style of politicking used the following to “get out the vote”

1.
Banners
4.
Barbecues
2.
Badges
5.
Free drinks
3.
Parades
6.
Baby kissing
Voter turnout rose

1.
In presidential election of 1824, ¼ of all eligible voters voted
2.
In presidential election of 1828, ½ of all eligible voters voted
3.
In presidential election of 1840,78% of all eligible voters voted
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
I.
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The “Corrupt Bargain” of 1824
A.
The controversial “corrupt bargain” of 1824 marked the last of the old-style elections
B.
James Monroe (1816-1824) was the last of the Virginia dynasty, completed his second term
C.
Major Presidential candidates in 1824 all professed to be “Republicans” They were
D.
1.
Andrew Jackson of Tennessee---Old Hickory, Hero of New Orleans
2.
Henry Clay of Kentucky---“Harry of the West”
3.
William H. Crawford of Georgia---able but sick
4.
John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts---intelligent, experienced, aloof
Jackson had strong personal appeal
1.
War hero
2.
Especially popular in the West
E.
Results of election confusing
1.
Jackson got 42% of the popular vote but failed to get majority of electoral votes
2.
House of Representatives had to choose among top 3 candidates
3.
Clay was eliminated, but as Speaker of the House, he presided over the House of Representatives --was in a position to throw the election to the candidate of his choice
F.
Clay’s decision:
1.
Crawford had just had a stroke so he was out
2. Clay hated “military chieftain” Jackson, his archival for the West
3. Clay didn’t like Adams very much, either, but the two had a lot in common
a.
Both were fervid nationalists
b.
Both believed in the American System
4.
Clay and Adams had a private meeting in which Clay assured Adams of his support
G.
Decision day came early in 1825: Adams was elected president on first ballot
H.
A few days later, Adams announced that Clay would be Secretary of State
I.
The office of Secretary of State was seen as a political prize: stepping stone to becoming President
J.
It appeared that Adams had bribed Clay, and Jackson’s supporters denounced “corrupt bargain” for the
next 4 years
K.
L.
Even if a deal had been made, it was not necessarily corrupt
1.
Deals are what makes politics what it is, but this flouting (mocking) of the popular will was incendiary
2.
But the outcry over Adams’ election showed things were soon to change
The next President would not be chosen behind closed doors
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
II.
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A Yankee Misfit in the White House
A.
B.
C.
John Quincy Adams was one of the most successful secretaries of state and one of the least
successful presidents.
D.
E.
Had less than 1/3 the popular votes
1.
Plus corrupt bargain charges
2.
Plus total lack of charm
3.
Refused to oust people from office who were competent---no payoff for his supporters
Adams had strong nationalistic views at a time of growing sectionalism: urged construction of
roads and canals, a national university, and federal support for an astronomical observatory
F.
South didn’t like him--feared growing power of government was threat to slavery (aka, their
“peculiar institution”)
G.
III.
West was disliked him because he
1.
Tried to curb runaway land speculation
2.
Tried to deal fairly with hapless Cherokees in Georgia which also irritated Westerners
Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828
A.
Andrew Jackson’s campaign to become President started the day JQ Adams was elected
B.
Republicans of the Era of Good feelings had split into two camps:
C.
1.
National Republicans---ultranationalist Adams as standardbearer
2.
Democratic Republicans---Jackson headed ticket
Jackson’s followers portrayed him as the champion of the common man and denounced Adams as a corrupt
aristocrat
D.
1828 campaign was dirty---mudslinging---evidently new electorate liked bare knuckle politics
1. Adams’ followers called Jackson’s mother a prostitute, called Jackson an adulterer, and brought up his
many duels
2. Jackson’s men accused Adams of being a pimp and having “gaming tables” in the White House
E.
On election day, the electorate split mostly on sectional lines
1. Jackson’s support came from the West and the South
2. Adams’s support came from New England
3. Middle States and Old Northwest were divided
IV.
“Old Hickory” as President
A.
Andrew Jackson cut a striking figure---tall and gaunt
B.
Jackson had great passions
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
C.
Jackson 1st President from the West, 2nd without college
D.
Jackson was a frontier aristocrat---owned many slaves, cultivated lots of land, lived in a mansion (the
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Hermitage)
E.
Jackson’s inauguration symbolized newly won ascendancy of the masses
V. The Spoils System
A.
Once they got into power, the Democrats started striking their own bargains, despite the fact that they
used to be suspicious of the federal government
B.
Under Jackson, the spoils system (rewarding political supporters with public office)---was introduced
under Jackson on a large numerical scale
1.
Jackson defended the spoils system on democratic ground: “Every man is as good as his
neighbor --- maybe “equally better”
2.
The New Democracy also trumpeted “rotation in office”--- or "turn about is fair play"
3.
Washington, D.C. was due for a good housecleaning , but the spoils system was not about new
blood as much as rewarding old cronies---not “What can he do for the country?” but “What has
he done for the party?”
C.
Scandal accompanied the spoils system---men openly bought their posts by campaign contributions
D.
Despite its abuses, the spoils system was important in the emerging two party order
1. Cemented loyalty to the party
2. Promise of patronage was a good reason for Americans to pick a party and stay with it
VI. The Tricky “Tariff of Abominations”
A. The issue of the tariff was now the problem was Andrew Jackson’s
1. Tariffs protected American industry from competition form European manufactured goods
2. BUT tariffs also made prices go up for all Americans
3. AND other countries retaliated by putting tariffs on American agricultural exports abroad
B. The middle states had long supported protectionist tariffs
C. In the 1820s, influential New Englanders like Daniel Webster supported higher tariffs, even though it
meant abandoning their traditional defense of free trade, because wool and textile mills were in New
England
D. Congress increased tariffs in 1824 from 23% to 37%, but wool manufacturers asked for even more
E. Jacksonians played a cynical political game
1.
They supported a high-tariff bill (as high as 45%!!), expecting it to be defeated
2.
This would give a black eye (embarrass) President Adams
3.
Jackson would then receive a boost
4.
BUT TO THEIR SURPRISE, THE BILL PASSED
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
F. Southerners were heavy consumers of manufactured goods and had little manufacturing of their own--very hostile to all tariffs---especially this one
1.
Called it “Black Tariff” or “Tariff of Abominations”
2.
Protests were held and South Carolina lowered flags to half mast
3.
Southerners believed, with some justification, that this was a “Yankee Tariff” that discriminated
against them---and the tariff was a good scapegoat
a.
North was experiencing a boom in manufacturing
b.
West was prospering from rising property values and multiplying population
c.
Southwest was expanding into new cotton lands
d.
BUT the Old South was falling on hard times
(1) Southerners sold their cotton (and other crops) in a world market unprotected by
tariffs
(2) Southerners were forced to buy their manufactured goods in a world market heavily
protected by tariffs
(3) New England and middle state manufacturers got protection
(4) Farmers and planters of the Old South felt they were being cheated
4.
But there was a deeper issue: Southerners had an underlying fear of the growing federal power-might interfere with slavery
a.
Congressional debate on the Missouri Compromise re-kindled this fear
b.
Fears were fanned by 1822 slave revolt in Charleston
(1)
Denmark Vesey, free black man, was the leader
(2)
South Carolina was closely tied to the British West Indies, and British abolitionists
were pressuring London government to abolish slavery
(3)
They were afraid American abolitionists might put similar pressure on Washington,
D.C.
G.
South Carolina took lead in protesting the “Tariff of Abominations”
1. Legislature published a pamphlet written secretly by John C. Calhoun The South Carolina
Exposition (aka, The South Carolina Exposition and Protest aka Calhoun’s Exposition) in
1828
2. Had to be written secretly since Calhoun was Adams’ vice-president
3. Denounced the tariff as unjust and unconstitutional
4. His desire was to save the Union by lowering the divisive tariff that offended the South
5. It was similar to the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798 (although it went beyond
them)
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Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
a.
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Explicitly proposed that states should nullify the tariff----that is, declare it null and void
within their borders
b. Doctrine of secession was foreshadowed
6.
VII.
No other state joined South Carolina in anti-tariff protest
“Nullies” in South Carolina
A.
The stage was set for a showdown
B.
Throughout Jackson’s first term as President, the nullifiers ---“nullies” for short---were trying to get
the necessary 2/3 vote in the South Carolina legislature
1. They were blocked by a determined minority of Unionists who they called “submission men”
2. In response to the anger at the “Tariff of Abominations,” Congress passed the Tariff of 1832, but
it did not satisfy the South’s objections
1.
Lowered tariffs to about 35% (about the level of the Tariff of 1824)
2.
Not enough for Southerners
3.
And the Southerners feared that it was permanent
C. In South Carolina, the Nullifiers and the Unionists clashed head-on in the state election of 1832
1.
“Nullies” got 2/3 majority
2.
Several weeks later, the delegates met in the nation’s capital and voted to declare the federal
tariff null and void within South Carolina
3.
Threatened to take South Carolina out of the Union if the federal government attempted to
collect the customs duties by force
D.
President Andrew Jackson reacted violently
1.
He was not a supporter of the tariff, but he would not allow defiance or disunion
2.
He pledged to preserve the Union
3.
Privately threatened to hang the nullifiers
4.
Sent modest naval and military reinforcements to South Carolina (while privately preparing an
army)
E.
President Jackson issued a ringing proclamation against nullification---Governor of South Carolina
issued a counter-proclamation
F.
If civil war was to be avoided, one of the sides would have to give in or both would have to compromise
G.
At this point Henry Clay entered the picture to help craft the Tariff of 1833--- a compromise bill that
would gradually reduce the Tariff of 1832 by about 10% over 8 years
H.
Tariff of 1833 squeezed through Congress
1.
Debate was bitter---New England and middle states opposed it
2.
South favored it, as it was a way out without bloodshed
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
3.
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But at the same time, Congress passed the Force Bill, which the Carolinians called the “Bloody
Bill” ---authorized the President to use the army and navy if necessary to collect federal
tariff duties
H. South Carolina were happy to extricate themselves from a bad situation without losing face, but
they were upset that no other southern state sprung to their support
1.
Also, Unionist minority with the state was gathering guns
2.
Faced with a civil war within and without the state
a.
Legislature met and repealed the ordinance of nullification
b. They then nullified the Force Bill
I. Neither Jackson nor the “nullies” won a clear cut victory in 1833
VIII.
1.
Henry Clay was the real hero
2.
Armed conflict had been avoided, but the fundamental issue had not been resolved
3.
When the “nullies” and the Union clashed next time, compromise would be far more elusive
The Trail of Tears
A.
U. S. population was 13,000,000 in 1830, three times that of 1790
B.
Jackson’s Democrats were committed to westward expansion, and this meant confrontation with the
Native Americans
C.
In the 1820s, more than 125,000 Native Americans lived east of the Mississippi
1. US policy toward them varied
a.
In 1790s, Washington’s government ostensibly (to all outward appearances) recognized the
tribes as separate nations and agreed to acquire lands only through treaties with them
2.
b.
Indians were shrewd and stubborn negotiators, but Americans often violated their own treaties
c.
Indians were often tricked or coerced by whites into giving up land
Many Americans felt admiration and respect for the Indians and felt that they could be assimilated
into white society
a.
Much energy was spent “civilizing” or “Christianizing” the Indians
b.
Society for Propagating the Gospel Among Indians founded in 1787
c.
Many denominations sent missionaries into Indian villages
d.
In 1793, Congress appropriated $20,000 for promotion of literacy and agricultural and
vocational training among Indians
3.
Many tribes fought white encroachment but others accommodated whites, like the Cherokees
a.
Cherokees of Georgia made a special effort to learn the ways of the whites
b.
Cherokees gradually abandoned their semi-nomadic lifestyle and adopted a system of settled
agriculture and notion of private property
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
c.
Missionaries opened schools among the Cherokees
d.
1808---Cherokee National Council legislated a written legal code providing for executive,
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legislative and judicial branches of government
e.
Some Cherokees became prosperous landowners and even owned slaves
f.
Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks and Seminoles, were called the “Five Civilized Tribes”
by the white man
4.
All of this embrace of white ways was apparently not enough for the white man
a.
1828---Georgia legislature declared the Cherokee tribal council illegal and said Georgia
legislature had jurisdiction over Indian lands and Indian affairs
b. The Cherokees appealed to the Supreme Court, and three times the Supreme Court upheld
the rights of the Indians
5.
But President Andrew Jackson wanted to open Indian lands to white settlement
a. Refused to recognize the Supreme Court’s decision
b. Jackson reportedly said, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it”
D.
President Jackson wanted to remove Five Civilized Tribes beyond the Mississippi River---move was
supposed to be voluntary
E.
Jackson’s policy led to the forcible uprooting of more than 100,000 Indians in the 1830’s
F.
In 1830, Congress passed the “Indian Removal Act” providing for the removal of all Indian tribes east of
the Mississippi
1.
The five Civilized Tribes were the hardest hit
2.
In the ensuing decade, countless Indians died on forced marches to the newly established
Indian Territory
3.
“Trail of Tears” to the new “Indian Territory” – Oklahoma,
4.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs was established in 1836 to administer relations with America’s
original inhabitants
5.
As white men pushed westward, government’s guarantees to the Indians vanished
6.
“Permanent” frontier lasted 15 years
G. Resistance
1.
In Illinois and Wisconsin, Sauk and Fox braves led by Black Hawk resisted eviction but were
crushed in 1832
2.
Seminoles in Florida retreated to Everglades
a.
7 years (1835-1842) guerilla war
b.
Sprit of Seminoles was broken when their leader, Osceola, was seized by Americans
c.
4/5 of Seminoles went to Oklahoma---several thousand still survive
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
IX.
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The Bank War
A. President Jackson did not trust monopolistic banking and businesses and came to share the prejudices of
the West against the Bank of the United States: the “moneyed monster”
A.
Why did Jackson consider the BUS to be a “monster”?
B.
The Bank of the United States was the most powerful bank in the United States
1. Acted like a branch of the government in many ways
2. It was where the government deposited its money
3. It controlled much of the nation’s gold and silver
4. Its notes were stable in value---not like those of smaller banks
5. The BUS was an important part of the United States’ expanding economy
C. BUT the BUS was a private bank and was not accountable to an elite circle of investors with money
1.
Its president was Nicholas Biddle---brilliant but arrogant
2.
Enemies of the BUS called Biddle Czar Nicholas I and called the BUS a “hydra of corruption”
3.
Some people like Andrew Jackson thought the very existence of the bank was against the
egalitarian credo of American democracy
D.
The Bank War broke out in 1832 when Daniel Webster and Henry Clay presented Congress with a bill
to renew the charter of the BUS
1.
The charter was up for renewal in 1836, but Clay pushed it forward to make it an election
issue
2.
E.
Clay thought the BUS issue was a surefire “winner” for him
Clay’s plan was to make Jackson look bad---ram it through Congress and send it to the White House
for Jackson’s signature
1.
Jackson would alienate the West if he signed it
2.
Jackson would alienate the wealthy and influential if he didn’t sign it
3.
FLAW IN THE PLAN: The wealthy and influential were in the minority and they wouldn’t have
supported Jackson anyway
F.
The bill rechartering the Bank of the United States passed easily through Congress
1.
Jackson vetoed it as expected
2.
Jackson called the BUS plutocratic, monopolistic and unconstitutional
3.
The Supreme Court had already said the BUS was constitutional in McCulloch v. Maryland, but
Jackson didn’t care
4.
G.
Jackson acted like the Executive Branch was superior to the Judicial Branch
Jackson’s veto message vastly amplified the power of the President
1.
All previous Presidential vetoes had rested on the question of the constitutionality of the law
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
2.
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Jackson mentioned the Constitution in his message, but the real message was that he vetoed
the bill because he personally found it harmful to the nation
a.
He was essentially claiming the President had 2/3 the power of the government
b.
He was taking the position that if the legislative and judicial branches of the
government were partners with the president, the president was a “senior” partner
H. Henry Clay made another poor decision: He printed copies of Jackson’s message and used it as a
campaign document
1.
Jackson’s message may have seemed demagogic (rabble-rouser, agitator, one who plays to the
emotions of the crowd) to the people with money
X.
2.
BUT it made good sense to the common man
3.
The bank issue was now part of the Clay-Jackson 1832 presidential race
“Old Hickory” Wallops Clay in 1832
A.
B.
The 1832 election was between Clay and Jackson
1.
Irony: Jackson, who believed in rotation in office, did not see fit to rotate himself out of office
2.
Campaign was colorful and noisy
Novel features of this election:
1.
First time a third party entered the campaign: the Anti-Masonic Party
a.
Opposed the secrecy of the Masonic order, a ritualistic secret society
b.
Appealed to Americans’ long standing suspicions of secret societies
2.
Another unique feature: use of national nominating conventions to nominate candidates
3.
And another unique feature was that the Anti-Masonics and the National Republicans also added
another innovation: the adoption of “platforms” which publicized their position on issues
C.
Clay and the National Republicans were overconfident
D.
Yet, Jackson won easily
1.
687,502 to 530,189
2.
Electoral count: 219-49
3.
Henry Clay was crushed --- he had big money behind him, but the poor outnumber the rich and the
poor voted for Jackson
XI.
Burying Biddle’s Bank
A.
The charter of the BUS had been denied and was due to expire in 1836
B.
However, Jackson could not let the BUS die in peace
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
C.
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Jackson decided to bury the BUS for good by removing federal deposits from the BUS and using the
existing deposits by using them to defray the day-to-day costs of running the government
D.
Removal of deposits had nasty complications’
1. Even President Jackson’s closest advisors had told him not do this
2. Biddle retaliated by calling loans with unnecessary severity for the purpose of forcing a
reconsideration of the bank's charter by Congress
E.
The death of the BUS left a financial vacuum in the American economy and started a cycle of booms and
busts
1.
Surplus federal funds were placed in 23 state "pet banks" or “Jackson’s pets”
2.
Without a central bank in control, the “pet banks” and smaller “wildcat” banks flooded the
country with paper money
3.
Jackson tried to stabilize the economy in 1836 --- authorized the Treasury to issue the
Specie* Circular
(1)
Specie Circular said all public lands had to be purchased with "hard money" or metallic
money
(2) Specie Circular brought hard times to the West
(3) Inflation continued nonetheless
(4) Specie Circular contributed to the financial panic and crash in 1837
*specie = gold or silver money
XII.
A.
The Birth of the Whigs
As the 1830’s unfolded, new political parties were evolving
1.
Democratic Republicans of Andrew Jackson adopted the name “Democrats”
2. Jackson’s opponents called themselves Whigs, which was the name of the 18th century British and
Revolutionary American opposition to monarchy (and they considered Jackson to be “King Andrew I”)
B.
Whig party had a huge array of people so diverse people mocked it at first as “an organized
incompatibility”---only common factor was hatred of Jackson and his usurpation (seizure, encroachment)
of power
C.
Whigs considered themselves to be conservatives, but they were progressive in their support of active
government programs and reforms
1.
They called for internal improvements like canals, railroads, and telegraph lines (telegraph was
invented in 1837)
2.
They supported institutions like prisons, asylums, and public schools
3.
The welcomed the market economy* which drew the support from manufacturers in the North,
planters in the South, and merchants and bankers everywhere
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
4.
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People might have criticized them as a party of wealthy fat cats, but they absorbed the antiMasonic party and this made them seem more egalitarian
a.
They portrayed Jackson and his successor, Martin Van Buren, as imperious aristocrats
b.
Whigs claimed to be the defenders of the common man, which undermined Jackson’s appeal
c.
Whigs declared Democrats to be the party of cronyism and corruption
*A free market is a market in which prices of goods and services are arranged completely by the
mutual non-coerced consent of sellers and buyers, determined generally by the natural law of supply
and demand. In a free market, the price of a good or service tends to equal its value.
XIII.
A.
The Election of 1836
Vice President Martin Van Buren of New York was Andrew Jackson’s choice for his successor---known as
the “Little Magician” for the way he exploited the spoils system
B.
Whigs couldn’t decide on one candidate, so they ran many “favorite sons”* to scatter the vote so that no
candidate would get a majority: Leading favorite son was William Henry Harrison, hero of Tippecanoe
C.
Van Buren won the election with a close popular vote: 765,483-739,795

XIV.
favorite son = A politician whose electoral appeal comes from his or her regional appeal
Big Woes for the “Little Magician”
A.
Martin Van Buren was 8th President and the 1st President to be born under the American flag
B.
Van Buren’s handicaps…
1.
Van Buren was a machine-made candidate --- incurred wrath of many who resented Van
Buren’s being forced on them
2.
Van Buren inherited many of Jackson’s enemies and did not have the popularity to keep
Jackson’s supporters happy
XV.
3.
Troubles with Canada along northern frontier threatened to start a war with England
4.
Antislavery agitators in the North opposing annexation of Texas
5.
Van Buren inherited all the makings of a panic and had to spend a lot of his energy battling it
Depression Doldrums* and the Independent Treasury
*doldrums = wretchedness, misery
A.
The panic of 1837 was a symptom of the financial sickness of the times
1. BASIC CAUSE: Get rich quick mania resulted in
a.
Overspeculation of western lands---gamblers in the West borrowed money --- much
of it from shaky wildcat banks
b.
2.
Overspeculation spread to canals, roads, railroads, and slaves
OTHER CAUSES:
a.
Bank War
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
b.
Specie Circular
c.
Failure of wheat crop that year
d.
Financial problems in England --- two major banks had failed and English investors
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called in loans
e.
The economic distress of Europe has often led to the economic distress of the United
States
B.
C.
D.
Hardship from the Panic of 1837 was acute and widespread
The Whigs were coming forward with proposals for cures for the economy
1.
Expansion of bank credit
2.
Higher tariffs
3.
Subsidies* for internal improvements
But Van Buren was committed to Jackson’s philosophy of “hands off” the economy and came up with
the “Divorce Bill” which proposed to divorce government from banking altogether
E.
Van Buren’s idea with the “Divorce Bill” was that government could lock its money in vaults in
several large cities
1.
Government funds would be safe
2.
However, government funds would be denied to the banking system as reserves, so available
credit shriveled
F.
The Divorce Bill (aka, the Independent Treasury Bill) was never popular
1.
Van Buren’s fellow Democrats gave it only lukewarm support
2.
The Whigs condemned it because the wanted to restore the Bank of the United States
3.
After a long struggle, the Independent Treasury Bill passed Congress in 1840
4.
Whigs repealed it the next year when they won a majority in Congress
5.
Re-enacted by victorious Democrats in 1846 and continued until merged with the Federal
Reserve System in the next century
*subsidy = financial assistance from the government
XVI.
Gone to Texas
A.
America was greedy for land --- especially the large area of Texas, which they had abandoned to
Spain while acquiring Florida in 1819
1.
Mexico City government made arrangements with Stephen Austin in 1823: They granted him a
large tract of land with the understanding that he would bring in 300 American families who
would
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
2.
B.
a.
Become Roman Catholic
b.
Become “Mexicanized”
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Restrictions of the Mexican government were largely ignored
a.
Immigrants remained Americans at heart
b.
They resented restrictions placed on them by Mexico
By 1835, Texan there were 30,000 Americans
1.
Most were good people
2.
BUT some were escaping from the law
3.
G.T.T.---Gone to Texas, was the current slang
4.
Some of the more colorful residents were…
a. Davy Crockett---famous rifleman
b. James Bowie--- presumed inventor of the Bowie knife or the “genuine Arkansas toothpick”
c. Sam Houston
C.
American pioneers who went to Texas were not easy to push around
D.
Friction developed between the Mexicans and Texans over …
1.
Immigration
2.
Local rights
3.
Slavery --- especially touchy
a.
Mexico emancipated its slaves in 1830
b.
Prohibited the further importation of slaves into Texas
c.
Prohibited further settlement of troublesome Americans in Texas
D. Texans ignored this decree
1.
Kept their slaves in bondage
2.
New settlers kept bringing in slaves
3.
Stephen Austin went to Mexico City in 1833 to negotiate differences --- Dictator Santa Anna
put him in jail for 8 months
E. Explosion came in 1835 when Santa Anna wiped out all local rights and started to raise an army to
suppress Texans
XVII.
The Lone Star Rebellion
A.
Early in 1836, Texas declared its independence
1.
Unfurled its Lone Star flag
2.
Named Sam Houston was commander in chief
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
B.
15
Santa Anna, leading army of 6,000 men swept into Texas and trapped a band of about 200 Texans
at the Alamo in San Antonio and wiped them out after a 13-day siege
C.
A short time after the Alamo, 400 American volunteers surrendered to Mexican forces and
threw down their arms at Goliad --- and were butchered as “pirates”
D.
American people were rushing to the aid of their Texan relatives and friends
E.
Cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” and “Death to Santa Anna!”
F.
Sam Houston’s 900 Texan army continued retreating eastward and lured Santa Anna’s 1,300
Mexican troop to San Jacinto, near what is now the city of Houston---then turn them around and
attached and wiped out Santa Anna’s forces
a.
Santa Anna agreed to sign two treaties: He would withdraw Mexican troops and recognize
the Rio Grande River as the south west boundary of Texas
b.
G.
When Santa Anna was released, he repudiated the whole agreement
United States was in a sticky situation
1.
The government in Washington had an obligation under international law to enforce its
neutral status---Mexican government bitterly complained at their unwillingness to do this
2.
American public opinion overwhelmingly favored the Texans
3.
Andrew Jackson extended recognition to the Lone Star Republic
H. Many Texans wanted more than recognition---they wanted statehood
1. Texas petitioned for annexation in 1837
2. Anti-slavery crusaders in the North did not want Texas to be admitted, because it would
lead to more slavery in the United States (and a possible “slavocracy” in the United States)
I.
Many Texans were slaveholders and admitting Texas to the Union meant enlarging American
slavery
XVIII.
Log Cabins and Hard Cider of 1840
A.
Martin van Buren was re-nominated by the Democrats in 1840
B.
The Whigs sensed they would win and Whigs united behind 68 year old William Henry Harrison,
who they thought to be the most electable
1. He was known for his successes against the Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 and
the Thames in 1813---nickname was “Old Tippecanoe”
2. His views on current issues were unknown
3. John Tyler of Virginia was selected as his running mate
C.
The Whigs published no platform
D.
THEN a Democratic editor made a blunder that played right into Harrison’s hands
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
1.
16
He lampooned* Harrison as an impoverished old farmer who should be content with a log cabin,
a pension, and a barrel of hard cider (which was the only drink poor Westerners could afford)
2.
I.
In doing this, he insulted the West
The Whigs took this and used it in their campaign---used honest hard cider and sturdy log cabins
as symbols in their campaign
1.
Whigs portrayed Harrison as the poor “Farmer of North Bend” who had been called from his
cabin and his plow to drive the corrupt Jacksonian Democrats from the White House
2.
E.
F.
Whigs denounced Van Buren as a supercilious aristocrat
The Whig campaign had a lot of inane hoopla*
1.
Slogan: “Tippecanoe and Tyler too”
2.
Log cabin images were everywhere
IRONY: Harrison was not poor and was from one of the FFVs and lived in a 16 room mansion on a
3,000 acre farm
G.
The campaign of 1840 did not talk about issues but kept to the superficial “log cabin and hard
cider” theme
H. Harrison won by a close margin of popular votes but an overwhelming margin of electoral votes
1.
The popular election was close---1,274,624 to 1.127,781
2.
BUT Harrison blew Van Buren away in the Electoral College.---234 to 60
I.
Democrats complained they had been shouted down. sung down, lied down and drunk down
J.
Basically, the election was a protest against the hard times of the era
K.
Voters in the 1840 election faced a stark choice between two economic visions of how to deal with
the first major depression in the United States
1.
Whigs wanted to expand and stimulate the economy
2.
Democrats wanted to retrench* and to end high-flying banks and aggressive corporations
*lampoon = a harsh satire, usually directed against an individual
* supercilious=looking down on other people, coolly and patronizingly haughty
*inane = silly, nonsensical
*retrench = cut down, reduce, cut out
XIX. Politics for the People
A.
The election of 1840 conclusively demonstrated two major changes in American politics since the
Era of Good Feelings
B.
Change #1: The triumph of a popular democratic style
1.
Early in the life of the US, “democracy” was something of a bad word
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
2.
17
George Washington’s wife, Martha, was upset to find a greasy smear on the wallpaper
after a presidential reception and blamed it on a “filthy democrat”
C.
By the 1840s, democracy was becoming respectable and aristocracy was becoming something of a
bad word
D.
a.
Politicians were having to curry the favor of the voters
b.
It was a plus to have been born in a log cabin
c.
Candidates were handicapped if they appeared
(1)
Too clean
(2)
Too well dressed
(3)
Too grammatical
(4)
Too high brow
(5)
Too intellectual
In reality, most high political offices were still filled by “leading citizens” (meaning wealthy and
prominent men), but they had to forsake all social pretensions and cultivate the common touch if
they hoped to win
XX.
E.
The common man was now moving to the center of the political stage
F.
Instead of the old divine right of kings, America was now bowing to the divine right of the people
The Two-Party System
A. Change #2 The second dramatic change resulting from the election of 1840 was the formation of a
vigorous and durable two-party system
B. In earlier times, the Jeffersonians were so busy absorbing the programs of their Federalist opponents
that a real two-party system never really emerged during the Era of Good Feelings
1. People had the idea that political parties were bad for the country
2. By the 1840s, genuine political parties had evolved, due largely to Jackson’s & Van Buren’s efforts
C. Both parties --- Democrats and Whigs --- grew out of Jeffersonian Republicanism and each laid claim
to different parts of Jefferson’s philosophy
D. Jacksonian Democrats . . .
E.
1.
Glorified the liberty of the individual
2.
On guard against inroads of “privilege” in the government
3.
Clung to states’ rights
4.
Federal restraint in social and economic affairs
Whigs
1.
Talked of natural harmony of society and value of community
2.
Were willing to use government to realize these objectives
Chapter 13 (13th Edition) Student Handout
3.
18
Berated leaders like Jackson whose appeals to self-interest fostered conflict among
individuals, classes or sections
F.
4.
Wanted a renewed Bank of the US
5.
Wanted protective tariffs
6.
Wanted internal improvements
7.
Wanted public schools
8.
Increasingly supported moral reforms like the prohibition of liquor and abolition of slavery
Two parties had differences in philosophy but they also had much in common
1.
Both were catchall parties that tried to appeal to the largest number of people
2. Democrats tended to be more humble folk and Whigs tended to be more prosperous, but
both parties appealed to all sections and all classes
3.
4.
5.
Social diversity of the two parties had important implications
a.
It encouraged compromises within the parties
b.
This prevented either of them from becoming too extreme
Geographical diversity
a.
Retarded emergence of sectional parties
b.
Led to compromise on the issue of slavery and temporarily suppressed the issue
Two party system started to break down in the 1850’s when the Union was coming apart
Words, Terms, and Concepts to Note in Recall Margin
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Jacksonian democracy
New Democracy
“corrupt bargain”
“Old Hickory”
spoils system
Tariff of 1828
Tariff of Abominations
Denmark Vesey
John C. Calhoun
South Carolina Exposition
and Protest
secession
Nullies
Tariff of 1833
Force Bill
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
“Indian Removal Act”
Five Civilized Tribes
Trail of Tears
Black Hawk
Osceola
“moneyed monster”
“hydra of corruption”
Anti-Masonic Party
nominating conventions
platforms
“pet banks”
Specie Circular
Whigs
“King Andrew I”
Panic of 1837
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
“Divorce Bill”
Independent Treasury
Bill
GTT
Davy Crockett
James Bowie
Sam Houston
Santa Anna
Lone Star
Alamo
Goliad
San Jacinto
Lone Star Republic
“log cabin and hard cider”