1
Power From Virginia to West; Rise of Jacksonian Democracy,1810 to 1840s
Summary: by 1820 the following developments are established:
Politically:
fighting over constitutions and in pol parties creates new republic with three main features:
1) popular sovereignty – government or power resides with the people
2) activist legislatures – politicians enact policies for the public good (govt for the people)
3) democratic decision-making – most white men – govt by the people
Diplomacy: Americans of Euro descent fight: two wars against Great Britain;
undeclared war with France
many battles with Native Americans and confederations
cultural disaster to Indian peoples; war, Euro diseases and alcohol
by 1820, had pushed European powers out of U.S. – ready for extreme expansionism
Economy:
strong national economy (see parts on various sections);
various sections have different, but interconnected economies
land and labor cause continued conflict
Social Issues: rights of women growing - in Protestant Churches, education, schoolteachers
religious revivalism and moralist reformism – shared religious background helps unify
status of slavery and African Americans (African Americans = 20% of population)
meaning of free speech and religious liberty
public/state responsibility for social inequality (the poor etc.)
“By 1820 to be an American meant, for the dominant white population, being a republican, a Protestant, and an
enterprising individual in a capitalist-run market system (textbook, 177).”
Broad Overview: Three areas of action, called “sections” by historians:
1) American West – moving west past Mississippi
a. seat of democracy – but, What kind of democracy? Who included?
b. liberal capitalism – particular economic system; econ laissez faire
produce raw materials (leather; wool) for growing manufacturing; handicraft workers
continued expansionism – against Native Americans; against Mexico
slavery – in new states? and political republicanism?
militant nationalism, expansionism
lure of the frontier – what represents?
cult of masculinity; hope of economic success; meritocracy
g. demographic changes – West is thinly populated but growing # of states
six Western states join Union, 1812-1821; universal white manhood suffrage
c.
d.
e.
f.
2)
will be Mexican War (1846-1848) – north vs. south over political future of west
Antebellum South (discussed in next lecture)
a. seat of Virginia political power (4 of 5 first presidents were from Virginia),
but power
begins to move west with cotton expansion
Virginia dynasty; “King Caucus”
b. slavery system based on holding African-Americans as chattel
c. expansionism – enact slavery in new states
d. plantation economy – monoculture, neocolonial, based on cotton production
south will become rural, slaveholding society dependent on export of cotton
3) Northern states
most Northerners are small farmers and/or free wage workers
North becoming urban, industrialized society based on free labor – N.Y. City
4) National, broad issues found in U.S. as a whole (national vs. regional concerns)
a. liberal capitalism – how each region “fits” into larger capitalist system
from agricultural to industrial economy – industry provides 5% of wealth to 30% in 1877
extreme or “ardent nationalism”; often coupled with racist notions of “White Supremacy”
b.
c. most Americans are small, independent property owners
d. early urbanization and population shift to cities (initial movement)
2
e. Native Americans – “land grab”; capitalism; illegality of Trail of Tears
National Politics
closed political corporations based on a small social elite and career politicians,
ex. John Quincy Adams
ex. Andrew Jackson’s opposition of this w/ “corrupt bargain”
popular classes consider these political technicians as abuse of rights of people
“rotation in office” = Jackson’s “leading principle in the Republican creed”
Neo-Federalism & American System leads to the Era of Good Feelings
(Presidents James Monroe & John Quincy Adams; architects Henry Clay, KY & John C. Calhoun,
South Carolina – period of one-party politics with little conflict over public policy; personal, local,
sectional conflicts replace conflict over public policy)
Values/Objectives of Era of Good Feelings
1) sanctity of contracts
2) protection of property rights
3) supremacy of national/federal government over state governments
4) superiority of business over agriculture
Era of Good Feelings replaced with Jacksonian Democracy
A. Jackson creates Democratic Party – two party system replaces one-party of Good Feelings
Jackson/Democrats: advance interests of southern planters, farmers and urban workers
two political parties creates more open, democratic society which stresses equal opportunity
slowly, lower classes involved in politics, esp. for protective labor legislation
Andrew Jackson
Jackson as a person defies any simplistic assumptions – complicated experiences and personality
ambiguities as profound as Jefferson – contradictions in their political ideas as well as personal vs.
political
-life is a series of contradictions which shows problems of era
-personal economic history
-presidential election vs. John Quincy Adams (1822) - “corrupt bargain”
Revolution of 1828 and Presidential Election/Term of A. Jackson
Jackson has two mandates in this election:
i. militant nationalism
ii. equal access to political office
is elected to office without a political platform; not economic rev, but cont. laissez-faire
Mexican-American War
-twenty years in the making; protracted struggle
-American nationalism – militant, gradations in it,
-Mexican domestic politics:
threatened social revolution with Independence from Spain
Church vs. State; elite vs. poor;
Enormous Foreign Immigration
most immigrants come from Western Europe
Irish – 1 million; little money or education; Catholic; suffer tremendous prejudice
constitute lowest levels of urban, industrial
immigrants forced to combat nativism and reformers
3
Jefferson as Pres:
Yeoman farmer as opposite of industrial rev in England – J sees this as “hell”
his first land sales too much land for too much $
Land Act of 1820 – 80 acres for $1.25 per acre
Jefferson’s policies with Native Americans: agriculture or move further west
as president: takes power frm Federalists; elim many taxes
strong supporter of western expansionism - ideal of small farmers
does not want war BUT British and French seize American ships, sailors
Louisiana Purchase
Purchase Louisiana from Napoleon (who has trB in Euro) – reinterp Csuj pwr
Lewis and Clear
doubles size of nation
New Engs feel threatened – try secession
War of 1812 – huge loss for US; fright British in Canada
typically represented as war over Anglo-American tensions, played out in high seas
New Englanders secede; Embargo of 1807 – peaceful coercion
naïve and similar to strategies used in revary war
crippled US exports – Madison stops embargo
important role of the West
Treaty of Vincennes; Governor William Henry Harrison vs. Benjamin Hawkins
Embargo of 1807 – does not change policies of warring nations
+
along with pbms of Indian Wars and expansionism – Madison goes to war w/ War 1812
l
war split the country – secession of New England
BUT negotiated peace to end military stalemate and Jackson wins Btl of New Orleans
J. Q. Adam – annex Florida AND settle Spanish Texas
Treaty of Ghent: restore US to prewar boundaries – figure out rest later; treaty by J.Q. Adams
ECON: w/ huge increase in size of U.S. - capism formed by:
protective legis for i/merchants;
states help transportation cos, manu and banks
strong regional econs
beginning of national market system
wealthiest control much of policy making
BUT idea of public good vs. private gain
Neo-Federalism & American System leads to the Era of Good Feelings
(Presidents James Monroe & John Quincy Adams; architects Henry Clay, KY & John C. Calhoun,
South Carolina – period of one-party politics; personal, local, sectional conflicts replace conflict over
public policy)
1) sanctity of contracts
2) protection of property rights
3) supremacy of national/federal government over state governments
national govt provides internal improvements to states to support power of
federal/national govt
4) superiority of business over agriculture
protective legislation to stimulate/protect American industry
(how capitalist is this kind of govt. intervention in economy?)
4
BUT, through most of 1800s – state governments, not federal, impact avg person’s life
-rewrite cSujs to enkag democ – lwr prop ownership to vote
-elected not appoint officials
-regulate social life
-end slavery in north
federalism dying with rise of west
Jacksonian Capitalism and Democracy
Jackson as a person defies any simplistic assumptions – complicated experiences and personality
ambiguities as profound as Jefferson – contradictions in their political ideas as well as personal vs. political
a. debitor and creditor; democrat and aristocrat (inc slave owner); failure and success
econ; life is a series of contradictions which shows problems of era
b. economic loss with David Allison; Eastern econ power and “paper system”
c. Panic of 1819 – changes Jackson (Jackson as creditor and debtor)
d. presidential election vs. John Quincy Adams (1822)
what is appealing about Jackson: econ record unknown; humble birth; mil success
popular vote vs. electoral college; intervention by Clay; “corrupt bargain”
Revolution of 1828 and Presidential Election/Term of A. Jackson
Jackson has two mandates in this election:
i. militant nationalism
ii. equal access to political office
is elected to office without a political platform; not economic rev, but cont. laissez-faire
Mexican-American War
-twenty years in the making; protracted struggle
-American nationalism – militant, gradations in it,
-Mexican domestic politics:
threatened social revolution with Independence from Spain
Church vs. State; elite vs. poor;
5
Economic Revolution and Sectional Strife, 1820-1877
transition from primarily agricultural economy to growing industrialization
begins in Northeast and accelerates through midwest and north
Industrial Economy –
industrial production
factory owners with high-speed machines
new system of labor discipline to boost production
canals and railroads – beginning of tremendous technological advances
Society – spurred class-based society
wealthy elite of merchants, manufacturers, bankers etc.
elite try to create social stability with paternalistic religious-based reforms
BUT distinct, urban middle class (different material and religious culturlte)
grew in size and political power
BUT increasing numbers of propertyless workers (many imms fm Germany and Ireland)
worked for wages in factories, canals and rr’s
by 1860, half of America’s free workers labor for wages; wealth w/ a relative few
Government
political parties and more open, democ. Society
lower classes involved in politics, esp. for protective labor legislation
imms fight attacks from nativists and reformers
Andrew Jackson:
Democratic Party
advance interests of southern planters, farmers and urban workers
democratic political and constitutional revolution --- reduced scope of govt authority
laissez-faire
agS Jackson, (Whig – Republican Pty) --- reform and vision of society w/:
few class barriers
high rate of social mobility
leads to two party system that engages most voters and unifies fragmented social order
Culture
reform movements, most with religious roots
temperance
observance of Sunday
prison reform
Utopian Communities – midwestern states
vs. more radical activists – equal rights for women, end of slavery
ABOLITIONISTS:
condemned slavery as a religious, moral sin
so, planters say slavery beneficial for masters and slaves
1840s and 1850s: anti-slavery to political action
“free soil” in western territories
southern “Slave Power” threatens free labor and republican ideals
Sectionalism
6
The War of 1812, Power From Virginia to West; Jacksonian Democracy,1810 to 1840s
Summary: by 1820 the following is established:
Politically:
fighting over constitutions and in pol parties creates new republic with three main features:
4) popular sovereignty – government or power resides with the people
5) activist legislatures – politicians enact policies for the public good (govt for the people)
6) democratic decision-making – most white men – govt by the people
Diplomacy: Americans of Euro descent fight: two wars against Great Britain;
undeclared war with France
many battles with Native Americans and confederations
cultural disaster to Indian peoples; war, Euro diseases and alcohol
by 1820, had pushed European powers out of U.S. – ready for extreme expansionism
Economy:
strong national economy (see parts on various sections);
various sections have different, but interconnected economies
Social Issues: rights of women growing - in Protestant Churches, education, schoolteachers
religious revivalism and moralist reformism
status of slavery and African Americans (African Americans = 20% of population)
meaning of free speech and religious liberty
public/state responsibility for social inequality (the poor etc.)
“By 1820 to be an American meant, for the dominant white population, being a republican, a Protestant, and an
enterprising individual in a capitalist-run market system (textbook, 177).”
Broad Overview: Three areas of action, called “sections” by historians:
2) American West – moving west past Mississippi
b. seat of democracy – but, what kind of democracy? Who included?
c. liberal capitalism – a particular economic system; econ laissez faire
produce raw materials (leather; wool) for growing manufacturing; handicraft workers
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
continued expansionism – against Native Americans; against Mexico
slavery – in new states? and political republicanism?
militant nationalism, expansionism
lure of the frontier – what represents?
demographic changes – West is thinly populated but growing # of states
will be Mexican War (1846-1848) – north vs. south over political future of west
3) Antebellum South (discussed in next lecture)
a. slavery system based on holding African-Americans as chattel
b. expansionism – enact slavery in new states
c. plantation economy – monoculture, neocolonial, based on cotton production
south will become rural, slaveholding society dependent on export of cotton
4) New England
a. more established socio-economic relations than rest of U.S.
b. seat of Virginia political power (4 of 5 first presidents were from Virginia)
Virginia dynasty; “King Caucus”
closed political corporations based on a small social elite and career politicians
popular classes consider these political technicians as abuse of rights of people
“rotation in office” = Jackson’s “leading principle in the Republican creed”
north will become urbanizing, industrializing society based on free labor
National, broad issues found in U.S. as a whole (national vs. regional concerns)
c. liberal capitalism – how each region “fits” into larger capitalist system
from agricultural to industrial economy – industry provides 5% of wealth to 30% in 1877
7
d. extreme or “ardent nationalism”; often coupled with racist notions of “White
Supremacy”
e. most Americans are small, independent property owners
f. early urbanization and population shift to cities (initial movement)
g. Native Americans – “land grab”; capitalism; illegality of Trail of Tears
War of 1812
typically represented as war over Anglo-American tensions, played out in high seas
Jefferson as president
Neo-Federalism & American System leads to the Era of Good Feelings
sanctity of contracts
protection of property rights
supremacy of national/federal government over state governments
superiority of business over agriculture
Jacksonian Capitalism and Democracy
Jackson as a person defies any simplistic assumptions – complicated experiences and personality
ambiguities as profound as Jefferson – contradictions in their political ideas as well as personal vs. political
-life is a series of contradictions which shows problems of era
-personal economic history
-presidential election vs. John Quincy Adams (1822) - “corrupt bargain”
Revolution of 1828 and Presidential Election/Term of A. Jackson
Jackson has two mandates in this election:
i. militant nationalism
ii. equal access to political office
is elected to office without a political platform; not economic rev, but cont. laissez-faire
Mexican-American War
-twenty years in the making; protracted struggle
-American nationalism – militant, gradations in it,
-Mexican domestic politics:
threatened social revolution with Independence from Spain
Church vs. State; elite vs. poor;