Jackson MacManus 1
Sara Jackson MacManus
HN US1
Mr. Kann
UNIT 5 - PART 2
THE RISE OF MASS POLITICS (pg. 234-238)
“President of the Common Man” (237-238):
● Andrew Jackson​’s Democratic Party:
○ Party had no uniform ideology
○ Jackson did have a clear theory of democracy:
■ Equal protection and benefits to white male citizens
■ Favor no region or class over another
■ Subjugation of African Americans, Indians and women
○ Jacksonians believe in the preservation of white male democracy through the oppression
of these groups
● Jackson target entrenched office holders, as offices belonged to the people, not officeholders who
had been there for generations:
○ Jackson removed ⅕ of federal office holders, due to corruption or similar reasons
○ Known as the ​“Spoils System”
○ Jackson administration helped establish the right of of elected officials to appoint their
own followers to public office
● Jackson also changed the way a party nominated its candidate:
○ Resented ​congressional caucus system:
■ Restricted access to office from those favored by elite
○ In 1832, a national party convention renominated Jackson for president for second term
■ Later seen as a source of corruption and exclusivity
■ Seen by Jacksonians as an advance in democracy
● Spoils system and political convention managed to:
○ Limit power of entrenched elites:
■ Office holders and exclusive party caucus
○ Did not really transfer power to people, was a ​limited democratic reform
■ Office appointments went to political allies of president
■ Those who attended conventions were not common men, but local politicians
OUR FEDERAL UNION (pg. 239-242)
● Jackson’s aim of extending power beyond elites led him to reduce the functions of the fed. Govt
● However, he also wanted to maintain status and power of central govt, preserving the Union
Calhoun and Nullification:
● Calhoun was the vice-president for Jackson
● Had once supported tariff of 1816, by 1820’s there were dilemmas:
○ Many South Carolinians believed tariff was to blame for stagnation of their economy
■ Actually due to exhaustion of farmland, unable to compete w/ Southwest farms
○ Some extreme Carolinians wanted to secede
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Calhoun’s political career depended on how he dealt with this problem. He developed the ​theory
of nullification​:
○ Based on the idea that states could nullify a law passed by Congress if they considered it
unconstitutional
○ The nullification doctrine could be used to abolish tariff of 1828 and gained support in
Carolina
○ Did not help Calhoun’s standing in the president’s administration
The Rise of Van Buren (239-240):
● Martin van Buren​ was Appointed secretary of state in 1829
○ Soon established himself as a member of official cabinet and “Kitchen Cabinet”
(president’s group of allies)
○ Strongly influenced president, opposed Calhoun, led to division between him and presid.
● Peggy O’Neale’s affair:
○ Daughter of tavern owner, rumored to be having affair with Senator Eaton
■ Husband died, married Eaton in 1828
○ Eaton was named secretary of war, his new wife wasn’t well received among other wives:
■ Jackson demanded she be admitted into the social world, Calhoun refused to
■ Van Buren befriended the Eatons, pleasing the president
○ In 1831, Jackson named van Buren to succeed him in White House, rather than Calhoun
The Webster-Hayne Debate (240-241):
● In January 1830, debate over western lands emerged in Senate:
○ Senator from Connecticut suggested discontinuation of land sales and surveys in West
■ Robert Hayne, senator from South Carolina, accused him of slowing down
western expansion to maintain eastern power.
■ Hayne wanted to get support of Westerners in Congress for S. Car. drive to lower
tariff. Said both regions might combine against tyranny of Northeast “rule”
○ Daniel webster, nationalist Whig
■ Attacked Hayne, claiming he was challenging integrity of the Union and debating
states’ rights vs national power
■ Hayne, coached by Calhoun, responded by defending nullification theory
■ Webster responded with ardent speech
○ President Jackson answered to the argument by supporting the preservation of the Union,
going against Calhoun
The Nullification Crisis (241-242):
● In 1832, a new congressional tariff was issued:
○ Angered South Carolinians, state legislature convention voted to nullify tariffs of 1828
and 1832
○ S. Car. elected Hayne as governor and Calhoun replaced him as senator
● Jackson insisted nullification was treason:
○ Strengthened federal forts in S. Car., and prepared army and navy
○ In 1833 proposed a ​force bill, ​authorizing force to ensure obedience of acts of Congress
● South Carolina was alone in its protest, and even the state itself was divided
● Senator Henry Clay devised a ​compromise:
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The tariff would be lowered gradually until 1842, where it would be equal to that of 1816
■ Compromise and force bill were passed by Jackson
○ S. Car. convention repealed nullification of tariffs, but nullified force act ( symbolic)
● Calhoun’s experience showed that no state could defy national govt alone
THE REMOVAL OF THE INDIANS (pg. 242-246)
White Attitudes Toward the Tribes (242):
● In 18th century, whites viewed the native tribes in a paternalistic way
● By 19th, whites had come to view them as savages, both uncivilized and uncivilizable:
○ Wanted to push the tribes further west, to avoid contact with them
● White westerners favored removal due to other reasons as well:
○ To avoid conflicts and violence
○ Their desire for the territory the Indians owned
● Only fed. Govt had authority to negotiate with Indians over land, as Supreme Court had
established them as nations within nation:
○ Tribal nations​ were relatively new, as these larger tribes were created when they
realized they needed collective strength to deal with whites
■ Were often weak and divided
○ Govt had responsibility over tribes, interpreted this as removing them out of the way of
white expansion
The Black Hawk War (242-243):
● In old Northwest, process of expelling Indians ended with ​Black Hawk War​ 1831-1832:
○ White settlers in Illinois vs alliance of Sauk and Fox Indians, under leader Black Hawk
○ Treaty had ceded Indian lands to white settlers
■ Black Hawk did not recognize legality of treaty as it was signed by a rival tribe
■ They reoccupied the lands in Illinois
○ White settlers feared this movement was a large invasion, assembled federal/state militia
● Black Hawk War is famous due to whites’ military viciousness:
○ Leaders vowed to exterminate the Indian tribes, attacked even when they surrendered
○ White troops pursued and slaughtered retreating ​Sauk and Fox Indians
○ Black Hawk was captured and put on tour around the East
The Five “Civilized” Tribes (243):
● In 1830’s ​southern agrarian tribes​ were more troubling to govt:
○ There were five “civilized” tribes: Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw
○ Had established successful agricultural societies
■ Cherokees had established sophisticated culture: own Constitution in 1827
creating ​Cherokee Nation​, written language
○ Some whites believed Cherokees were “civilized” enough to stay on their land
■ Different from original hunter society, had become agricultural
■ Men worked on the farm, while women had domestic roles
● Federal govt worked to create treaties with Indians to remove them from their land
○ Negotiations were very slow, created impatience among white settlers
■ Georgia led independent removal of Creeks, disobeying Adams
○ Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi passed laws to regulate Indians in these states
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In 1830 Congress passed ​Removal Act:
■ Financed federal negotiations to relocate tribes to the West
○ Most tribes were too weak to resist pressure from states and federal govt, ceded their land
● Some tribes resisted. In Georgia Cherokees appealed to Supreme Court to stop White
encroachment in 1831 and 1832
○ Supreme Court ruled that the federal govt was violating older treaties
○ Jackson responded negatively:
■ Needed support of south and westerners to support his administration
■ Believed Supreme Court was doing this to express hostility against his govt
○ The decision of the Supreme Court was not enforced
● In 1835, a treaty was negotiated w/ Cherokee (w/ representatives not chosen by the tribes)
○ Their land in return for 5mill $ and a reservation in the West
○ Cherokee Resistance​ caused Jackson to force them out with the army
Trails of Tears (243-245):
● Some Cherokee fled to N. Car., where a small reservation was made for them
● Cherokee removal ​began in winter of 1838​:
○ Journey to Indiana territory
○ Thousands died , as the conditions were harsh and the trip was very long
○ Called the​ Trail of Tears
● This Indian removal included four of five “civilized tribes”, b/w 1830-1838
○ Relocated to Indian Territory, created in Indian Intercourse Act of 1834
■ Choctaws were the first to make the journey in 1830, Creeks were relocated in
1836, Chickasaw in 1837 and Cherokee 1838
○ Indian Territory was far enough away and on undesirable land that the govt considered it
would avoid more conflicts b/w settlers and the tribe
● Seminoles avoided relocation:
○ 1832-1833 treaties of Payne’s Landings ceded their land and agreed tribes would move to
Indian territory in 3 years
○ In 1835, a substantial minority that remained in East led by ​Osceola,​ staged an uprising,
joined by runaway slaves. Called the​ Seminole War​:
■ Lasted many years. Jackson sent troops to Florida, but Indians fought back
■ In 1842 federal govt retreated. Few Indians survived, but the removal of the
Seminoles was never completed
The Meaning of Removal (245-246):
● By end of 1830s, nearly all important Indians societies had been moved West
○ In return for land they received a small amount of money and less hospitable land in West
○ Lived in reservations divided up by tribes, surrounded by US forts, in unknown regions
● It is unknown whether the expansion of white settlement required the removal of Indian tribes
● There were theoretically several ​alternatives to the brutal removals​:
○ The two cultures could have interacted, in equality or not, but in a shared world. There
were many examples of this happening in North America before
● By 19th century, Americans had adopted different model of contemplating westward expansion:
○ They believed the territory they were moving into lacked pre-existing civilization
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Native Americans were “incapable” of creating their own societies and aiding in white
expansion, and white settlers justified their policies with this belief
JACKSON AND THE BANK WAR (pg. 246-248)
● Jackson’s opposition of federal power and aristocratic privilege was most obvious in war against
Bank of United States
Biddle’s Institution (246-247):
● By 1930s BUS was a powerful financial institution, and had branches in 30 cities:
○ Bank managed federal money (govt owned ⅕ of the Bank’s stocks) and did business in
general banking
○ Restrained state banks, and issued bank notes
○ Nicholas Biddle​ was the head of the bank
● Two different groups opposed the bank:
○ Soft-money​ supporters (mainly state bankers and their allies):
■ Wanted more currency in circulation and believed in rapid economic growth
■ Opposed bank as it restrained state banks from issuing paper notes
○ Hard-money​ supporters:
■ Believed silver and gold were the only form of currency, condemned banks that
issued notes, opposed expansion and speculation
● Jackson supported hard-money
○ Suspicion of soft-money was based on the Panic of 1797
○ Made it clear he would not support renewal of BUS charter in 1836
● Biddle began to form allies with politicians who could help preserve the bank
○ Became close friends with ​Daniel Webster​, named him Bank’s legal counselor and
director of Boston Branch
○ Gained support of Henry Clay
● Biddle applied for a renewal bill in Congress in 1832
○ Caused Bank to become major issue in 1832 elections
○ Congress passed the bill, but ​Jackson vetoed recharter, ​and Congress was incapable of
overriding veto
● Clay ran for president in 1832, chosen in 1831 in nominating convention as rep. for National
Republican party.
○ Jackson thoroughly defeated him
○ Biddle’s war for the bank was lost
The “Monster” Destroyed (247):
● As Jackson could not legally abolish BUS before end of charter he weakened it by:
○ Removed govt’s deposits​ from BUS, after firing several secretaries of treasuries who
believed this would lead to financial ruin
○ Placed govt funds in state banks (“pet banks”)
● In response, Biddle called in loans and raised interest rates
○ Hoped this would cause financial recession to persuade Congress of rechartering bank
● In 1833-1834 financial conditions worsened:
○ Protests were organized, but Jackson administration did not budge
● Protesters also went to Biddle:
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○ Finally reversed his tactics and started to grant on reasonable terms
○ His tactics caused him to lose recharter of bank
● BUS ended in 1836, leaving the country with an ​unstable banking system
The Taney Court (247-248):
● After Bank, War Jackson moved against Supreme Court to end economic nationalism:
○ John Marshall died in 1835, and Jackson replaced him with his trusted ally Roger Taney
○ Taney gradually modified Marshall’s vigorous nationalism
● Clearest indication of judicial change was ​Charles River Bridge vs Warren Bridge ​case 1837:
○ Dispute b/w two companies about right to build bridge over Charles River
■ One company had a charter from state to have toll bridge guaranteeing its
monopoly, and another company applied to construct a second toll-free bridge
○ The first company contended that Marshall Court ruled the state could not repeal
contracts, and the second charter was breached their contract
○ Taney, speaking for Democrats, supported right of the second charter. Argued a state had
right to to amend a contract if it was necessary for well-being of community
● Decision reflected key Jacksonian belief:
○ Key to democracy was opportunity for economic opportunity, which could not occur with
entrenched monopolies
THE CHANGING FACE OF AMERICAN POLITICS (pg. 249-257)
● Jackson’s tactics in nullification movement, as well as in Bank War, led to opposition
● This opposition formed a political party called the ​Whig Party ​by 1830s
Democrats and Whigs (249-250):
● Both parties were very different from each other, but had similar tactics when electing their
followers to office
● Democrats in 1830s wanted expansion of ​economic/political opportunities ​for white males:
○ Role of govt should be limited, but should remove obstacles to opportunity by
■ Defending Union (essential to economic growth), attacking centers of corrupt
privilege
■ Locofocos, radical members, believed in assault against monopolies/privilege
● Political beliefs of Whigs, called Whiggery, called for ​economic union:
○ Expansion of federal govt, encouraging industrial/commercial development to form
consolidated economic system in nation and become manufacturing power in world
○ Unlike Democrats, cautious about westward expansion as it could produce instability and
favored legislation establishing banks, corporations and other modern institutions
● The voters of the two parties reflected these diffuse policies:
○ The Whigs were strongest among:
■ Big merchants and manufacturers in Northeast
■ The wealthy planters in the South who favored commercial development and ties
with the North
■ Ambitious farmers and rising commercial class in the West, mainly forn North,
who wanted internal improvements, growth of trade and economic progress
○ The Democrats were supported mainly by:
■ Smaller merchants and workmen in Northeast
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Southern planters suspicious of industrial expansion
Westerners, from South, who supported agrarian economy and opposed powerful
economic institutions
Whigs tended to be wealthier, more aristocratic and ambitious than Democrats
CRASH COURSE 14
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Initially, there was a lack of democracy:
○ Voting requirement was white, male, property owner
Between 1820-50s, a rise in American democracy appeared, called the age of Jackson:
○ Eliminated property requirements to vote
○ Idea of property requirement came from the Jeffersonian belief that only working farmers
with their own land were truly independent
○ Was not due to Jackson himself, as when he was elected in 1828 most states had already
eliminated this requirement
America’s victory in War of 1812 and fall of Federalist party started “Era of Good Feelings”,
where people agreed on most domestic policies.
○ The American System was based on economic nationalism:
■ Federally financed internal improvements, ex. Roads and canals
■ Tariffs to protect industry
■ A national bank to replace first BUS (charter had expired in 1811)
○ American System was supported by John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay, Jeffersonian Rep.
○ Nationalism Extended to foreign affairs:
■ Monroe Doctrine: Europe should not retake colonies in West. Hem., and US
should stay out of European Wars
John Quincy Adams was last president in “Era of Good Feelings”
During Era of Good Feelings there were three main disagreements:
○ Many people believed federal govt should not finance building of infrastructure
■ States ended up paying for most of it
○ Disagreements over Second Bank of United States
○ Disagreements over slavery, starting in Missouri
Missouri Compromise and slave issue:
○ In 1819, Missouri had enough population to become a state
■ NY senator proposed to prohibit new slaves there, despite the 10,000 slaves there
○ Compromise:
■ Missouri was allowed to become a slave state, while Maine became a separate
state to keep balance
■ No state above 36 latitude could have slaves, except Missouri
○ This issue was not truly solved until after the Civil War, and the Missouri Compromise
was a threat to the Union
Martin van Buren was the president of the United States, and the inventor of the Democratic
Party:
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○ Realized national political parties could be a good thing
○ Nicknamed “Little Magician”, to connect with the common man
Jackson ran for president in 1824, lost to John Quincy Adams
Ran again in 1828:
○ Used derogatory slogan towards Adams
○ Won the election, and was seen as the representation of the ‘common man’
Jackson’s policies started the new Democratic Party
○ Formerly known as the Democratic Republican Jeffersonian party
○ Composed mainly of farmers and lower-middle-class men, who were suspicious of rising
upper-class and wealthy
Opposing party soon arose, the Whigs:
○ Opposed absolute power, believed Jackson was becoming so powerful through executive
branch he was becoming a king
○ Supported the American System of nationalism, and active federal govt
○ Composed mainly of northeastern bankers, merchants…
Jackson’s policies included the Tariff of 1828:
○ Tariff raised prices on imported manufactured goods made of wool and iron
○ Benefited manufacturers in northeast, who could make their own goods and sell them
○ South Carolina, based on agriculture, was enraged by this
■ Threatened to nullify act
New tariff of 1832 was passed:
○ S. Car. nullified it
○ Jackson responded with Force Act
○ Crisis was avoided with new act of 1833, the Compromise Act
Jackson supported removal of Indian tribes to allow white expansion, and passed the Indian
Removal Act of 1830:
○ Removed Indian tribes from their lands in southern states
○ Indian tribes sued govt, and Supreme Court decided that the federal govt was violating
their treaties, and tribes had rights to land
○ However, removal still happened under van Buren in 1838-1839, known as Trail of Tears
Jackson also changed banking system, which had been dominated by the SBUS
○ In 1832, Congress passed bill extending charter of BUS 20 years
■ Jackson vetoed the charter for fear the BUS would oppose his re-election
○ BUS expired in 1836
○ Money was dispersed into local banks, those that supported him
This system of rewarding your supporters in known as the Spoils System
○ Another example was rewarding allies with positions in national office
Local banks started printing more money, causing inflation:
○ Panic of 1837 was caused, starting a depression that lasted until 1843
○ Business-oriented Democrats became whigs, and the remaining democrats were more
agriculture oriented
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CRASH COURSE 15
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As a result of shift of American economy towards industry, Utopian communities emerged to
distance themselves from the negative aspects of this new world:
○ The most famous were the Shakers
■ Did not withdraw completely from markets (made furniture)
■ Were completely celibate, and embraced equality of sexes
○ Another example are the Mormons, who were persecuted in many states
Many of these societies were not based only on religion, some attempted to create new societies:
○ Ex. Brook Farm attempted to demonstrate how manual labor could be combined with
intellectual enlightenment. Eventually failed
○ Utopia, OH and Modern Times, NY, were communities that were completely unregulated
and voluntary. Also collapsed quickly
Utopian communities were relatively rare, most people simply attempted to reform society
Second Great Awakening was a religious revival movement:
○ Peaked in 1820s-30s, making the US a religious nation again
○ Famous religious meetings called camp meetings
The Awakening:
○ Stressed individual choice of salvation and personal relationship with god
○ Valued sobriety, self-discipline and industry, which had become essence of market
economy as well as movements for reform
○ Opened market for new religions
The religious reforms of 19th century had several common aspects:
○ They were mainly Protestant,
○ Belief in Perfectionism
■ Society and individuals are capable of unlimited improvement
○ Had a different concept of freedom. People would not have freedom to do whatever they
wanted, they would be free of temptation of doing whatever they wanted
Many of these new Protestant denominations were taught they needed to rid themselves of sin, as
well as perfect their communities:
○ Led to Temperance, prohibition of alcohol
■ Appealed to Protestant’s idea of restraint and perfect societies
■ Controversy created with Catholic immigrants,who didn’t view drinking as sinful
○ Also led to creation of asylums for poor and mentally ill and jails
19th century also increased state-funded compulsory education:
○ These public schools, called “common schools”, were made to increase opportunity for
the poorer lower classes
○ By 1860, all northern states had public schools. Southern states opposed this, as they
feared lower classes and slaves being educated
Abolitionism was the biggest reform movement in the 19th century:
○ Colonizationist movement gained popularity in early 1800s:
■ Wanted to ship former slaves back to Africa, and American Colonization Society
managed to make Liberia a homeland for ex-slaves
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■ Most free blacks opposed this idea, and protested for equality
○ By 1830, abolitionists became more extreme, and gained popularity due to speeches
similar to those in the Second Great Awakening:
■ Brought religion and slavery together in North, by claiming that slavery was a sin
○ American Anti-slavery society was not only about ending slavery, but also about equality
Many Americans opposed abolition, so slavery remained:
○ Resistance to abolition was very violent
○ Congress passed the “gag rule” of 1836, prohibiting members of congress from
discussing emancipation
Black abolitionists, such as Frederick Douglas, battled slavery and racism
○ Their eloquence and education helped their movements,
CRASH COURSE 16
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Women fought to improve prisons, schools, end slavery, etc
Women in colonial era:
○ Lower/working class women more “equal” to lower class men because both were poor
○ Higher class women had more restrictions, but also longest life expectancy because never
did strenuous activity
○ Viewed as property of their husbands
○ Couldn’t own property
■ Couldn’t vote since you needed property to vote
Idea of Republican motherhood:
○ Women were important because they got pregnant and raised children, specifically males,
who would one day be important to society and had to teach them nation’s ideals
○ Women needed to be educated more so they could teach their children
Counted in population of state for representation in Congress
Cult of domesticity:
○ Believed that a woman’s place was at home, providing for their husbands and family
○ Even women agreed with this because the idea of gender equality was viewed as radical,
so basically no one believed it
Market Revolution affected women’s place in society:
○ Poor women started working in factories, as domestic servants or as seamstresses
■ Very low waged
○ Some middle class women were teachers, but were supposed to stay at home
○ If they were married, didn’t even have control over the little money they earned
Women who were not working tried to help w/ reform movements
Moral center of home became the moral center of the nation
○ Examples: Aiding mentally ill, prohibiting sale of alcohol
Women’s Christian Temperance Union was formed in 1874 by Frances Willard:
○ Gave lectures about alcohol abuse
○ It was a lobbying group, and helped women throughout states so that women could
successfully lobby against things:
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■ Women could do more with ability to vote, wanted ability to vote
○ Wanted right to vote to pass laws about:
■ Abusive/drunken husbands
■ The right to be able to divorce their husbands
■ The right to own property, etc.
Women very important to anti-slavery movement:
○ Maria Stewart was the first African American to lecture mixed gender audiences
○ Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote ​Uncle Tom’s Cabin:
■ This book introduced the idea that African American people were people,
humanized them
○ Sarah and Angela Grimké, who were daughters of a slave owner, converted to Quakerism
and spoke out against slavery
■ In 1838 Sarah published ​Letters on the Equality of the Sexes
Women studying slavery noticed something familiar:
○ On the other side, many men fighting against slavery still denied women rights
■ They thought fighting for women's rights would undermine the anti-slavery
movement because there were women in every part of the country, unlike slavery
○ Pro-slavery supporters argued that ending slavery would start a chain, like giving women
more rights, which they believed was bad
Women’s suffrage process:
○ In 1848 the Seneca Falls Convention was held
■ Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and others wrote and published the
Declaration of Sentiments, which was based on Declaration of Ind.
Women’s right movement became international
○ Consisted of mostly upper and middle class, but still acknowledged working class
women, slaves and their struggle
○ Faced strong resistance throughout country
The equal rights amendment that was passed by congress was never ratified in the end