CHAPTER 13: THE RISE OF A MASS DEMOCRACY
The "Corrupt Bargain” or 1824
Know: Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, King Caucus, Corrupt Bargain
1. What was unusual about John Quincy Adams's victory in the presidential election of 1824?
Adams did not get the popular percentage, Jackson did with 42%. However, because JAckson was feared in the congress he received 99 electoral votes to 84 votes versus Adams. The decision was sent to the House of Representatives where Henry Clay used his considerable powers as house speaker to influence the vote in favor of Adams. This was called a corrupt bargain because after Adams was elected President Henry Clay was given a position of power.
A Yankee Misfit in the White House
2. Was John Quincy Adams well suited to be president? Explain.
Although John Quincy Adams had a long history in politics he was irritable, sarcastic, and tactless. Being a minority president he had difficulty getting support for any of his agendas rendering him an ineffective president. His personality made him like to be independent and a shut in which made him not well suited to be president.
Going "Whole Hog" for Jackson in 1828
Know: Old Hickory, Mudslinging, Rachel Robards
3. Describe the tone and tactics used in the 1828 election.
The election of 1828 used harsh mudslinging between the two parties and also went and talked amongst the public more often. They would have barbecues and "kiss babies" with their supporters for votes. Jackson was portrayed as a country frontiersmen to achieve votes from the souther and western states.
“Old Hickory” as President
Know: Inaugural Brawl, King Mob
4. What was there about Andrew Jackson which made him a man of the people?
Andrew Jackson did not fit into any one category. Although he was essentially a frontier aristocrat he did not look like an aristocrat. Jackson was also from the West (not the east which is where every other president is from) and began his life poor. He had a large temper and no college education (the second after George Washington). Jackson ws national figure at this point (he won the battle of New Orleans) giving him popularity.
Know: Spoils System, Rotation in Office
5. Defend Andrew Jackson's use of the Spoils System.
Andrew Jackson's excuse for the spoils system was t hat it is "better to bring in new blood; each generation deserved its turn at the public trough". Basically new ideas and point of views needed to cycle through the office, and it was helpful that those point of vies coincided with Jackson's.
The Tricky “Tariff of Abominations”
Know: Tariff of Abominations (of 1828), Denmark Vesey
6. What circumstances led to the passage of the Tariff of Abominations?
Jacksonites promoted a high tariff bill, expecting it to fail and hurt the President Adams, but it did pass and Jackson inherited the tricky issue. Southerners were hostile to tariffs because they were not protected overseas, only manufacturing.
"Nullies" in South Carolina
Know: Nullies, Henry Clay, Tariff of 1833, Force Bill
7. Describe the nullification crisis.
South Carolina was hard hit by the tarriffs. A select few (of "nullies" in the legislature) attempted to get the necessary two thirds vote for nullification, but they couldn't until the new tarriff of 1832. They then declared the tariff to be null and void and threatened to leave the union. Jackson refused defiance or disunion and privately threatened to invade South Carolina. Henry Clay came up with a compromise that would pacify both sides.
Know: Cherokees, Five Civilized Tribes, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears, Indian Territory, The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Seminoles
8. What was particularly unfair about the treatment of the Cherokee Tribe?
Although the Cherokees were considered "civilized" they were still forced on the Trail of tears past the Mississippi. Also, the American government recognized them as an independent nation. Washington's government agreed to take land from the natives only through formal treaties, which Andrew Jackson completely ignored when he gave the go ahead to take their lands away.
Know: Bank of the United States, Nicholas Biddle
9. Do you agree or disagree with Nicholas Biddle’s nickname, “Czar Nicholas I?” Explain.
I agree with Nicholas's nickname in the way that the bank, just like the Czar's government, was corrupt and subject to only a select group of elites.
"He is best known as a reactionary tsar whose reign was marked by geographical expansion, repression of dissent, economic stagnation, poor administrative policies, a corrupt bureaucracy, and frequent wars that culminated in Russia's defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-56. " - Nicholas I of Russia.
"Old Hickory" Wallops Clay in 1832
10. What two things were unique about the election of 1832?
For the first time a third party ran for presidency the Anti- Masonic party (who were also anti Jackson). There was also a calling of a national nominating convention. Where running mates came together and adopted formal platforms.
Know: Mandate, Pet Banks, Specie Circular
11. "Andrew Jackson's killing of the BUS forced him to issue the Specie Circular." Assess.
Instead of waiting for the BUS charter to expire, he forced the issue and tried to destroy it. He withdrew money from BUS and put it into pet banks. Biddle fought back by calling back loans from smaller banks and so many smaller, "wildcat banks" and farms got foreclosed. "Wildcat" currency became really unreliable that Jackson had to issue a Specie Circular.
12. What is so alluring about being associated with “the common man?”
The common man was the majority and to defend him is like to defend the helpless. Democratic-Republicans (Jackson supporters) became the Democrats and everyone who opposed or dislike Jackson became the Whigs. Even though Jackson was for the common man, the Whigs claimed that the Democrats were corrupted and weren't for the common man. The Whigs, by absorbing the anti-Masonic party, declared they now defended the common man, the helpless.
Know: Favorite Son, William Henry Harrison, Martin Van Buren
13. Describe the development of the second party system from 1828-1836.
In the election of Jackson versus Adams in 1828 the two parties come into effect. Jackson becomes a democrat that is for the "common man". Where as Adams remains Democratic Republican and later his party turns into the whigs (which also argue that they stand for the "common people".).
Big Woes for the "Little Magician"
14. Why was Martin Van Buren unpopular?
From the beginning he started with severe handicaps. He's a machines made candidate and lots of Democrats resented him. He couldn't fill the passionate shoes of Jackson and the people felt let down. He also inherited Jackson's enemies and a rebellion in Canada rose incidents that threatened to trigger war with Britain and his attempt at neutrality failed. The antislavery North was raising problems and annexation of Texas was considered. Worst of all, Jackson made Van Buren deal with the depression he caused.
Depression Doldrums and the Independent Treasury
Know: Panic of 1837, Speculation, Divorce Bill, Independent Treasury
15. What caused the Panic of 1837, and what was done by the president to try and end it?
The panic of 1837 was caused by rampant overspeculation and other schemes of getting rich quickly. Jackson also caused it with the Bank War and the Specie Circular. The failure of crops helped the panic. Van Buren responded through the Divorce Bill which stated that the gov should divorce itself from banking and it set up an independent treasury where extra gov money was to be kept in vaults. The Divorce Bill was passed, repealed by the Whigs, then reenacted 6 years later.
Know: Stephen Austin, Davy Crockett
16. What made Texas so appealing to Americans?
Americans' hunger for more land. Especially for cotton. IN 1823, Stephen Austin was granted a huge tract of land to bring in 300 Am families. Texas was also a land for escaped convicts or criminals (G.T.T), Davy Crockett was one.
Know: Sam Houston, Santa Anna, Alamo, W. B. Travis, Goliad, Lone Star Republic, San Jacinto
17. How did Texas, a part of Mexico settled by Americans, become independent of both?
Texas declared independence in 1836 and called itself the Lone Star Republic. Texans fought Santa Anna in the Battle of Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna won against the alamo commander Colonel W.B. Travis. Sam Houston, president of Texas, led troops to the Battle of San Jacinto, which was a turning point and Santa Anna had to sign a document stating that Texas was independent and Andrew Jackson recognized that Texas was a nation.
Makers of America: Mexican or Texan?
Know: Moses Austin, Stephen Austin, Anglos
18. Did Texans ever really intend to become Mexican citizens, or did they feign allegiance to get land?
Moses Austin wanted to become Spanish to get cheap land and freedom of laws. He planned to gather 300 families to establish a colony in Texas. When he died, his son Stephen Austin took up his dream. The original Anglo-Texans ignored Mexican laws and officials including slavery laws. They fought back with violence. Stephen Austin sincerely tried to Mexicanize himself and his followers…until the Mexican gov got too arbitrary and authoritarian. They simply were greedy for land and called themselves "mexican" only when it suited them.
The Log Cabins and Hard Cider of 1840
Know: Log Cabin, Hard Cider, "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too"
19. What does the election of 1840 tell you about politics and voters in America at that time?
That superficialness was the norm and it worked well. Hard cider was given out and slogans like "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" were sung and issues or problems were hidden. People voted for the "better" president, or "better politician". The whigs have no platform or issues that they address. The parties used catchy phrases to catch up the common people to vote for their candidate.
20. Is the federal government today more concerned with the “common man” or “aristocracy?” Explain.
Today's government professes to be more concerned with the common man, they talk alot about saving the middle class.
21. Who were the Democrats and what did they believe? The Whigs?
They were the common man's party and they believed in champion of the liberty of the individual and were against the progress of privilege into government and they were made up of the lower classes (farmers in South, West, rural areas); they believed in states' rights and federal restraint in social and economic affairs. The Whigs were the upper class's party and they favored a renewed national bank, protective tariffs, internal improvements, public schools, and prohibition of liquor, and abolition (made up mostly of educated and wealthier classes and from the East). Both had social diversity though, from all classes.
Varying Viewpoints: What Was Jacksonian Democracy?
Know: Frederick Jackson Turner, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Richard Hofstadter
22. Explain at least three theories about what motivated the followers of Andrew Jackson.
Andrew Jackson and most of his Democratic followers feared the growing economic and political power exercised by these corporations. Their ability to amass wealth, through banking and manufacturing operations, and to influence and even coerce individual citizens, posed a threat to the Jeffersonian ideals that Jackson held dear.
