Era of Good Feelings

1. Era of Good Feelings 1815-1840 Chapter 8

2. The American System • The War of 1812 significantly jumpstarted American industry- after all- we didn’t have a choice. But peace brought renewed competition from British manufacturers. • Henry Clay (and John C Calhoun) believed strongly that the government should provide protection for the American economy • Proposed: A new National Bank (1st bank’s charter expired 1811) a increased tariff, and the building of roads and canals to help commerce (funded by tariff-and that’s the part that didn’t go through, until civil war internal improvements built by states or private companies) • Controversial b/c it raised strict vs. loose construction issues again.

3. Second Bank of United States • Lack of a bank during the war had been a problem for US- local banks issues their own paper currency, which devalued and hurt war effort • Went through in 1816 (even Jefferson supported)- with another 20 year charter and 3.5x more capital than 1st bank. • Controversial b/c it was a business as well as the government’s financial agent. Could issue $$- regulating the supply of paper currency in circulation to make sure it was backed by Specie, pay gov’t debts, and collect taxes. • Critics condemned b/c it was more accountable to it’s investors than to the people

4. Last of the “Virginia Dynasty” James Monroe • Death knell of the Federalists- they ran their last candidate (Rufus King) in 1816- cease to function as an opposition party • 4 of 5 presidents had been from Virginia- governed 32 of 36 years of the republic

5. Era of Good Feelings • Period from 1816-1824 known as “Era of Good Feelings” b/c there is strong nationalism and Dem-Reps are the only political game in town. But the title is deceptive, as there were serious issues lurking under the surface • Sectionalism (which includes issues with tariff, slavery, internal improvements, sale of public lands, Indian removal) • Dislike of Bank • Panic of 1819 • 2 party system will return in the 1830s

6. Panic of 1819 • 1st fiscal crisis since beginning of nation (have had econ probs, but this is more about cash flow)From this time forward we’ll have one about every 20 years until great depression- thanks Adam Smith • Caused by • End of war created huge demand in Eng for US cotton • Land speculation (for cotton lands)- banks put out too many risky loans- many of which end in foreclosure • Results of • Rekindling political hostilities- est between West (the farmers) who come to distrust National Bank and East (the bankers) who think farmers are greedy • Gov’t steps in and make getting western land easier (by the civil war they are giving it away!)

7. Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall (hey, there is still one federalist out there!) Chief Justice 1800-1835 • Significantly increased the power of the federal government over the states – which is a big argument at the time- and hammers it until the Dem Reps are on board • Checked the excesses of the popularly elected state legislatures • Put limits on democracy at a time when democracy is growing significantly (age of Jackson) keeping it from running wild.

8. McCulloch v Maryland • State of Maryland- which doesn’t like the National Bank passed a law taxing the Baltimore branch- which they hope will destroy it, and challenging its constitutionality. • Branch refuses to pay- so state sues manager- James McCulloch for failure to pay taxes • Supreme Court dismissed charges against McCulloch, and goes to the heart- is the bank Constitutional. Marshall says yes- and says the states cannot tax the federal government (est. the supremacy of Fed over State)

9. Dartmouth v. Woodward • Protection of property rights from states • Dartmouth college (In New Hampshire) had a royal charter issued in 1769. State wants to revoke charter and make it a state institution. • Ruling: the charter is a contract, and states cannot violate it (unless it goes against the law). • Significance: Safeguards private businesses, but also allows corporations to circumvent gov’t control

10. Gibbons v. Ogden • Regulation of Interstate Commerce • NY issued a monopoly on Hudson river commerce (Between NY and NJ) to a private company owned by Ogden. Gibbons had congressional approval to conduct business in same area- whose contract is valid? • Marshall says Congress overrules states- b/c of supremacy and b/c it is “Interstate” commerce (which is specifically mentioned in the Constitution

11. Sectional Tensions • New England and South have been arguing since the revolution- but expansion of country and new econ patterns have created an “us” and “them” mentality between North and South which will define national relations in the early 1800s • There will be consistent arguments, which will grow increasingly heated- and multiple compromises

12. Territorial Agreements • John Q Adams was Sec of State- ardent expansionist- and negotiated treaties to expand American Territory • Convention of 1818: settled border Canada along 49th parallel. Also agreed to joint occupation of Oregon territory for 10 years (renewed 1827) • Adams- Onis Treaty: Got Florida for US, defined the Southern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase, and Set Southern boundary of Oregon territory

13. Expansion and Slavery • As the country grew- the number of slaves was growing too - even though importation of slaves was outlawed in 1808. • Tobacco had exhausted a lot of eastern land- and in hard times people tend to pick up and to a new area (“Go West Young Man”) Indians are out of the way • Still lots of territory out there suitable for cotton farming, and that means people buying land and settling will want to take slaves. Is that OK?

15. Missouri Compromise • One way to balance sectional tensions was to ensure that there was an equal number of slave and free states • 1819 Missouri applied for addition to the Union as a slave state- and Missouri is farther north than any other slave area (on same latitude as IL and IN) • Northern states propose Tallmadge Amendment: saying no more slaves brought to MO, and gradual emancipation of those there- South goes NUTS • Henry Clay Compromise: Balance with Maine as a free state, and no more slavery north of 36 30 line. • “Balance” becomes policy for 34 years (until K-N Act in 1854) Slavery becomes the dominant issue in American domestic policy- and South begins to increase their sectional nationalism

17. Monroe Doctrine – Latin American Revolutions • When Napoleon was in power he conquered Spain. that disruption - as well as the inspiration of the American, French, and Haitian independence, led to a wave of revolutions around Latin America between 1810-1822. This was good for US b/c it opened trade with those areas (they had been subject to their own navigation acts) • Spain in no shape to reconquer- but there was concern that other European nations might try to step in • British were also trading with Latin America- and suggested a joint declaration warning European nations not to interfere with the newly liberated areas.

18. Monroe Doctrine 1823 • What British really want is to pull US in with them- so we are both bound by same restrictions etc… Sec of State John Q Adams sees through that. • President issues Monroe Doctrine: • No more European colonization in New World • We will stay out of wars of Europe (neutrality) • Let new countries alone • Important b/c it is another example of being our own boss etc… also stays (sort of) with Isolationist policies set by Washington- we are staying out of Europe, they should stay away from Americas • In the end, it works, not b/c anyone is scared of us (we weren’t scary then) but b/c Europe is busy, and they decide Americas are all played out anyway

20. Election of 1824 • Dem – Reps were still the only “party”, but by this point they are no longer unified: 5 Dem-Rep candidates run in 1824 reflecting both regional and philosophical differences • John Q Adams: Sec of State, MA, New Eng manufacturing • John C Calhoun: Sec of War, SC (drops out) • William H Crawford: Sec of Treas, GA Plantation aristocracy • Henry Clay: Speaker of the House, KY, Amer. System (west) • Andrew Jackson: Sen from TN, War Hero, “Common Man” • No shock- no one gets majority of electoral votes (though Jackson gets plurality)- election goes to House of Reps

22. The “Corrupt Bargain” • Rules say you choose from top 3- and that is Jackson, Adams and Crawford. But candidate 4, Clay, is speaker, and therefore in control of election….and he HATES Jackson (who was is rival in the west) • So Clay uses his influence to make sure Adams becomes president… and low and behold a few days later, Adams announces Clay will be Sec of State. • Jackson and supporters FLIP- but in reality, there is no evidence of any wrongdoing…. Clay was well qualified for job, and Adams was ridiculously honest. • Casts shadow over Adams’ presidency- Jackson and supporters spend every minute trying to take him down. • Will led to breakup of the Dem-Rep party

23. Presidential Rankings: C-Span Survey, 2009 29. Zachary Taylor 30. Benjamin Harrison 31. Martin Van Buren 32. Chester Arthur 33. Rutherford Hayes 34. Herbert Hoover 35. John Tyler 36. George W. Bush 37. Millard Fillmore 38. Warren Harding 39. William Harrison 40. Franklin Pierce 41. Andrew Johnson 42. James Buchanan

24. The New Democracy • A shift in thinking is happening in 1820s politicians are making more and more effort to appeal to masses (as opposed to elite) Banners, Badges, Babykissing, parties and free drinks • Change from Jefferson (gov’t FOR the people) to Jackson (gov’t BY the people) • Universal white manhood suffrage mean more people have a voice- and when things go wrong (like panic of 1819) they are MAD and want solutions. • 2 party system will re-emerge: Democrats and Whigs

25. Nationalism and John Q Adams • Adams had a vision for national greatness. (Embraced Clay’s American System- wanted tariffs, internal improvements, sound $$ policy) but accomplished almost none of it. • Too much his father’s son….obnoxious and disliked, round 2

26. Opposition to Adams • Some saw him as too elitist. (harkening back to federalists) • Others thought American system unconstitutional- or sectionally biased • But in reality- he didn’t work well with others, so good ideas like a national university, astronomical observatory and Naval Academy get shouted down

27. Tariff Battles • Big issues of Adams’ presidency • Tariff of 1816 already taxed textiles, in 1824 Henry Clay proposed an increase from 23%- 37%, a popular move in New Eng (which is already the only areas that likes Adams) but very unpopular in South and West • Jackson and supporters are looking at election of 1828- and in a tricky political move- decide to support, and even expand tariffs (propose 45%) so southern and western voters will blame Adams for increased prices

28. Tariff of Abominations 1828 • So the tariff passes, and as predicted, New Eng happy (but they wouldn’t support Jackson anyway) West ok, (some parts are helpful to them) and South is MAD- swings them fully into the Jackson camp. • South is screaming about abuse of federal power and states’ rights (get used to it, you’ll hear it a lot) John C Calhoun writes “South Carolina Exposition” talking about nullification (like VA and KY resolutions)

30. Land and Indian Policies • One more reason for West to dislike Adams and support Jackson. He tried to slow sales of public lands (fearing speculation etc..) and he supported Native American land claims. • 1825 tried to save Creek and Cherokee land claims in Georgia. Governor went against him and took lots of land anyway.

31. Election of 1828 • Jackson and supporters plotted ceaselessly from 1824-28. Martin Van Buren in charge of campaign- and creates a new party to do it (old Dem-Rep of Jefferson dies) with the first modern “political machine” • Democrats: Andrew Jackson, “Old Hickory”- party of the Common Man (Irony- he owns a huge plantation and is filthy rich) • National Republicans: Adams. Refuses to “run”, which makes him even easier to beat

32. Mudslinging • Jackson supporters have plenty to say- call Adams cold, intellectual (as opposed to active) and out of touch with ordinary Americans • Adams doesn’t go negative- but others do (about Jackson) saying that his wife Rachel is an adulteress b/c her divorce might not have been finalized when she and Jackson married. She died about a month after election, and Jackson blamed her death on his opponents

33. “JacksonianDemocracy” • Supported Universal White Suffrage, and elections organized by national parties • Wanted to reduce the role of the federal gov’t in people’s lives, however (to the surprise of many supporters) did NOT support state’s rights. Big veto man (he used it 12 times- first six combined had used it 10) his way or the highway • Opponents called him “King Andrew I”

34. Andrew Jackson’s Presidency 1829-37 • Jackson is the 1st president from the West, and whom did not grow up with an elite background (orphaned young, no college education) • Political views are complex and contradictory- don’t really fit into any mold but “Jacksonian”. • He’s rich, but doesn’t like rich people • He loves democracy – but not for blacks slaves • He likes federal power- as long as he has it - but hates other federal institutions (the court, the bank etc..)

35. Presidential Rankings: C-Span Survey, 2009 29. Zachary Taylor 30. Benjamin Harrison 31. Martin Van Buren 32. Chester Arthur 33. Rutherford Hayes 34. Herbert Hoover 35. John Tyler 36. George W. Bush 37. Millard Fillmore 38. Warren Harding 39. William Harrison 40. Franklin Pierce 41. Andrew Johnson 42. James Buchanan

36. The Spoils System • The idea of “party machine” is that politicians trade votes for favors- and a big, plummy favor are gov’t jobs and contracts. • Spoils System- As soon as he becomes president Jackson sets out to reward his friends, and get rid of enemies. Packed gov’t jobs with party loyalists (up until now bureaucratic posts had not been part of party system) • Patronage- he rotated a number of people through jobs to make sure he got a chance to reward everyone

38. The Eaton Affair • Sometimes an issue that seems trivial leads to bigger stuff • Peggy Eaton was wife of Sec of War (John Eaton) and she was snubbed for being a woman of “loose virtue”- other cabinet wifes/gov’t officials refused to be with her or invite her to their homes esp. Mrs. John C Calhoun (wife of VP) • Jackson (remembering slanders on his wife) stood up for Mrs. Eaton- and fell out with VP Calhoun

39. Kitchen Cabinet • Jackson essentially stops meeting with his “official” advisors, and relies more an more on another “unofficial” group. Some are politicians, some business owners, some newspapermen (Jackson 1st pres interested in “spin”) some old friends. • Made Congress mad- b/c they had no say in these people, saw them as a threat to checks and balances. But not actually unconstitutional- presidents are free to consult with whomever they would like

40. Nullification Crisis • Southerners were annoyed with Jackson- he’s supposed to be one of them, and they don’t feel he begins by acting in their best interests. • Plus- Tariff of abominations still in place- and south is MAD 1832 Jackson offers to lower from 45-35%, not enough for them • Webster Hayne Debate: Sectional showdown between West/South and North/East over land sales. • Sen Robert Hayne (SC) rep. states’ rights. Said New Eng was selfish and disloyal (1812) said nullification a valid option. • Sen Daniel Webster (now from MA) insisted the states had no right to nullify- New Eng had to go along in 1812… • Result- each side thinks they win, further entrench arguments

42. Ordinance of Nullification • South Carolina calls a state convention which declared all the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void. Said SC would secede if gov’t tried to make them pay • John C Calhoun (still VP) secretly drafted ordinance (based on VA and KY resolutions) and argued that since states had ratified the Constitution, they had the final say in laws. • By challenging the authority of the law- SC directly challenged Jackson’s presidency- and he didn’t think it was funny. Threatened SC with martial law (supported by congress who thought SC off deep end) • Henry Clay comes through with a compromise which would lower tariff over 8 years - back to 1816 • Stepping stone to Civil War

43. Jefferson Day Toast • Virginia held a Jefferson Day (birthday) celebration- and John C Calhoun devised a plan to try to trick Jackson into a State’s Rights commitment • Everyone was to go around the room and give a toast to Jefferson, and Calhoun planned it so toast would get more and more pro-south, he hoped Jackson would get caught into making a public statement. • Jackson heard about plan though- and refused to toast- which illustrated split between Calhoun/Jackson, and Jackson/southern aristocracy. Calhoun finally resigned 1832 (went back to senate)

44. Indian Removal • Since 1790s native American tribes had been treated as separate nations- but treaties were routinely violated when whites wanted land. • Lots of pressure to move all natives west of Mississippi- but a sticky situation were the “civilized” tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole) But in 1828 GA decides they all have to go (there is gold on Cherokee land)- and Jackson agrees • Indian Removal Act of 1830- created Reservations in OK and KA guaranteeing land to tribes who would go voluntary – but Cherokee refuse and take case to Supreme Court….

45. Cherokee Nation v Georgia • Cherokee offered their treaty in 1791 (signed by Washington himself!) and evidence of assimilation (written lang, a constitution, education system) • Supreme court recognizes Cherokee as a “domestic Dependent Nation” with some autonomy, but without full sovereignty. Chief Justice Marshall did condemn Jackson’s actions in his opinion.

46. Black Hawk Wars Seminoles • Cherokees aren’t the only ones who don’t want to move. Sauk and Fox tribes, led by Chief Black Hawk, decide to fight- but get crushed (opens western Michigan territory) • Ordered to merge with Creeks- their long standing enemy. They refuse, and begin guerilla attacks on US troops in FL (and kill 1500). Most of the tribe ends up moved- but a good chunk just hide in the swamps

47. Trail of Tears 1838 • Jackson eventually sends in federal troops to supervise the relocation of Cherokee. 18,000 Native Americans are forced to abandon their lands and march over 1000 miles. • Over 4000 die of malnutrition, exposure and disease along the way • Similar problems for other tribes- 3500/15,000 Creeks, and 25% of Choctaws

49. The Bank War • Alexander Hamilton had created the National Bank to create financial stability, which it did. • Reduce bank failures • Issued sound banknotes • Made credit and currency available nationally • Safe depository for gov’t funds, and kept it from being another sectional issue • But by the time it was re-chartered in 1816 it was becoming associated with elitism, and Jacksonian democrats came to symbolize econ tensions (Called it the “moneyed monster”)