Beginnings of Modern American Democracy

1. Beginnings of Modern American Democracy 1824-1844

2. Politics and Society • 1824 Election- John Quincy Adams • Marks a major turning point for elections. • Candidates typically picked by: • State legislatures • Voters (1824) • Congressional Caucuses (congress men) • Conflict of interests…. • Friends nominating friends- Challenged • Demise of caucuses • John Quincy Adams wins • Jackson determined to take 1828

3. Continued…John Quincy Adams • Presidency slowed down by opposing Congress. • Federalist background • Federalist tendencies • Favored strong central government • Congress (including Jackson) grew extremely suspicious of Adams and turned down many of his proposals.

4. Andrew Jackson &Road to the 1828 election • Very temperamental- nicknamed “Old Hickory” • Violent tendencies, killed two men in a duel. • “Father” of the Democratic Party. • Dissatisfied with how the 1824 election turned out (“abuse of power”), he was determined to win the 1828 election. • Favored stronger states- state’s rights. • Many controversial events surrounded Jackson. • Wanted a “smaller” central government yet used his power as president (veto) several times. • On the other hand, also sets precedent for a stronger role as president.

5. Continued… • On the road to the 1828 elections, Jackson had a very devout group of followers. • From political officials to newspaper publishers, Jackson had a various array of supporters- became known as today’s Democratic Party. • Campaigning during this time. • 1828 Campaign: Adams v Jackson • Accusations- Coffin Handbill

6. Winning the 1828 election • Wins by a very large margin • First President NOT from Virginia or an Adams • Wins by a very large margin • People’s President (Commoner- Self made) • On the day of his inauguration, he opened the doors of the white house for all to come. • Interests of the West • Replaces certain government officials with those more than likely to favor his ideals. • Spoils system

7. Jacksonian Democracy • Replaces Jeffersonian Republicanism • REMEMBER!!! The Republican party we know today won’t exist until Lincoln. • Although Jackson admired Jefferson’s ideals, unlike Jefferson’s presidency, Jackson’s presidency was not a vision of how a government should function. • Jefferson: middle/ upper class- educated-property holders. • Jackson: Universal white man-hood suffrage (not only limited to white who owned property. Not as a great of a thinker as Jefferson. • Both: favored a nation with yeomen farmers , limiting power of central government, agrarian economy and distrust of banks.

8. Continued… • Strong presidency • Sets precedent for future presidents when he used his power to veto. Not the first president to actually use this power but the first to do so for political purposes. • Strengthens the power of the presidency. • Challenged Congress AND Supreme Court which in turn strengthened his popularity. • Champions of liberty- HOWEVER- very controversial in this topic (trail of tears) . • His way or no way (shuts down the 2nd B.U.S).

9. Indian Removal Act • Jackson’s most criticized policy. • Natives considered “foreign nations”.- Rhetoric started with the British but continued after U.S independence. • HOWEVER: Jefferson (amongst other Americans) believed that assimilation was the best option (we will see this take place post Civil War). • Cherokees- considered one of the “Five Civilized Tribes”- (east of the Mississippi River) • Written language • Practiced Christianity • Owned slaves • Constitution- Government • Gold discovered on Cherokee land (cause of enforcement although proposed during Monroe)

10. Continued….Challenging Supreme Court • Marshall ruled in favor of the Native Americans. • Cherokees sue in the Supreme Court (they try to sue as a “foreign nation”. • Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)- John Marshall ruled that- not a foreign state, therefore, cannot sue- relationship between Native Americans to the U.S is like that of a “ward to it’s guardian.” • Yet, Supreme Court suggested had this been a proper case, it would more than likely support the Cherokees. • Worcester v. Georgia (1832) • Jackson refuses to comply with Supreme Court. • “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.”

11. Trail of Tears • Removed the Indians west of the Mississippi (Cherokees) • 4,000 walked to Oklahoma • Many didn’t make it • One of the many times Native Americans had been mistreated and removed from their territories. We will see this trend happen again after the Civil War when many Southerners move west. Native Americans will then be placed on reservations. This continues until the 1960s-70s during all the “rights revolutions”.

12. Nullifications • Major issue during Jackson’s presidency • States are allowed to “disobey” state laws if found unconstitutional. • Virginia/ Kentucky resolution (last week) • Wins by a very large margin • Almost turns into a national crisis. • Tariff of 1828- Tariff of Abominations • Protective Tariffs on Northern production. • V.P John C. Calhoun publishes “The South Carolina Exposition and Protest” • Jackson opposed nullification only because he believed it would endanger the Union. • Tariff of 1832 attempted to reduce taxes but not sufficiently • South Carolina nullifies • Force Bill • CAUSE-EFFECT: Precursor to the Civil War.

13. Second B.U.S • Jackson distrusted strong federal governments and banks. • Extensive use of the power to veto. • 2nd BUS- vetoed congress’s attempt to re-charter the bank. (Bank War) • Nicholas Biddle (President of the BUS applies for the re-charter of the bank early (1832, set to expire 1836). • Jackson’s vetoes the re-charter • Jackson withdraws federal money and places in state banks. • Also distrusted use of paper money. Preferred use of specie. • Specie Circular (eventually overturned)  Money Shortage Panic of 1837

14. Issues with Slavery • Northern abolition continues to grow stronger • Many slave revolts in the South • Nat Turner Rebellion • Vision from God for rebellion (black liberation) • Killed 60 whites • 200 slaves killed • Black Codes- prohibits education (this changes later in the South- paternal)

15. 1836 ElectionRise of the Whigs • Since Jackson couldn’t satisfy everyone’s interests, an opposition party (Whigs) was formed. • Strong federal government (government activism) • Religious • Most important characteristic: disliked Democrats • Martin Van Buren wins (Jackson’s V.P) • Country entered economic turmoil inherited by Van Buren (Panic of 1837) • Continued hard money policymoney shortage deregulation of banks  risky loans  banks closing  unemployment  high cost of food • Popularity declines • Doesn’t win two terms

16. William Henry Harrison- John Tyler Presidencies • Harrison (1841) first Whig President. Dies month after inauguration contracted pneumonia • It has been said this is because he didn’t cover up sufficiently during his inauguration. • John Tyler (Whig but former Democrat) • Had Democratic ideologies and executed them  state’s rights v. strong federal government. • Vetoed several Whig bills • “President without a party”

17. Economic History 1800-1860 • Road to Civil War • Characteristic of Country’s Regional Needs • Social Issues

18. Market Economy • War of 1812 caused the U.S to rely on itself for manufactured items/ goods v. being so reliant on imports stronger domestic economy (cause-effect) • Market economy begins to develop – trade their labor/ goods for cash  purchase other people’s goods/ labor. • Dependent on just one cash crop which is seen as better than producing multi-culture. • Benefits v. Downside • Boom-and-bust cycle

19. Continued… • “First Industrial Revolution” • Eli Whitney develops the • Cotton Gin causes the south to rely heavily on slave labor. • Interchangeable parts  machine-tool industry  assembly line (Henry Ford). • Immediately benefit the textile industry.

20. North and the Textile Industry • War of 1812 (focusing on foreign economy) influenced the development of textile mills in the New England states. • Invention of Power Loom eliminates the need for the “middle man” (women) produce and finish fabric within the factory, no need to out source. • Women begin to buy cloth v. making them at home for themselves.

21. Continued… • Rapid growth leads to labor shortages • To attract laborers Lowell System (housing, cash wages, etc…) • 1830s-40s strong wave of Irish immigration which made labor plentiful (in other words, no need to provide housing and other luxuries and possibly higher wages to non-immigrant laborers) • Racial riots • Labor unions  Gilded Age • Types of conditions  Gilded Age/ Progressive Era • Leads to the creation of other industries: clothing manufactures  retailers  brokers  commercial banks  transportation industry (need)

22. Transportation • Highways • National Road (transportation east-west more plausible) • Erie Canal (1825): Funded by NY • Center of commerce • Needed to be doubled • Copied • Hello railroads, good bye canals (1850s) • Steamships • Made travel a lot quicker • NY to England: 10 days v. Month(s) • Negative “side-effects” • Railroads • Issues with connectors  slow process  $$ incentive from government  encourages faster railroad expansion/ building. • Leads to invention of the telegraph  blue print for the phone.

23. Farming • Still, most common force of livelihood • Farming revolutionized by mechanization • Growth of market economy changes farming • Markets acted as the “middle men” in order for farmers to gain better profit for their food. • Also leads to the eventual “farmers complaints” during the farmers boom. • Due to soil exhaustion and the minimal space available for farming, it slowly dies down in the N.E  anti-slavery ideologies, economy had no need for slaves. • Banks lend out to farmers (expected to pay back by profit made with crops) • Eventually make farmers high risk for loans • Many economic crisis lead banks to close (Panic of 1837) • Leads to poverty • Mid-West: Grains and Corn (bread basket) • South: tobacco and cotton (50% of WORLDS supply)

24. Westward Expansion • Manifest Destiny; God given right to expand territories. (Cause-effect/ prior knowledge- early notion of imperialism?) • Canada, Mexico, all of the Americas would potentially be owned by the U.S. • Western settlement dangerous • Terrain • Climate • Native Americans

25. Texas • Mexico declares independence from Spain. • How is Mexico going to entice settlers to move to their territories? • Land for citizenship • Wins by a very large margin • Tensions with Mexico • Alamo • Republic of Texas • Slavery admittance to Union?

26. Oregon Territory • G.B, Native American and Russian presence in the area • G.B and U.S see Russia as a threat • U.S draws up a treaty: divides territories at 49th Parallel G.B disapproves • Polk (President) focuses on War with Mexico instead (doesn’t want to fight two wars at once). • Eventually treaty signed with G.B which states the Oregon belongs to the U.S up until the 49th parallel.

27. California • Also former Mexican territory. • 1848- Gold Rush  100,000+ people flock to the “Golden State” (Forty-Niners) • Also discover amazing climate- great for agriculture. • Access to the Pacific Ocean  Trade centers = $$

28. Regional Conflicts and Sectional Strife • Road to Civil War? • North • South • West • Different economical needs lead to further stands on slavery and eventually one of the tenets of the Civil War.

29. Society 1800-1860 • Economic growth leads to social change • Cotton Gin heavily influences the South’s strong dependence on slavery • Industrialization creates a new center of commerce in our nation, but- also creates impoverished/ immigrant neighborhoods that later produce the need for social reform (Gilded Age- Progressive Era) • Westward Expansion- new frontiers also expansion of territory for the U.S

30. The North (Cities) • Nation’s industrial and commercial center • Benefits: • Jobs- many moved to cities in search of work. • Opportunities for social advancement- school, labor unions. • Middle- Higher class; asserted more influence in government (cause and effect for the political machines/ big business owners during the S.I.R) • Leisure- just as established during the colonial times communal, social

31. Continued…Social Classes in the North • Elite: very few. Led lives of power and comfort. • Middle class: professionals. Make enough money for women to be able to stay at home  cult of domesticity (Republican Motherhood?)  1950s. Luxury goods. • Working class: low paying jobs, women worked at home. • Poverty: recent immigrants (Germans-West), (Irish- North). Often faced hostility job competition  religion • Need for municipal police

32. The Southern Society • Few urban centers  rural, isolated areas. • Family- Church- everything else. • Little infrastructure or travel routes. • Elite: Aristocratic Plantation Owners • Less than 1% owned more than 100 slaves  shows how much political power they had. • Paternalism towards the slaves  church/ education. • Slave living conditions and revolts. • Yeomen: Mostly Scottish/ Irish- working small land with family-possibly a slave. • Landless Whites: tenant farmers • Free Blacks: Black code limitations- prejiduce- mulattoes- some lived in luxury

33. Western Society and Frontier Living. • Boundaries constantly changing. (1800-1840s) • Government encouraged western settlement. Sold land for reduced prices. • Squatters • Grain and dairy farming (breadbasket) & transportation makes it easier to trade. • Fur trading (mountain men)  made first government in Oregon Territory • Cattle Ranchers- miners • Hard to survive but still offered many opportunities. • Women working on the field (men’s work) acceptable.

34. Religious and Social Movements • Second Great Awakening- produces many social reforms. • Revival mainly within Methodists, Presbyterian and Baptist religions. • Another Enlightenment • Burned-over districts- revivals • Ideology of saving humanity from themselves. • Women’s movement Temperance Societies. • Drinking- gambling- lotteries become illegal and so does prostitution. • 18th-19th Amendment • Penitentiaries, asylums and orphanages.

35. Reform Movements of the Era • Shakers; Quakers. • Neglectful of afterlives • Some lived on communes • Granted equal rights- women • Celibacy • Helps bring movement to an end. • Brook Farm (1841); Very notable writers • Transcendentalists (European romanticism) had faith in the perfectibility of humans. • Nathaniel Hawthorne • Ralph Waldo Emerson • Henry David Thoreau

36. Continued…. • Mormons- Joseph Smith – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1830 • Polygamy • Illinois • Moved to Salt Lake Valley (desert to farm) • Utah- Mitt Romney! • Women Suffrage: • Many women active part of abolition movement yet denied access to participate at a world-wide anti-slavery movement (cause for women to hold first women’t right convention (1848) Seneca Falls. • Declaration of Rights and Sentiments of Women • Susan B. Anthony  National Women Suffrage Association. • Education : Horace Mann • Educational reform- standardized books, lengthened school year, teacher training.

37. Abolition Movement • Moderates: slow abolition • Immediatists: emancipation immediately. • William Lloyd Garrison: Liberator (1831) • American Antislavery Society (1833)- newspaper caught up to the white abolitionists. • Sending blacks back to Africa was wrong. • Discussion becomes very heated Gag rule (automatically suppressed discussion of the slavery issue) Congress unable to pass laws regarding slavery  upsets northerners convinced to join movement. • Abolitionist supported fugitive slaves  Frederick Douglas (The North Star) Harriet Tubman Sojourner Truth (emancipation & women’s rights) • Social Movements + Westward Expansion= Civil War

38. Assessment & Reflection • Pg. 146-147