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The New Democrats: Jackson to Buchanan (1829-1861) - Political Evolution and Challenges

This overview delineates the evolution of the Democratic Party in the United States from Andrew Jackson's presidency through James Buchanan's administration (1829-1861). Key themes include Jackson's populism, the internal contradictions of the party, and their responses to economic crises, territorial expansion, and the pressing issue of slavery. The period witnessed major events such as the Indian Removal, the Bank War, the Mexican-American War, and the Compromise of 1850, ultimately leading to the sectional tensions that would ignite the Civil War.

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The New Democrats: Jackson to Buchanan (1829-1861) - Political Evolution and Challenges

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  1. The New Democrats Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison/Tyler, Polk, Taylor/Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan 1829-1861

  2. Andrew Jackson1829-1837

  3. Jackson • Hero to common man • Return to Jefferson • Cheap land • By 1833 all eastern Indians west of MS R. • Except Cherokees • Opposed internal improvements • Eliminated debt

  4. The Tariff Controversy • Modest reduction • SC threatens nullification • Jackson threatens force & gets tariff lowered – SC backs down • Precedent – force against states defying federal authority

  5. Bank War • Privilege attacked • Bank symbol for unfairness (monster) • “pet banks” • Flood of paper money • Speculative boom • 1832 reelected w/54% of vote • Beat Clay

  6. Jackson • Aggressive – pushed congress • Peoples champion • The Veto • “spoils system” • Chief Justice Taney replaced Marshall

  7. Legacy • Extends freedom & opportunity • Common man now included • Democratic Party

  8. Democrat Contradiction • Party of states rights, slaveholders, & individual freedom

  9. Martin Van Buren1837-1841

  10. 1836 Election • VB defeats 3 Whigs • Adams-Clay Nat. Rep. Party • Anti-Jackson abuses • Public convinced nation going in right direction

  11. Problems • Texas issue • Trail of Tears (4000 die) • Panic of 1837 • Easy money = get rich quick speculative boom • Deep depression • Cotton fell 50%, banks suspend specie payments • Unemployed protest

  12. Independent Treasury est. • Gov’t $ buried in subtreasuries • Public lost trust in Jackson’s banking system • Huge opportunity for opposition party

  13. Whig Party Take Over • 1840 Harrison easily defeats Van Buren • Colorful campaign • Democratic defeat will not end Jackson paradigm • Dies in 30 days • John Tyler former Democrat • Betrayed Whig economic program • Stole victory from Whigs

  14. Democrats Back • 1844 Polk defeats Clay in close election • Program • Expansion - TX, CA, OR • Reduce tariff • Ind. Treas. • 1 term promise

  15. James K. Polk1845-1849

  16. Achievements • OR Terr. • Mexican War • Easy victory • CA & southwest • Gen. Zachary Taylor a hero • Reduced tariff • Ind. Treas. • Why were Dems. not rewarded

  17. The Wilmot Proviso • New terr. threatens sectional balance • Northern Dems betrayed by pro-South tilt of party • 1846 Sen. Wilmot antislavery • Bill would ban slavery from new terr. • Not just about slavery • economics & politics

  18. Northern View • South blocking nations industrial development • Protective tariff • RR subsidies • More slave states make it worse

  19. Southern View • North attracting immigrant wage earners • Urban centers • Controlling credit & investment $ • Fear becoming second class colony to tyrannical North • Must expand slavery west

  20. 12 Year Struggle • Sectional conflict • Slavery the topic • Economics & political power

  21. Election 1848 • Free Soil Party “Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men” • Took 10% of vote • “conscience” Democrats • Taylor defeats Cass • Whigs gain WH • Taylor dies • Fillmore pres.

  22. Millard Fillmore1850-1853

  23. Compromise of 1850 • Fate of slavery in new territories • Great senate debates • Henry Clay & Stephen Douglas • Terms • North got CA & DC slave trade abolished • South pop. sov. in NM & UT. & fugitive slave law • Did not repeal MO Compromise

  24. Uncertain Future • RR growth & CA gold = best economy since Panic 1837 • Abolitionism growing in NE • Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe • 1850’s 300,000 copies

  25. Franklin Pierce1853-1857

  26. Democrats Return to WH • 1852 slavery issue settled • Pierce schemes to add Cuba • Far West RR • Jefferson Davis South route (easier) • Stephen Douglas North route • 1854 KS-NE Act • Pop. Sov. • Repealed MO Compromise

  27. Tension Builds • Civil war in Kansas • Both sides send supporters

  28. Republicans • antislavery • Ex-Free Soilers & “conscience” Dems • All North & no compromise w/ South • Business policies • High tariffs & internal improvements • Federalist/Whig

  29. Election 1856 • “bleeding Kansas” • Dems pick Buchanan • Whigs break up • Republicans pick Fremont • “Know Nothing” Party pick Fillmore

  30. Results • Know-Nothings – 22% • Buchanan Dems – 45% • Republican 11 of 16 free states • South knows abolitionists going to be a problem

  31. James Buchanan1857-1861

  32. Disaster to Disaster • Dred Scott Case • Taney Court • Slavery legal in every terr. • North outraged

  33. Kansas • Proposed slave state • Rigged • North outraged • Douglas leads attack • MN & OR added free • KS denied

  34. Buchanan • Dominated by South • Interests of N & W ignored • Trying to pacify South • Cuba? • Mexico?

  35. John Brown • Raid on Harpers Ferry, VA • Celebrated in North – martyr • South stunned by North response

  36. Panic of 1857 • Deep depression • Cotton prices soared this time • South emboldened by economic power

  37. 1850’s Excess of Democracy • Changes in society, economy, frontier produced excess of individualism • General rejection of traditional political authority & solutions • Any attempt to curb individual behavior was undemocratic • “Mob rule” – Federalist greatest fear

  38. Election 1860 • Abe Lincoln (R) • Obscure • Against spread of slavery • Pro expanding industry • Stephen Douglas (D-North) • Powerful senator • John Breckinridge (D-South) • Southern Dems split from North

  39. Republicans • Exploited key contradiction in Dem • Individual freedom & slavery • Jefferson freedom w/ Hamilton’s economics • Promised free homesteads • Big party for all - except slavery • No room for credible opposition

  40. Republican Victory • Lincoln 40% • North finally in charge • No sympathy for South • South facing permanent minority status • SC & 10 others bolt from Union • Jackson paradigm split in two rival armies • Civil War

  41. Was It Just About Slavery? • Fight over the future • Wealth & power shifting North • Railroads replacing cotton as key to economy • 18 free vs. 15 slave states • Way of life (soil vs. industry & transportation) • Slavery tool crush the South

  42. Summary • 32 years • Return to Jefferson • Expand democracy • Fought privilege & helped common man • Extended frontier for ordinary people • Removed Indians • End national bank, lowered tariffs, cut fed spending • Dems dominate all three branches of govt

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