Chapter 10: The Triumph of White Men’s Democracy

AP United States HistoryWeek of December 6, 2015

Democracy in Theory and Practice

What is “democracy?” What is meant by a democratic society?

• During the 1820s and 1830s, American society grew more democratic

• Popular sovereignty

Social leveling and social mobility

Equality of opportunity (for white men)

Democracy in American Culture and Society

What is “democracy?” What is meant by a democratic society?

• Equality was seen as the governing principle in American society

• Family connections did not garner special privileges

• Men and women of all social classes adopted the same style of dress

• Organisation of professions changed

• Licensing requirements for doctors and lawyers changed

• Ministers worked more to please their congregations

• Popular press became an increasingly important source of information

• Also, an outlet for commentary and reformer: politics, slavery, the bank

• 1820s and 1830s were actually a time of growing inequality

Democracy in American Culture and Society, Part II

What is “democracy?” What is meant by a democratic society?

• New forms of art and literature

• Romanticism in literature, appealing to feelings and intuitions of ordinary people

• Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter

• Mass market for literature flowed from rise in literacy and revolution in printing

Democracy in American Culture and Society, Part III

What is “democracy?” What is meant by a democratic society?

• The new “democracy” was most evident in political institutions

• Broadening of electorate: almost all white men could vote

• Increase in proportion of elected (not appointed) public officials

• Emergence of the party system in politics

• Party out of power as the loyal opposition

• New process of nominating and electing presidents

• Electors chosen by popular vote resulted mobilizing grassroots voters

• Campaigning was carried out in all states

Economic and Labour Issues

Political debate and controversy in the 1820s and 1830s centered on economic questions. Remember: there is now a national economy that ties citizens, cities and farms together

• What do you do to help something like the Panic of 1819?

• No one really knew…

• But: debate over ideas led to emergence, growth of state party organizations

• Small farmers: no banks, paper money, easy credit

• Entrepreneurs: government aid, generous charters from state governments for businesses

• Followers of Andrew Jackson feared the “money power;” opponents feared Jackson’s tyrannical actions

• Labour unions emerged to protect workers’ rights during 1820s and 1830s

Jackson’s Rise to Power: The “Corrupt Bargain”

Andrew Jackson refashioned national politics and came to embody democracy in America, leading to the term “Jacksonian Democracy”

• How did Jackson rise to power?

• Procedurally: election of 1824 was decided by House of Representatives

• “Corrupt bargain”

• Jackson's supporters organized at state and local level

• Two-party system, expanded use of popular vote

• Widespread campaigning

• Jackson won mainly in the South, and by being a “man of the people”

• Jackson supported Indian removal

• Jackson’s administration featured defense of the “spoils system”

Policies of Andrew Jackson

Jackson and Indian RemovalOne of the great injustices in American history is the forced removal of Native Americans from the southeastern United States to beyond the Mississippi

• Fate of Native Americans was Jackson’s first major policy question

• Jackson favored removal (so had everyone else)

• 1828: Georgia extended state laws over the Cherokee, in violation the Constitution and treaties

• Jackson’s 1829 State of the Union: asserted states’ rights over Cherokee rights

• Advocated for swift removal

• Worcester v. Georgia, 1832 — Supreme Court denied states the right to extend jurisdiction over tribal lands

• Georgia defied ruling, Jackson condoned Georgia

• By 1833, all but Cherokee agreed to relocate

• Trail of Tears: Cherokee were forced to march, under military pressure (4,000 out of 16,000 died)

Jackson and The Nullification CrisisIn 1828, Congress passed a protective tariff, later known as the Tariff of Abominations. South Carolina’s desire to protect free trade (and slavery) led to their desire to nullify the tariff

• Tariffs increased prices southern farmers paid for manufactured goods

• Also threatened to incite counter protection abroad

• Vice President John C. Calhoun (of South Carolina) rose to their defense

• South Carolina affirmed nullification

• Jackson opposed nullification — battle over preservation of union vs. states rights

• 1832: Congress passed a new, lower tariff

• South Carolina voted to nullify both tariffs

• Congress enacted Force Bill, Jackson threatened to use military force

• Eventually, South Carolina rescinded nullification…but nullified Force Bill

• What did this crisis illustrate, going forward?

Jackson and The Second Bank of the US

The Bank of the United States was not only a controversial institution on its own merits, but it became the signature policy item of Jackson’s administration

• The Bank was blamed for the Panic of 1819

• Nicholas Biddle became bank president in 1823

• Why did Jeffersonians (and Jackson) oppose it? Two reasons

• Unconstitutional extension of federal power

• Placed too much power in hands of a “moneyed interest”

• Biddle sought recharter in 1832, and bill passed Congress easily

• Jackson vetoed the charter, invoking equal protection

• Jackson also won Democratic nomination for president in 1832

• Took this as a mandate for his opposition to Bank

Jackson and The Second Bank of the US, Part II

The Bank of the United States was not only a controversial institution on its own merits, but it became the signature policy item of Jackson’s administration

• Jackson wanted to go further — he pulled federal deposits from the Bank

• Jackson removed two treasury secretaries who refused to carry out his order

• Deposited money into state banks

• Ironically, they lent recklessly, increasing paper money in circulation

• Biddle called in loans, leading to economic distress

• Many members of Congress objected to Jackson’s handling of the Bank

• Even Congress refused to confirm Taney

• Senate voted to censure Jackson, but motion was blocked in the House

Emergence of the Whigs

Members of Congress felt Jackson had gone too far with this opposition to the Bank. These feelings coalesced around a new national party — the Whigs

• “Whig” came from its association with opposition to royal power

• Leadership, support: National Republicans like Clay, New England ex-Federalists like Daniel Webster

• Also picked up support from southern states-rights supporters

• Absorbed Anti-Masonic Party

• 1836: Jackson gradually allowed federal deposits back into deposit banks

• Result: runaway inflation, so Jackson issued specie circular — only gold and silver as payment for public lands

• Eventual result: Panic of 1837

Rise and Fall of Martin Van BurenJackson chose his vice president, Martin Van Buren, as his successor, but he was hurt by the Panic of 1837, and served only one term

• Van Buren convincingly won the 1836 election

• Whigs did not rally around one candidate

• There was division in the South

• Van Buren largely had a laissez-faire approach to the economy

• Whigs blamed the economy on Jacksonian policies

• Nominated William Henry Harrison and John Tyler — “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”

• Whigs won, and proposed to revive the Bank, raise tariffs

The Second Party System: Whigs vs. Democrats

The rivalry between Democrats and Whigs developed in the 1840s and became an enduring feature of national politics in the United States

• Largely, economic conflict determined base of support

• Whigs: government had a right to subsidize and protect industries that could lead to economic growth

• Democrats: government should keep hands off the economy

• Activity: with a partner or small group make a table of the policies and positions of the Whigs in the 1840s

• Bonus: where do you see this going?