THE TRIUMPH OF WHITE THE TRIUMPH OF WHITE MEN'S DEMOCRACYMEN'S DEMOCRACY
America: Past and PresentAmerica: Past and PresentChapter 10Chapter 10
Democracy in Theory and Democracy in Theory and PracticePractice
Fear that democracy would lead to anarchy Fear that democracy would lead to anarchy wanes in the 1820s and 1830s wanes in the 1820s and 1830s
Equality of opportunity stressedEquality of opportunity stressed America becomes society of winners and America becomes society of winners and
loserslosers
Democracy and SocietyDemocracy and Society
Egalitarian expectations despite Egalitarian expectations despite growing economic inequalitygrowing economic inequality
No distinctive domestic servant classNo distinctive domestic servant class No class distinctions in dressNo class distinctions in dress White male equality before the law White male equality before the law
radical by European standardsradical by European standards Egalitarian attack on licensed Egalitarian attack on licensed
professionsprofessions Popular press the source of information Popular press the source of information
and opinionand opinion
Democratic CultureDemocratic Culture
Artists work for mass, democratic audience rather Artists work for mass, democratic audience rather than for an aristocratic elitethan for an aristocratic elite
Popular genres include Gothic horror, romantic Popular genres include Gothic horror, romantic fiction, melodramas, genre paintingsfiction, melodramas, genre paintings
Serious artists seek to inspire with neoclassical Serious artists seek to inspire with neoclassical sculpture, landscapes of untamed naturesculpture, landscapes of untamed nature
Only a few truly avant-garde, romantic artistsOnly a few truly avant-garde, romantic artists
Democratic Political Institutions: Democratic Political Institutions: Politics of Universal Manhood Politics of Universal Manhood
Suffrage Suffrage Nearly all adult white males gain right to Nearly all adult white males gain right to
vote without property qualificationvote without property qualification Appointive offices made electiveAppointive offices made elective Professional politicians emergedProfessional politicians emerged Public benefits of two-party system Public benefits of two-party system
extolledextolled Political machines develop at state levelPolitical machines develop at state level
Democratic Political Institutions :Democratic Political Institutions :National PartiesNational Parties
Changes in presidential elections spur party Changes in presidential elections spur party growthgrowth
Parties often serve special economic interestsParties often serve special economic interests Parties share republican ideology, commitment to Parties share republican ideology, commitment to
equality of opportunityequality of opportunity Parties differ on how to achieve common aimsParties differ on how to achieve common aims Neither party seeks to extend rights beyond adult Neither party seeks to extend rights beyond adult
white male constituencywhite male constituency Radical third parties argue the cause of African Radical third parties argue the cause of African
Americans, women, working peopleAmericans, women, working people
Economic IssuesEconomic Issues
Interest in government economic policy Interest in government economic policy intensified after 1819intensified after 1819
Some wanted to do away with banks, Some wanted to do away with banks, paper money, and easy creditpaper money, and easy credit
Others wanted more government aidOthers wanted more government aid Political parties took stands on the role Political parties took stands on the role
of the federal government in economic of the federal government in economic growthgrowth
Labor Radicalism and Equal Labor Radicalism and Equal RightsRights
Working men’s parties and trade unions Working men’s parties and trade unions emerged in the 1820s and 1830semerged in the 1820s and 1830s
They advocated public education They advocated public education reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to debtors prison, and hard currencydebtors prison, and hard currency
They made some gains but they proved They made some gains but they proved to be only temporaryto be only temporary
The women’s rights movement and The women’s rights movement and abolitionists made little progressabolitionists made little progress
Jackson and the Politics of Jackson and the Politics of DemocracyDemocracy
Jackson becomes a symbol of Jackson becomes a symbol of democracy’s triumphdemocracy’s triumph
Actions of Jackson and his party Actions of Jackson and his party refashion national politics in a refashion national politics in a democratic molddemocratic mold
The Election of 1824 and J. Q. The Election of 1824 and J. Q. Adams' AdministrationAdams' Administration
The election of 1824 a five-way raceThe election of 1824 a five-way race Jackson wins popular voteJackson wins popular vote Adams wins in House of Representatives with Adams wins in House of Representatives with
Henry Clay’s supportHenry Clay’s support Clay’s appointment as Secretary of State Clay’s appointment as Secretary of State
leads to charges Adams "bought" the leads to charges Adams "bought" the presidency presidency
Mid-term election of 1826 gives Jackson Mid-term election of 1826 gives Jackson forces control of Congressforces control of Congress
Jackson Comes to PowerJackson Comes to Power
Jacksonians organized for election of 1828Jacksonians organized for election of 1828– appeal to sectional self-interest appeal to sectional self-interest – make politics exciting to the average manmake politics exciting to the average man
Jackson wins election as a man of the Jackson wins election as a man of the peoplepeople
Jackson democratizes presidencyJackson democratizes presidency– fires at will officeholders he does not likefires at will officeholders he does not like– defends by asserting the right of all men to a defends by asserting the right of all men to a
government postgovernment post
Indian RemovalIndian Removal
Indian removal policy inherited from Indian removal policy inherited from prior administrationsprior administrations
Jackson agrees that the federal Jackson agrees that the federal government had not pushed Indians government had not pushed Indians hard enoughhard enough
Responds to Cherokee resistance by Responds to Cherokee resistance by asking Congress for Indian Removal act asking Congress for Indian Removal act of 1830of 1830
1838--U.S. Army forces Cherokees 1838--U.S. Army forces Cherokees west along the Trail of Tearswest along the Trail of Tears
Indian RemovalIndian Removal
The Nullification CrisisThe Nullification Crisis John C. Calhoun leads development of John C. Calhoun leads development of
intellectual defense of state sovereigntyintellectual defense of state sovereignty 1828--tariff passed, South Carolina 1828--tariff passed, South Carolina
objects but takes no actionobjects but takes no action 1832--tariff passed, South Carolina 1832--tariff passed, South Carolina
nullifiesnullifies Jackson threatens to send army Jackson threatens to send army Both sides retreatBoth sides retreat
– South Carolina gets lower tariffSouth Carolina gets lower tariff– Jackson demonstrates federal willJackson demonstrates federal will
The Bank War and the The Bank War and the Second Party SystemSecond Party System
"The Bank War" a symbolic defense of "The Bank War" a symbolic defense of democratic valuedemocratic value
Leads to two important resultsLeads to two important results– economic disruption economic disruption – a two-party systema two-party system
Mr. Biddle's BankMr. Biddle's Bank
Bank of the United States unpopularBank of the United States unpopular Open to charges of special privileges Open to charges of special privileges Manager Nicholas Biddle looks and Manager Nicholas Biddle looks and
behaves like an aristocratbehaves like an aristocrat Bank possesses great power and Bank possesses great power and
privilege with no accountability to the privilege with no accountability to the publicpublic
The Bank Veto and the The Bank Veto and the Election of 1832Election of 1832
Jackson vaguely threatens Bank in first Jackson vaguely threatens Bank in first termterm
Biddle seeks new charter four years earlyBiddle seeks new charter four years early Congress passes, but Jackson vetoesCongress passes, but Jackson vetoes
– claims the Bank is unconstitutionalclaims the Bank is unconstitutional– defends veto as a blow for equalitydefends veto as a blow for equality
Jacksonian victory in 1832 spells Bank’s Jacksonian victory in 1832 spells Bank’s doomdoom
Killing the BankKilling the Bank
Jackson destroys Bank by federal deposits Jackson destroys Bank by federal deposits Funds transferred to some state (“pet”) Funds transferred to some state (“pet”)
banks banks Biddle uses his powers to cause Biddle uses his powers to cause
recession, attempts to blame Jacksonrecession, attempts to blame Jackson Destruction of Bank provokes fears of Destruction of Bank provokes fears of
dictatorship, costs Jackson support in dictatorship, costs Jackson support in CongressCongress
The Emergence of the WhigsThe Emergence of the Whigs
Whig party a coalition of two forcesWhig party a coalition of two forces– opponents of Jacksonopponents of Jackson– Anti-Masonic partyAnti-Masonic party
Whigs defend activist government in Whigs defend activist government in economics, enforcement of “decency”economics, enforcement of “decency”
Democrats weakened byDemocrats weakened by– defection of working-class spokesmendefection of working-class spokesmen– depression produced by Jackson’s fiscal depression produced by Jackson’s fiscal
policiespolicies
The Rise and Fall of Van BurenThe Rise and Fall of Van Buren
Martin Van Buren succeeds Jackson in Martin Van Buren succeeds Jackson in 18361836
Term begins with Panic of 1837Term begins with Panic of 1837 Laissez-faire philosophy prevents Van Laissez-faire philosophy prevents Van
Buren from aiding economic distressBuren from aiding economic distress Van Buren attempts to save Van Buren attempts to save
government funds with independent government funds with independent subtreasuriessubtreasuries
Whigs block subtreasuries until 1840 Whigs block subtreasuries until 1840 Panic of 1837 blamed on Van BurenPanic of 1837 blamed on Van Buren
The Rise and Fall of The Rise and Fall of Van Buren (2)Van Buren (2)
Whigs fully organized by 1840 Whigs fully organized by 1840 Whig candidate William Henry HarrisonWhig candidate William Henry Harrison
– image built as a common man who had image built as a common man who had been born in a log cabinbeen born in a log cabin
– running mate John Tyler chosen to attract running mate John Tyler chosen to attract votes from states-rights Democratsvotes from states-rights Democrats
Harrison and Tyler beat Van BurenHarrison and Tyler beat Van Buren
Heyday of the Second Party Heyday of the Second Party SystemSystem
Election of 1840 marks rise of permanent Election of 1840 marks rise of permanent two-party system in the U.S.two-party system in the U.S.
Whigs and Democrats evenly divide the Whigs and Democrats evenly divide the electorate for next two decadeselectorate for next two decades
Parties offer voters a clear choiceParties offer voters a clear choice– Whigs support a "positive liberal state," Whigs support a "positive liberal state,"
communitycommunity– Democrats support "negative liberal state," Democrats support "negative liberal state,"
individualindividual Parties share a broad democratic ideologyParties share a broad democratic ideology
Tocqueville’s Wisdom Tocqueville’s Wisdom
Alexis de Tocqueville praises most Alexis de Tocqueville praises most aspects of American democracy aspects of American democracy
Warns of future disaster if white males Warns of future disaster if white males refuse to extend liberty to women, African refuse to extend liberty to women, African Americans and Indians.Americans and Indians.