CHAPTER TEN:
Democratic Politics, Religions Revival, and Reform, 1824-1840
The Rise of Democratic Politics, 1824-1832: Republican party tearing b/c of pressures by 1824. Generated by industrialization in New England, spread of cotton in South, Westward expansion. Would lead to divisions between Democrats and Whigs. Republicans suspicious of strong federal government, wanted states rights – would become Democrats; Republicans who believed that national government should encourage economic development – became Whigs. Elections to office depended less on education and wealth than on ability to identify and follow the majority; leaders could no longer look down on the people.
Democratic Ferment:
-Political democratization took many forms.
-Most common: Substitution of poll taxes for the requirement that voters own property.
-No new Western states had property requirements; Eastern states slowly liberalized their laws.
-Written ballots replaced voting aloud (“stand-up” voting) – decreased intimidation to vote for certain people.
-Appointive offices increasingly elective.
-Electoral college survived.
-Voters made choice of presidential electors, no longer state legislatures; only six states chose electors in 1824; by 1932, only South Carolina did.
-Federalists vs. Republicans allowed expression of will.
-Republicans then Federalists tried to woo voters with barbecues.
-Each party tried to be the majority.
-Political democratization developed at uneven pace.
-1820, Repubs and Feds organized. Nominating candidates relied on the caucus, not nomination conventions. Women and free blacks disenfranchised.
-Opposing democracy – political suicide.
-Politicians learned that they had to cater to the people.
The Election of 1824:
-Sectional tensions ended Era of Good Feelings in 1924.
-Five candidates (all Repubs) wanted presidency – John Quincy Adams (New England), John C. Calhoun (South Carolina), William Crawford (Georgia), Henry Clay (Kentucky).
-Clay thought he had Western states – then Andrew Jackson (Tennessee) came, though he wasn’t taken very seriously; gained support of the frontier and Southern opponents of Clay’s American System.
-Republican caucus chose Crawford, but the party was no longer united; ¾ Repubs in Congress refused to go to caucus. Crawford had bad stroke. Calhoun impressed with Jackson, withdrew, and ran for VP unopposed.
-Jackson won more popular and electoral votes than any other candidate, didn’t get majority required by Constitution.
-Election thrown into House of Representatives, had to choose form top three candidates (Jackson, Adams, Crawford).
-Clay gave support to Adams, wanting to make alliance between the West and Northeast for a future run for the presidency.
-Got Adams elected; Adams made Clay secretary of state. “Corrupt bargain” plagued Adams’s presidency.
John Quincy Adams as President:
-Adams didn’t sense changing political climate; controversial presidency.
-1825, proposed program of federal aid for internal improvements; Jeffersonians said it was unconstitutional, as did others such as Van Buren.
-Adams proposed to send delegates to newly independent Latin American nations; angered southerners b/c the black republic of Haiti, created by slave revolutionaries, would be recognized.
-Adams didn’t seek new bases for support. Alienated supporters by appointing opponents to high offices, not wanting to be associated with just one party in general.
-Singe-term presidency.
The Rise of Andrew Jackson:
-Jackson’s popularity rose as Adams’s went down.
-However, seen as hot-tempered by other politicians.
-Benefited from having no connection to the Monroe Doctrine and the Panic of 1819.
-Americans saw him as a link to a virtuous past.
-Few realized that a new political system was developing.
-Americans were either “Adams men”, “Jackson men”, or “Friends of Clay.”
-Martin Van Buren was alert to the political system changes.
-Election of 1824 convinced him of the need for a two-party system.
-Without discipline imposed by strong opposition, Repub party had splintered. No candidate had electoral majority and the House of Reps had decided the controversial outcome.
-Van Buren was convinced that Jackson could lead the new party.
-1828, this party (Democratic) nominated Jackson for Pres and Calhoun for VP. His opponents – National Republicans; rallied behind Adams.
-New political system started to take shape.
The Election of 1828:
-Vicious. National Repubs attacked Jackson’s moral character because of his past duels and military executions; married wife, erroneously believing that her past marriage was over. Jackson’s support said Adams was in debt, rich, and had a prostitute.
-Adams’ party, by calling Jackson uneducated, appealed to Americans because it made Jackson seem ordinary.
-Presidency, to Jackson supporters, was seen as a clash between democracy and aristocracy.
-Jackson elected by a huge margin in electoral votes, though the popular vote was close.
-Reflected strong sectional bases of the new parties. Adams – votes from New England; Jackson – votes form South and Southwest.
Jackson in Office:
-Jackson – presidency was opposed because of alleged corruption.
-Jackson’s first policy: “rotation in office,” which was removing officeholders from rival party. AKA “spoils system.”
-Didn’t offer reasons for removing people.
-Stand on federal aid for internal improvements was much more controversial.
-Jackson felt that public officials used aid to woo supporters; rejected federal support.
-1830, vetoed a bill providing money for a road in Kentucky.
-Strongest support was in the South.
-Indian Removal Act of 1830 enhanced his popularity there. Tariff issue, however, tested South’s loyalty to him.
-When Adams was pres, some of Jackson’s Congress supporters passed a high protective tariff that didn’t favor the South. Jackson got the blame for this “Tariff of Abominations.”
Nullification:
Tariff of 1828 formed a rift between Jackson and Calhoun.
-Calhoun, among many issues, wanted to be President. Jackson promised he would only have a first term, so Calhoun thought that he would succeed him; would need support of the South to become Pres. Calhoun’s home state, S.C., suffered a decline in the 1820’s that voters blamed on tariffs.
-Calhoun believed that federal laws had to benefit everyone equally, so he was against the tariffs, because they didn’t favor the South.
-Anonymously wrote the South Caroline Exposition and Protest, which said that the 1828 tariff was unconstitutional and that states could nullify it.
-Opposition to Southern tariffs also rested on the fear the North would pass anti-slavery laws. 1831, a slave revolt by Nat Turner in VA took place, as well as William Lloyd Garrison’s abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator.South Carolinians thought that tariffs would lead to a possible interference with slavery.
-Jackson had to maintain key states like PA and soothe the South at the same time. Two policies:
-Distribute surplus federal revenue to the states. Hoped it would remove the sectional taint of the tariff.
-Ease down the high tariffs of 1828.
-Calhoun didn’t like the idea of federal revenue going to sates; thought that that would be an excuse to maintain tariffs. Didn’t want to break openly with Jackson; needed him to increase presidential prospects.
-Congress passed slightly reduced tariff rates in 1832, but they didn’t satisfy S.C.
-Before 1832 tariff passage, two personal issues shook relations between Cal and Jack.
-Peggy Eaton affair – Secretary of war married Peggy, who had a reputation for flirting while married to a former husband. She and husband were snubbed by cabinet members and their wives. Jackson defended them, because his wife was slandered during his campaign.
-1830, Jackson got documents that Calhoun, as secretary of war under Monroe, had urged that Jackson be punished for unauthorized raid into Spanish Florida. Jackson thought Calhoun was trying to destroy him.
-Confrontation at dinner toast: “Our Union: It must be preserved.”
-1831, Calhoun acknowledged that he wrote the S.C. Exposition.
-1832, S.C. convention nullified the tariffs and forbade the collection of customs duties within the state.
-Jackson called nullification an “abominable doctrine.” Began to send arms.
-1832, said he would lower tariffs, but also said that nullification was unconstitutional.
-“Olive branch and the sword” – Olive branch was the tariff of 1833 (AKA Compromise Bill), which provided for reduction of duties between 1833 and 1942. The sword was the Force Bill – authorized Pres to use arms to collect customs duties in SC.
-SC didn’t abandon nullification principal—nullified Force Bill-accepted Compromise Bill, took back nullification of the tariffs.
The Bank Veto and the Election of 1832:
-Jackson saw gap widening between the rich and the poor. Didn’t have a problem with rich getting rich with hard work, but believed that wealthy often got richer with favors (“privileges”) from corrupt legislatures. Bad financial choices in early Pres led him to suspect banks, paper money, and monopolies. Saw Bank of US as guilty.
-Bank of US – 20 year charter from Congress (1816). BoUS restrained printing and lending money by demanding the redemption of bank notes in specie. Could lend lots of money too.
-Widely blamed for Panic of 1819.
- Only remotely controlled by the government. Stockholders: private citizens. Located in Philadelphia, not Washington, even though chartered by Congress.
-President: Nicholas Biddle; wanted to keep bank above politics.
-Biddle received a bill to recharter the bank. Jackson vetoed it and said it was a privileged monopoly.
-Jackson ran for presidency again in 1832 with Van Buren as running mate. Henry Clay ran for the National Republicans, showing off his American System of protective tariffs, national banking, and federal support for internal improvements.
-Jackson won – hugely popular. Goal: finish off the BoUS.
The Bank Controversy and the Second Party System, 1833-1840:Jackson vetoing and rechartering the Bank of the US – controversial. Then Jackson took steps to get rid of the bank forever. Stirred opposition in Whig party and stimulated interest in politics. Lead to Panic of 1837 – faced Martin Van Buren’s presidency. 1840 – Whig and Democratic parties divided: banks or no banks. There were “notes” redeemable in specie, but no official currency. Fueled economic development – made it easier for farmers to get loans. But if note depreciated after its issuance – wage owners not paid in specie suffered. Paper encouraged speculative economy – raised profits and risks.
The War on the Bank:
-Jackson wouldn’t let the bank die a natural death in 1836.
-Biddle tried to get further bank loans and credit, knowing that Jackson would attack the bank.
-Jackson began to remove federal deposits from the Bank, placing them in state banks.
-Removal policy enabled state banks to increase their lending capacity with paper money.
-Jackson hated paper money, though.
-Decided to sharply limit the number of state banks that could become home to federal deposits.
-State banks clamored for more revenue, and the number of state-bank depositories multiplied. 23 by the end of the year! Called “pet banks,” because they were usually selected based on their loyalty to the Democrats.
-Paper money from pet banks and influx of specie – economy in expansion. Jackson forced to sigh Deposit Act – increased the number of deposit banks and loosened federal control of them.
-Split of Democratic Party created by advocates of soft and hard money.
-Saw BoUS as evil for different reasons.
-Hard money advocates – faction in NY called Locofocos. Grew out of workingmen’s parties in northern cities; wanted free education, no debt imprisonment, and a 10 hour workday.
-Absorbed by Democratic party.
The Rise of Whig Opposition:
-National Repubs became the Whigs in Jackson’s 2nd term. Whigs developed broader base in the South and North than Nat Reps had.
-Joined by those who were alienated by Jackson’s policies.
-Nullification, pet banks, et cetera…
-Reformers in the North also opposed Jackson. Wanted slavery and sale of liquor to end, better education and public morality.
-Temperance and public-school reformers went to Whigs
-Whigs committed to Clay’s American System implied an acceptance of active intervention of government to change society; aligned them with reformers.
-Reformers – got Protestant, native-born workers to support Whigs. Distrusted immigrants, especially Irish. Irish driven to Democrats.
-Greatest Whig strength – Anti-Masonry.
-Whigs attracted commercial farmers, planters, merchants, and bankers in the North and South. In the North, they attracted reformers, clergymen, Anti-Masons, and manufacturers. In the South they appealed to former nullificationists.
-Whigs saw Jackson as a dictator (“King Andrew I”). Whigs were associated with the American patriots who had opposed King George III in 1776.
The Election of 1836:
-Democrats ran Van Buren, because he was Jackson’s favorite and the heir to Jackson.
-Whigs couldn’t agree on a single candidate. 4 anti-Buren candidates from different parts of the country arose, three of them being Whigs. Daniel Webster – Massachussetts, William Henry Harrison – Ohio, WP Magnum (North Carolina); one Democrat – Hugh Lawson White (Tennessee).
-Democrats said the Whigs were trying to divide the vote so that no candidate would receive a majority and that the House of Reps would decide the winner with deals and bargains.
-Whigs had no real strategy.
-Van Buren won, though the popular vote was close, notably in the South; wone 2/3rds in 1832, but barely half in 1836.
The Panic of 1837:
-Severe depression struck early into Van Buren’s presidency.
-Speculative boom of 1835 and ’36 - came from Jackson’s putting money into state banks, thus allowing the number of banks to double, the value of bank notes in circulation to triple, and the prices of goods and land to soar.
-Prices began to fall in 1837; banks stopped specie payments. Economy rose, then crashed in 1830. BoUS failed. Biddle was charged with fraud. Specie payments suspended again.
-This depression was greater than 1819. Workers saw wages drop by 1/3.
-Many turned to William Miller, who convinced many that the world would end October 22, 1843.
-Origins of the depression national and international.
-July 1836 – Specie Circular, provided that only specie was accepted for public lands. Believed that paper money was bad. Hoped the Circular would reverse the effects of the Deposit Act. Ended speculative boom.
-Britain checked specie flow from its shores to the US in 1836 to restrain outflow of British investment.
The Search for Solutions:
-Van Buren called “Martin Van Ruin,” and in 1838 the Whigs took the governorship and most legislative seats in Van Buren’s own state, NY.
-VB called for the creation of an Independent Treasury: no depositing money into banks; the government would instead hold its revenues.
-Signed on July 4th, called America’s second Declaration.
-Independent Treasury reflected the alliance between government and banking. Failed to address banking on state levels—more than 900 banks. Lent money to farmers and businessmen.
-Whigs continued endorsing banks to spur econmonic development, blaming the depression on the Circular. Democrats blamed the depression on banks and paper money and wanted hard money.
The Election of 1840:
-Van Buren gained renomination.
-Whigs settled on one candidate, William Henry Harrison and John Tyler (VA senator) for VP.
-Harrison picked b/c he had few enemies; Democrats called him a cider-sipping “Old Granny.” Whigs used that to their advantage, saying that Harrison was a frontiersmen, gave out log-cabin cider, etc. Said Van Buren was a despot.
-Harrison given a clear victory
The Second Party System Matures:
-Depression and long-cabin campaign brought voters to the polls. Second party system reached a high plateau in 1840 and stayed there for over a decade. Politicians continued to appeal to ordinary people.
The Rise of Popular Religion: Religious impulses reinforced American democracy and liberty, according to Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America.Said that religion was the “political institution” of US. Americans demanded accessible politics, also demanded accessible religion. Ministers – plain words favored by Americans. Americans wanted to be in charge of their own destinies. Put aside Calvinist creed (some were meant for salvation, others not) and believed that everyone could get to heaven. Known as Second Great Awakening.
The Second Great Awakening:
-Began in Connecticut during the 1790’s and spread throughout the nation. At first Congregationalists and Presbyterians dominated the revivals. Then went through changes among frontier states, such as camp meetings (huge revivals were lots of people claimed that the Second Coming of Jesus was near).
-Cane Ridge, camp meeting that had “exercises” where people would roll around and jerk.
-Most successful revivalists were normal people, not learned ministers.