CHAPTER 10Democracy in America
This chapter concentrates on the last of the three historical processes unleashedby the Revolution that accelerated after the War of 1812—the rise of a vigorouspolitical democracy. Democracy increased as the electorate enlarged with theabolition of property requirements for suffrage in most states. However, womenand free blacks were largely excluded from political democracy. Much of thepolitical debate during the period involved economic issues raised by the marketrevolution spurred by the War of 1812. Some national leaders argued that the federalgovernment had a responsibility to ensure American economic development.They favored the “American System,” a political program for economic developmentthat included a high protective tariff, public-financed transportationimprovements, and a national bank. Others, such as those injured by the Panic of1819, viewed government involvement in the economy negatively. Differencesalso emerged over whether to admit Missouri as a slave state; the two compromises(1820 and 1821) Congress hammered out to address that issue revealed sectionaldivisions over slavery. Also, under President Monroe (1817–1825), theUnited States recognized newly independent Latin American nations and assertedthat the Americas were off-limits for further European colonization. The chapter highlights the emergence ofnew political parties from the one-party era of the Monroe presidency (the so-called“Era of Good Feelings,” when the Federalist Party disintegrated).Opponents of President John Quincy Adams’s vision of vigorous national power,guided by Martin Van Buren’s idea that competing political parties were healthyfor the nation, coalesced into the Democratic Party that succeeded in electing Andrew Jackson to the presidency in 1828. The new party system took shape duringJackson’s two terms when nullification, Indian removal, and a “war” overnational banking policy helped to divide the nation into Democrats (Jackson’ssupporters) and Whigs (his opponents). The second “Voices of Freedom” excerpthighlights ideas of John C. Calhoun, a key Jackson opponent, on protecting thepower of the South as a minority in a Democratic era. Democrats exploited popularthemes to win elections, but the Panic of 1837 and subsequent depressionallowed the Whigs to take the White House in 1840. They did so, in part, by usingtechniques pioneered by the Democrats. Appropriately enough for a more democraticage, the Whigs portrayed their presidential candidate, William HenryHarrison, as a common man.
Here’s the Jackson chapter summary from Brinkley…. “At first glance, Andrew Jackson seems a study in contradictions: an advocate of states' rights who forced South Carolina to back down in the nullification controversy; a champion of the West who vetoed legislation that would have opened easy access to part of the area and who issued the specie circular, which brought the region's "flush times" to a disastrous halt; a nationalist who allowed Georgia to ignore the Supreme Court; and a defender of majority rule who vetoed the Bank after the majority's representatives, the Congress, had passed it. Perhaps he was, as his enemies argued, simply out for himself. But in the end, few would argue that Andrew Jackson was not a popular president, if not so much for what he did as for what he was. Jackson symbolized what Americans perceived (or wished) themselves to bedefiant, bold, independent. He was someone with whom they could identify. The image may have been a bit contrived, but it was still a meaningful image. Thus, Jackson was reelected by an overwhelming majority and was able to transfer that loyalty to his successor, a man who hardly lived up to the image. But all this left a curious question unanswered. Was this new democracy voting for leaders whose programs they favored or, rather, for images that could be altered and manipulated almost at will? The answer was essential for the future of American politics, and the election of 1840 gave the nation a clue.”
Points for Discussion
•What efforts were made in this period to strengthen the economic integration of the nation, and what major crises hindered these efforts?
•What were the major areas of conflict between nationalism and sectionalism?
•What factors led to the emergence of the "second party system"? Compare and contrast the philosophies, constituencies, and leadership of the Whig and Democratic parties in the 1820s and 1830s.
• Describe how Andrew Jackson embodied the prevailing mood of America.What did Americans see in his life and character that made him so popular?
• What were the key arguments made in the debate about the removal of Indians from the southeastern states to what is now Oklahoma? Discuss the ways liberty and freedom were used to justify and oppose the removal of theIndians in the 1830s.
• How did the nullification crisis illustrate the divide between North andSouth? How did Calhoun (and South Carolina) justify and explain the theory of nullification? On what points did Webster (and Jackson) oppose this theory?
• How were “liberty” and “freedom” used by various sides of the debate overthe Bank War? How did the Bank War influence the economy and party competition?
• How did the Age of Jacksonian Democracy impact the lives of women and African-Americans?
•What were the social bases for the flourishing democracy of the early nineteenth century?
•Describe Jackson's views on the powers and limitations of government. Offer specific examples of the ways Jackson translated his views into action.
•Andrew Jackson thought of himself as the "president of the people." Was he? What can you find in the career of Jackson that would support his assertion, and what can you find to deny it?
•What were the conditions that led to the Panic of 1837? What role did the policies of Andrew Jackson play in this?
•The meaning and purposes of "Jacksonian Democracy" have been issues of continuing historical debate. Trace that debate and try to relate the changing historical views to the political climates in which they were written.
•How and why did the campaign of 1840 set a new pattern for presidential contests? Does this pattern persist? Explain.
Key Terms
Dorr WarDemocracy in AmericaAmerican SystemInternal improvements
Second BUSPanic of 1819McColloch v. MarylandMissouri Compromise
Monroe DoctrineSpoils systemPeggy Eaton AffairForce Act
Bank War Indian Removal ActWorcester v. GeorgiaPet banks
SC Exposition and ProtestHard $$ vs. Soft $$ Henry Clay
Panic of 1837Whigs(Noble?) SavagesEgalitarianism
Nick BiddleKing AndrewThe Dashing John C. Calhoun
Roger TaneyAlexis de TocquevilleKing MobNullification
Tariff of AbominationsFive Civilized TribesOld Tippecanoe Log Cabin Campaign