Reform: all adult white men After the original thirteen states, none required ownership of property to vote Men who could not meet the property

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2 Reform: all adult white men After the original thirteen states, none required ownership of property to vote Men who could not meet the property requirements insisted that they were as fit as others to exercise the rights of citizens Landless men Non-Freeholders Wrote a petition that not owning land did not mean the possession of moral or intellectual endowments superior to those of the poor They alone deserve to be called free who participate in the formation of their political institutions Large slaveholders who dominated Virginia politics successfully resisted demands for changed in voting qualifications in 1829 Eliminated property requirement in 1850 In 1860 all but one state had eliminated property requirements for voting 2

3 Thomas Dorr Inaugurated as governor when reformers ratified their constitution in an extralegal referendum (an illegal vote) Served two years in prison for treason when movement collapsed Constitution only allowed adult white men to vote while excluding blacks President John Tyler dispatched federal troops to Rhode Island and the movement collapsed Dorr War demonstrated the passions aroused by the continuing exclusion of any group of white men from voting Legislature eliminated the property qualification for native-born men, black as well as white, although it retained it for immigrants until

4 Alexis de Tocqueville (French writer) wrote Democracy in America based on his findings (listed below) Came to the US to study prisons Found that to understand America, one must understand democracy Democracy was a habit of the heart a culture that encouraged individual initiative ( the liberal ideal), belief in equality, and an active public sphere populated by numerous voluntary organizations that sought to improve society An essential attribute of American freedom Democracy represented a profound political transformation Dating back to Aristotle- political philosophers warned that democracy inevitably degenerated into anarchy and tyranny Tocqueville argued that the United States would be a counter example of Aristotle s ideas Tocqueville argued that the people (the common man) were reasserting themselves into society Previously, founders of the republic sought to shield political authority from excessive influence by ordinary people Hence the Electoral College Supreme Court, and other undemocratic features of the Constitution Participation in elections and the pageantry surrounding them defined people of the United States 4

5 The right to vote became the emblem of American citizenship 4

6 The market revolution and political democracy produced a large expansion of the public sphere and an explosion of printing sometimes called the information revolution Steam power newspaper printing led to a great increase in output and rise in the circulation of the penny press (each issue worth a penny) Newspapers accounted for most postal traffic (1830 s) Political parties spurred newspaper publication Magazines, travel guides, advice manuals, religious titles, and other reading materials made were printed as well Reduction of printing cost allowed for more newspapers to be printed and distributed Growth of reading public caused high demand for printed works 5

7 The Limits of Democracy PG ( ) By the 1830s, the time Andrew Jackson's presidency, the axiom (self-evident truth that requires no proof) that "the people" ruled had become a universally accepted part of American politics. But the very centrality of democracy to the definition of both freedom and nationality made it all the more necessary to define the boundaries of the political nation. (The debate over which people are and are not qualified to take part in American democracy lasted well into the twentieth century). Not until 1920 was the Constitution amended to require states to allow women to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 swept away restrictions on black voting imposed by many southern states (Till this day there still is controversy over the voting rights of immigrants, people who have served prison terms, and the poor). The political world of the nineteenth century, was a crucial era for which it was an arena for the exercise of American freedom. Freedom in the public realm in no way implied freedom in private life. 6

8 Tocqueville noted that by the 1830s equality had become an american obession. Americans of all social classes 7

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10 5 NE states allowed blacks to vote 1835 in PA had successful black community but distenfrancised blacks in

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12 Tariff would protect Amercian industry

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17 The Panic of 1819 Rather than banks regulating currency and loans by banks, the Bank of the Untied States partook in a united disaster which caused the economy to panic. America trading with Europe created an giant overseas market for the Americans. Demand for land hit its peak and people lost millions as price of land decreased. The Politics of the Panic Those who were effected by this panic, demanded the governements assistance. States contributed to this assistance by collecting debts. This helped farmers and land owners to able to easily pay back the loans adn those who are injured would be loaned money. The helping of land owners gave the banks a bad reputation and the Supreme Court made them start to charge tax on their "local branches." Supreme Court wated to charge tax on the banks, were not allowed. Then, "... the states lacked the authority to destroy an angency created by the national government." The Missouri Conrtroversy A one-party government called the "Era of Good Feelings", was disrupted by Missouri, wanting to split slavery into sections. Missouri wanted thier own area of land from the Louisianna Purchase to create a land of slavery because of thier exceeding rate of slave population. Tallmadge's proposal created a two year controversy that was put between the Supreme Court and the state of Missouri. 16

18 This conflict was soon comprimised and ment to be divided into to three sections. Missouri would be authorized to draft a constitution without Tallmaded slavery, would admited to the Union to maintain the section balance between free and enslaved states. Slavery would be prohibited in all remaining territory within the Louisiana Purchase. A year later, Missouri pressed a new constitition that not only just protected slavery but prohibited free blacks from entering the state. Some northern states still considered black citizens which required each state to recognize the rights of citizen of other states. Maine, which prohibited slavery, would be admittede to Union ot maintain the sectional balance between free and slave states and slavery be prohibited in all remaining territory with the Louisiana Purchase. There was a second Compromise, according to which congress accepted the states' constitution as written, but instructed Missouri that it could not deprive the citizens of any states of their right under the U.S. Constitution. Missouri ignored this. 16

19 The Politics of the Panic Those who were effected by this panic, demanded the governements assistance. States contributed to this assistance by collecting debts. This helped farmers and land owners to able to easily pay back the loans and those who are injured would be loaned money. The helping of land owners gave the banks a bad reputation and the Supreme Court made them start to charge tax on their "local branches." 17

20 The Missouri Controversy A one-party government called the "Era of Good Feelings", was disrupted by Missouri, wanting to split slavery into sections. Missouri wanted their own area of land from the Louisiana Purchase to create a land of slavery because of their exceeding rate of slave population. Tallmadge's proposal created a two year controversy that was put between the Supreme Court and the state of Missouri. This conflict was soon compromised and meant to be divided into to three sections. Missouri would be authorized to draft a constitution without Tallmaded slavery, would admitted to the Union to maintain the section balance between free and enslaved states. Slavery would be prohibited in all remaining territory within the Louisiana Purchase. A year later, Missouri pressed a new constitution that not only just protected slavery but prohibited free blacks from entering the state. Some northern states still considered black citizens which required each state to recognize the rights of citizen of other states. Maine, which prohibited slavery, would be admitted to Union to maintain the sectional balance between free and slave states and slavery be prohibited in all remaining territory with the Louisiana Purchase. There was a second Compromise, according to which congress accepted the states' constitution as written, but instructed Missouri that it could not deprive the citizens of any states of their right under the U.S. Constitution. Missouri ignored this. 18

21 Thomas Jefferson strenuously opposed efforts to keep the institution out of Missouri. Believed the controversy was an attempt by Federalists to revive their party by setting northern and southern Republicans against each other New York Surpassed Virginia in population Republicans among the leading advocates of emancipation in Missouri More slave states meant more southern congressmen and electoral votes Missouri controversy Raised issue of the westward expansion of slavery The dissolution of the Union over the issue of slavery, Adams mused, would result in civil war and the extirpation of slavery from this whole continent 19

22 Spanish Colonies rose up in rebellion against Spain. The U.S. extended diplomacy to their territories as their revolutions were similar to ours. Spanish empire split into 17 countries. The revolutions were more destructive and longer than the American Revolution, and it was harder for the new countries to find economic stability 20

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26 "Liberty Is Power" PG (389) At that time any Americans felt that governmental authority posed the greatest threat to freedom. John Quincy Adams held a view of federal power far more expensive than most of his contemporaries. To help the Americans he astonished many listeners with the bold statement, "liberty is power". He also predicted that the United States, the freest nation on earth, would become the mightiest. In December 1825, his first message to Congress was a comprehensive program for an activist state. "The spirit of improvement is abroad in the land," Adams announced, and the federal government should be its patron. He called for legislation promoting agriculture, commerce, manufacturing, and "the mechanical and elegant arts". Adams proposals alarmed all believers in strict construction of the Constitution. The administration spent more time on internal improvements, which increase rates of tariffs in Adam's proposals would not be accepted by the twentieth century. 24

27 Martin Van Buren and the Democratic Party (pg ) Martin Van Buren oversaw the task of Jackson's supporters to prepare for the election of 1828 Democracy was changing the nature of American politics party competition became very important primary source pg 390 An 1828 campaign ad for Jackson shows that his supporters promoted him as being on the people s side. 25

28 The Election of 1828 PG ( ) By 1828, Van Buren had established the political apparatus of the Democratic Party, complete with local and state party units overseen by a national committee and a network of local newspapers devoted to the party. Adams, for his part, disdained (to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn) political political organization. Clay refused to dismiss federal officeholders who campaigned for Jackson and did little to promote his own reelection. The 1828 election campaign was scurrilous. The supporters of Jackson praised their candidates' frontier manliness and ridiculed Adam's intellectual attainments. ("Vote for Andrew Jackson who can fight, not John Quincy Adams who can write," declared one campaign slogan). Adams was accused of having many mistresses while serving as a diplomat in Europe. Jackson was accused of killing many men in duels, they (supporters of Adams) also questioned the morality of Jackson's wife, due to her marrying Jackson before her divorce. By 1828, voters, not the legislatures, chose presidential electors in every state except South Carolina, a fact that helped to encourage vigorous campaigning and high turnout. Concluding in Jackson winning the election (650, ,000 <--Adams). He carried out the entire South and West, along with Pennsylvania. Jackson's election was the first to demonstrate how the advent of universal white male voting, organized by national political parties, had transformed American 26

29 politics. The United States had entered the Age of Jackson. Andrew Jackson was a man of many contradiction, and although he had little formal education he called himself "a barbarian who could not write a sentence of grammar". He is a self-proclaimed champion of the common man, his vision of democracy excluded any role for Indians, who he believed should be pushed west of the Mississippi River, and African-Americans, who should remain as slaves or be freed and sent abroad. He shared the fears of many Americans that the market revolution was a source of moral decay rather than progress (he had many abiding suspicions). Jackson is a strong nationalist and believed that the states, except Washington D.C., should be the focal point of governmental activity. He opposed federal efforts to shape the economy or interfere in individuals' private lives. 26

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31 2 nd Party System- 1820s-1850s, a split between the Republican party during Jackson s term, Democrats vs. Whigs Spoils system- the principal of rotation in office into national government, making loyalty to the party the main qualification for jobs such as postmaster or customs official. 28

32 Democrats- (Supported Jackson) believed the government should had a "hands off attitude" toward the economy and not award special favors. Believed if the government let the common people rule the economy, they could test their abilities in the fair competition of the self-regulating market. Lower Northwest and the southern backcountry was mostly Democratic 29

33 Whig(Republicans) Party-(Supported Adams) Founded in 1834 to unite factions opposed to President Andrew Jackson, the party favored federal responsibility for internal improvements: the party ceased to exist by the late 1850's, when party members divided over slavery issues. supported the American System- a program of internal improvements and protective tariffs promoted by Speaker of the House Henry Clay in his presidential campaign of

34 Democrats believed liberty was a private entitlement best secured by local governments and threatened by national government Democrats believed weak national authority was essential to private freedom and the state's rights. Therefor, since Jackson was a democrat, during his time the national authority was weak. 31

35 Politics and Morality- Democrats believed individual morality was a private matter and should not concern the public. they opposed attempts to construct a unified moral vision on society, "liberty is understood to be the absence of the government from private affairs" they believed individuals should make their own decisions, pursue their own interests, and cultivate their own interests without outside interference Whigs however believed liberty and power supported each other. A powerful national government could enhance the realm of freedom. 32

36 *Jacksons first term was mostly filled with a battle to uphold the supremacy of federal over state law. *The state's leaders no longer believed it possible or desirable to compete with the North in industrial development. *Large planters maintained their power by a state constitution that gave plantation counties greater representation in the legislature. 33

37 *Calhoun was a leading theorist of nullification. He secretly drafted the "Exposition and Protest." *Debate over nullification raged in Washington. *Calhoun and Jackson were divided. *Calhoun defended southern sectionalism. *The southern states can leave the union if they think the tariff is too high. 34

38 *Nullification is not a sectional issue. South Carolina stood alone during the crisis. A lot of southern states passed resolutions condemning South Carolinas actions. *To Jackson, nullification was just nothing less than disunion. He said Calhoun's theory was absurd. *Jackson says, can anyone of common sense believe the absurdity, that a faction of any state, or a sate, has a right to secede and destroy this union, and the liberty of the country with it. *Henry Clay compromised to lower the Tariff. 35

39 *The nullification crisis underscored Jackson's commitment to the sovereignty of the nation. *"civilized" Indians should be assimilated into the American population. five tribes had become "civilized." *Jackson said that Indians could not become civilized but they could. *The Cherokee and Seminoles fought back. *The Seminoles were good fighters. *Florida was a safe haven. 36

40 The presence of Indians east of the Mississippi River was practically erased after the removal of the Five Civilized Tribes, shown here. 37

41 The Supreme Court and the Indians (pg ) Johnson vs. M'Intosh (1823) Court proclaimed that Indians did not actually own their land, just a "right of occupancy" Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) Indains deserved paternal guard and protection from the government but lacked the standing as citizens that would allow the Court to enforce their rights the Court therefore could not prevent Georgia from extending its jurisdiction over the tribe 38

42 Worcester vs. Georgia (1832) Court decided that Indian nations were a distinct people that had the right ot maintain a separate political identity and that they must be dealt with by the federal government, not the states Jackson refused to recognize the ruling From , 18,000 men, women, & children were forced to walk the Trail of Tears out of Georgia to present-day Oklahoma When Indians were told to leave, the Seminoles reacted with war (more on this later- this will be the topic of the next wiki page) Primary source on pg 399 (map of removal of Indians) 39

43 Biddle's Bank (pg ) The Bank War Many Americans, as well as Jackson, distrusted bankers as "nonproducers" bankers overissued paper money, which lowered the value of it Nicholas Biddle headed the Bank claimed to have the power to destroy any state bank Democrats did not believe any institution should have this kind of power 40

44 Biddle's allies persuaded Congress to pass a bill which extended the Bank's charter an additional 20 years primary source pg 402 Jackson's veto of this was the central document of his presidency this represented a popular values because extending the charter would widen th gap between the wealthy and the common, "humble" members of society this "war" reflected how Jackson enhanced his power during presidency he was the first president to use the veto power as a major weapon 41

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46 The Pet Banks and the Economy (pg 403) Jackson authorized the removal of the funds from the Bank's vaults and had it deposited in local banks these became known as "pet banks" The Bank issued more and more paper money prices rose, as did income, but they did not keep balance 43

47 July 1836 the Jackson Administration issued the Specie Circular, payment for public land can only be paid with gold and silver The Times, an 1837 engraving primary source When the banks would give out money as a loan, the money would have to be backed by hard money other wise known as gold or silver. When the customhouse required all loans to be paid back in hard money where as the merchant banks began to lend money out without the money being backed by anything. It was raining money Britain demanded merchants to pay their creditors in London in gold and silver Britain had economic downturn Less demand for cotton from America, countries major export United States fell into an economical collapse 44

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49 During the Panic of 1837 the President, Martin Van Buren Under him federal funds were removed from pet banks and held in the national Treasury Department in Washington. Funds would be under control of government officials. This completely Under president James K. Polk in 1846 New policy were removed and power returned to the Whigs Federal Funds were made unavailable for banks as it would have harmed the economy even more. Gold found in California poured new money into the economy Independent Treasury split the Democratic parties in half Business-oriented who were connected with the banks and opposed Van s policy Agrarian wing who were mostly farmers and urban laborers who opposed all banks and paper money. Agreed with Van s policy. Didn t like the market revolution 46

50 In 1840 Van Buren attempted to run for president but was blamed for the Panic of 1837; which was the crash of the economy which was mostly Jackson s fault. William Henry Harrison was nominated by the Whigs after they disbanned their other leader, Henry Clay. Harrison became president and was one of the first people who ran for office by use of mass media and promotion. Harrison promoted himself as the log cabin, the champion of the common man. The Whigs denounced Van Buren saying that he spent people s hard-earned money on expensive furniture 47

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52 John Tyler, noted in the Whigs newspaper, His Accidency and The Executive Ass. Harrison after a month in office died and John Tyler took over. Under Tyler, the Whigs tried to enact American System into law. Tyler vetoed all of them and many of the Whigs resigned Tyler s vetoes include: New National Bank Higher Tariff 49

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