Monroe Presidency The Era of Good Feelings Demographic Changes: West had 2 million settlers! (now larger than New England); Land Speculation goes wild! State ( wildcat ) Banks fund this land buying by lending $100 million in paper money. Bank of the US (BUS)rechartedfor another 20 years to help stabilize the currency. Monroe continues Virginia Dynasty ; wins 2 nd term; Federalist field their last Presidential candidate (Rufus King). Only one party (Federalists had become moribund):
Like a fire bell in the nightit awakened and filled me with terror. I consider it at once as the knell of the union. Knell: sound of a mourning bell What was Jefferson talking about??
Missouri applies for statehood. Tallmadge Amendment: NY Congressman Tallmadge: Free all slaves in Missouri when they reach 25 and prohibit future slaves into the state. Passes in the House; fails in the Senate (11 free states; 10 slave states) Missouri Compromise Enters as a slave state; Maine enters as a Free state (severed from Mass.) Slavery prohibited in La territory above the 36 30
States by order of entry into US: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/a0763770.html
Cumberland Road National Road or Turnpike Bill: repairs, toll gates: vetoed by President Monroe (unconstitutional?) Against a national system of internal improvements
Monroe Doctrine Separate sphere of influence for America and Europe Non-colonization; non-intervention in each Warns Europe about interfering in Latin America or potential American territories Eliminate obstacles to American expansion Beginning of Manifest Destiny?
American System High Protective Tariffs Internal Improvements (National Road) National Banking System Build upon ideas of Hamilton. Supported by Henry Clay John Q. Adams
Robert Fulton s Steam Engine The Clermont 1807
Transportation A system of canalslinked seaboard cities directly to the Great Lakes, The Ohio River and then to the Mississippi River. The first great one: The Erie Canal Approved by NY Legislature in 1817 -Governor De Witt Clinton; finished in 1825 364 miles long, 40 feet deep with 84 locks Reduced the cost of moving goods by 1/12 Others built in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Canal Boon ended in 1830 s and 1840 s with the arrival of the RR
Jackson: Hero Again! Seminole War: Marches into Spanish Florida, executes 2 British traders and defeats The Seminoles their sin? They had been protecting runaway slaves. So, why is he seen as a Hero?
Panic of 1819 2 nd BUS calls in its loans from the so-called wildcat state banks; they do the same to their borrowers Land speculators were unable to pay; banks failed; depositors wiped out; mortgages foreclosed; widespread unemployment 2 nd BUS called The Monster Average Man blames the Bank; real culprit: speculation and easy loans
Election of 1824 All Republicans Andrew Jackson Tenn John C Calhoun SC John Quincy Adams Mass William Crawford caucus Henry Clay Kentucky
Jackson: 151,000 votes; 99 electoral votes John Q. Adams: 113,000 votes; 84 e.v. Clay: 48,000 votes; 37 e.v. Crawford: 41,000 votes; 41 e.v. No man received a majority of the Electoral Votes 261 e.v.: majority needed: 131 electoral votes [Jackson has the most but not enough!]
The House of Representatives is needed to decide who will become President. Clayconvinces his supporters to vote for Adams. Adams becomes our President. Adams then appoints Clay Secretary of State Jackson charges a corrupt bargain Adams begins his term of office under a cloud of suspicion
JQA: One term president Tries to be non-partisan Supports: Federal Activity Supports BUS Economic development through protective tariffs; Federally funded internal improvements A National university Standardization of weights and measures Encouragement of arts and sciences The Tariff of Abominations angers many (1828)
Era of Good Feelings Over; Republicans split New Party created to elect Jackson; The Democrats Birth of new era: Mass Democracy Public rallies; Torch light parades; Lavish barbecues/ picnics Used Entertainment to lure people to the polls Mudslinging: Charges against Rachel Jackson: bigamy and adultery! Jackson: authentic man of the people, backwoods upbringing; military hero; Indian fighter, lack of education Adams: overeducated aristocrat; at home in the salon and the study than among plain people; Nature s nobleman pitted against the aloof New England intellectual
Adams didn t have a chance! Jackson wins popular vote by 150,000; Electoral College by 2 1
1828: Pres. Andrew Jackson and Vice President John C. Calhoun Spoils System: To the victor belong the spoils. Patronage used to build the party. Not based on qualifications but on party membership and loyalty. Peggy Easton Affair: Wife of Jackson s Secretary of War (John Eaton) was accused of having an affair before her 1 st husband died. Mrs. John C. Calhoun and the other cabinet wives refuse to attend events when she was present. Jackson is furious at VP for his inability to control his wife and the entire cabinet (except for Martin Van Buren) for not defending Peggy. Cabinet becomes dysfunctional. Kitchen Cabinet: Jackson stops holding cabinet meetings and relies on a small group of friends for advice.
Webster-Hayne Debate: Jan. 1830 Daniel Webster (MA): argues against nullification with the words, Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable! Robert Hayne (SC) argues for strict constructionism, the compact theory (states created the union not people) and states rights.
When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven, may I not see him shining on the broken and dishonored fragments of a once glorious Union; on States dissevered, discordant, belligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched... in fraternal blood! Let their last feeble and lingering glance rather behold the gorgeous ensign of the republic... not a stripe erased or polluted, nor a single star obscured, bearing for its motto, no such miserable interrogatory as "What is all this worth?" nor those other words of delusion and folly, "Liberty first and Union afterwards"; but everywhere, spread all over in characters of living light, blazing on all its ample folds, as they float over the sea and over the land, and in every wind under the whole heavens, that other sentiment, dear to every true American heart, Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable! - Daniel Webster, 2 nd Reply to Hayne
Battle of Toasts: Jackson: Our Union: it must be preserved VP Calhoun: The Union, next to our liberty, most dear Maysville Road Veto (in Kentucky) on constitutional grounds: need an amendment for federally subsidized roads and canals. Opposed Cumberland Road bill.
Indian Removal Policy 1830 Lengthy dispute between Georgian legislature and Cherokee Nation. Supreme Courteventually held (Worcester v. Georgia)that Cherokee Native Americans were entitled to federal protection from the actions of state governments which would infringe on the tribe's sovereignty. President Jackson refuses to enforce court s decision. "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" Instead, he promises them perpetual autonomy in the west Despite the court ruling, he insists that the 5 Civilized Tribes move to Oklahoma.
Trail of Tears Period of 10 years 70,000 Native Americans forced to give up their homes and move to Oklahoma They would have it as long as grass shall grow and rivers run This promise lasted until 1906 Many died of famine or disease: tribes had to walk all day long Why: to free more land for white settlers (there were reports of gold in Cherokee territory in Georgia: prospectors rushed in, tearing down fences and destroying crops.
Nullification Crisis SC nullifies tariffs of 1832 Jackson: No you can t! Impractical absurdity The Force Act Clay formulates a compromise tariff Calhoun resigns! Runs as Senator from SC (casts deciding vote against Van Buren as ambassador to England) The Bank War Jackson vetoes early re-charter Leading issue in 1832: monopoly? Special privileges? Jackson withdraws federal money from BUS Puts in Pet Banks
Election of 1832 Henry Clay challenges Jackson as a National Republican new party Jackson runs with Martin Van Buren (Calhoun had resigned as VP; became US Senator Jackson wins 2 nd term big Opponents attack Jackson for re-depositing federal money in pet banks without Congress approval; states rights groups opposed his stand on nullification; others thought he was acting like a...
Wild Cat banks issue paper money Land Speculation returns Jackson requires land payments only with hard currency Limit land sales to actual settlers Panic of 1837will result (after he leaves office) New Party of Anti-Jacksonians: The Whigs: nominate Harrison; loses to Democrat (Jackson s VP) Martin Van Buren