STATES' RIGHTS AND THE NATIONAL BANK Chapter 7.4
Tariff Raises Issues of States Rights The Nullification Theory British try to flood U.S. with cheap goods Tariff of 1816 curbs cheap imports; tariff raised in 1824 and 1828 Jackson s 1 st VP John C. Calhoun calls 1828 tariff a Tariff of Abominations Southern states felt tariffs were unfair Calhoun devises nullification theory: questions legality of applying federal laws to states Constitution based on compact among states state can reject law it considers unconstitutional states have right to leave Union if nullification denied
States Rights Hayne and Webster Debate States Rights Senator Robert Hayne argues Southern view of tariff, states rights Jackson believes Union must be preserved ; Calhoun resigns South Carolina Nullification Crisis South Carolina declares 1828 & 1832 tariffs null; threatens to secede Congress passes Force Bill; can use army, navy against South Carolina
The measures of the federal government will soon involve the whole South in irretrievable ruin. But even this evil, great as it is, is not the chief ground of our complaints. It is the principle involved in the contest a principle, which substitution the discretion of Congress for the limitations of the constitution, brings the States and the people to the feet of the federal government, and leaves them nothing they can call their own. Robert Hayne, South Carolina
[I cannot conceive of a] middle course, between submission to the laws, when regularly pronounced constitutional, on the one hand, and open resistance, which is revolution, or rebellion, on the other. Daniel Webster, Massachusetts
Our Union: it must be preserved. Andrew Jackson, President of the United States
The Union, next to our liberty, the most dear; may we all remember that it can only be preserved by respecting the rights of the States and distributing equally the benefit and burden of the Union. John C. Calhoun, Vice President of the United states
Jackson and the National Bank Jackson Opposes the Bank Jackson vetoes bill to recharter Second Bank of the United States Presents bank as privileged institution that favors the wealthy The bank, Mr. Van Buren, is trying to kill me, but I will kill it. Pet Banks Jackson puts money in state banks loyal to Democratic Party Whig Party Forms People unhappy with Jackson form Whig Party, back American System
1. What does this cartoon suggest about Jackson s attitude towards the Constitution? 2. How does this cartoon specifically comment on Jackson s use of presidential power?
Van Buren Deals with Jackson Legacy Jackson s Legacy Martin Van Buren wins 1836 election with Jackson s support; inherits consequences of Jacksonian policy Pet banks print bank notes in excess of gold, silver on hand Government demands specie (gold, silver) to purchase land from gov t Land purchasers rush to trade bank notes for specie; banks suspend redemption of notes Panic of 1837 bank closings, collapse of credit system people lose savings, businesses bankrupted more than a third of population out of work Van Buren tries unsuccessfully to solve economic problems
Jackson s Legacy Harrison and Tyler Whig William Henry Harrison beats Van Buren in 1840 election Painted self as common-man, and Van Buren as wealthy elite Harrison enacts Whig program to revitalize economy Dies one month later; succeeded by vice president John Tyler Tyler opposes many parts of Whig economic plan
Activity For each of the first 10 presidents of the United States, answer the following questions in complete answers: 1. Did they own slaves? 2. If yes, how many? (If yes, continue to #3; if no, skip #3 and go directly to #4) 3. How did they treat their slaves? 4. What was their general opinion of slavery? 5. As a politician, did they ever try to do anything about slavery, either in support of it or against it? (Example: Even though Jefferson owned many slaves and believed blacks were inferior to whites, he attempted to end the practice of slavery by criminalizing the international slave trade; however, he also proposed deporting all free blacks and troublesome slaves to Haiti)