CHAPTER 9 JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY The American Nation: A History of the United States, 13th edition Carnes/Garraty Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 “DEMOCRATIZING” POLITICS n Jacksonian inauguration and the reign of the “common man” n Jefferson: believed ordinary man could be educated to believe what was right n Jackson: insisted ordinary man knew what was right by instinct n “Servant” replaced by “help” n Increasingly democratic elections n Most states removed property qualifications n By Jackson’s time only Delaware and South Carolina had electors chosen by state legislature rather than by popular vote n Soon after 1828 presidential candidates were nominated by party conventions Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 “DEMOCRATIZING” POLITICS n Emphasis on idea that every citizen equally important and all should participate in government n Final disestablishment of churches n Beginnings of free­school movement, early interest in adult education and slow spread of secondary education n Increase in number of newspapers and the decline in their prices n Eight times as many people voted in 1840 as in 1824 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 “DEMOCRATIZING” POLITICS n With increase in importance of voting came increase in competition among candidates n Running campaigns and getting vote out required money, people and organized effort n Parties became powerful institutions that instilled loyalty among adherents n 1828 election stimulated party formation n Created bureaucracies n Devoted party workers were rewarded with political offices n Candidates decided best way to attract voters was by flattery Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 1828:The New Party System in Embryo n Party system developed as result of battle to succeed John Quincy Adams n 1828 election full of character assassination n Denigrating remarks about Jackson’s wife and marriage n Accusations about Adams conduct in office n Unfortunately resulted in Mrs. Andrew Jackson / engd. by J.C. Buttre Library of Congress Prints high voter turnout and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 U.S.A LC­ U.S.Z62­25773 (b&w film copy neg.) Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE JACKSONIAN APPEAL n Jackson similar to Washington n Soldier first n Inveterate speculator in western lands n Owner of plantation and slaves n Man with few intellectual interests and only sketchily educated n More like a southern planter than a frontiersman n Stood as a symbol for a new democratically oriented generation n Drew support from every section and social class n Believed in equality of opportunity and distrusted entrenched status Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE SPOILS SYSTEM n Jackson decided to punish those who wronged him during campaign n Political office seen as reward for victory n Removed some officials for incompetence or corruption n Some because Jackson believed in concept of rotation which meant more citizens could participate in tasks of governing n Would prevent entrenched bureaucracy n Yet also inhibited governmental efficiency n Jacksonian democracy characterized by contempt for knowledge and belief that ordinary Americans can do anything they set their minds to n Jackson actually appointed people from social and intellectual elite n Did not rotate a lot of positions especially in War and Navy departments Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 PRESIDENT OF ALL THE PEOPLE n Jackson relied not on formal cabinet (where only secretary of state, Martin Van Buren, had any talent) but on informal “Kitchen Cabinet” n Vetoed over a dozen bills, some that he deemed inexpedient rather than unconstitutional n Did not seek to expand federal authority at expense of states because favored a “frugal,” constitutionally limited government n Poor administrator, given to penny­ pinching and lacking in imagination Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, [1830]. Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction number: LC­U.S.ZC4­4563 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman (color film copy transparency). © 2008 SECTIONAL TENSIONS REVIVED Moderate course n Slight reduction in tariff n “constitutional” internal improvements n Once federal debt paid off, distribute rest among states n If done, could not reduce price of public land which upset westerners n Created proposal for South­West alliance based on cheap land and low tariff n Alliance cut down by Daniel Webster Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 JACKSON: “The Bank…I Will Kill It!” n Jackson was re­elected in 1832 over Henry Clay n One of the main issues was Second Bank of U.S. n Bank was run by Nicholas Biddle who realized it could act as rudimentary central bank n State banks often issued more paper money than hard currency reserves n By collecting bank notes and submitting them for redemption, Biddle could compel local banks to maintain reserves of gold and silver Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 JACKSON: “The Bank…I Will Kill It!” n Biddle’s policies were good for Bank n Earned substantial profits n But state banks pressured to print money which caused farmers to overextend themselves n Led to decline in prices and agricultural depression n Reckless lending caused inflation and greatly exaggerated ups and downs of business cycle n Biddle had supporters but they were outnumbered by detractors who did not understand what he was doing n Those who disliked all paper money n Bankers who disliked Biddle’s restraints on their ability to lend freely n New York bankers n Some objected because bank was a monopoly Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 JACKSON’S BANK VETO n After Jackson admitted his dislike and fear of Bank, Biddle gravitated to the opposition (National Republicans) n In 1832 Biddle asked for renewal of Bank charter due to expire in 1836 n Congress passed but Jackson vetoed saying Bank was n Unconstitutional n Inexpedient n Stock owned by foreigners Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 JACKSON’S BANK VETO n Jackson withdrew government funds from the Bank of the United States and deposited them in state banks n Had to replace two Secretaries of the Treasury before he found Roger Taney, who made transfer n By 1836 funds distributed to 90 institutions n In response to withdrawals, Biddle n Presented all state bank notes and checks for specie n Contracted own lending n Paper money became scarce and specie unattainable n In 1834, Biddle caved to pressure and returned to lending freely Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 JACKSON VERSU.S. CALHOUN n Jackson: “Our Federal Union: It must be preserved” n Calhoun: “The Union, next to our liberty, most dear” n Strained relations n Peggy Eaton n Calhoun’s 1818 response to Jackson’s invasion of Florida n Jackson’s views: n Did not believe that the area of national power was large or should be expanded n Interested in government economy, distribution of federal surpluses to the states, and interpreting powers of Congress narrowly n Favored internal improvements but preferred local projects be left to states Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 INDIAN REMOVALS Jackson’s Views: n Indians were “savage” because they roamed wild in trackless wilderness and therefore were incapable of self­government n Ignored reality of Cherokee life n Jackson insisted that Indians must be removed from path of white settlement but must be paid fairly for land and government must bear expense of relocating them n Saw relocation as protecting Indians from “degradation and destruction” Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 INDIAN REMOVALS n Between 1831 and 1833 some 15,000 Choctaw migrated from Mississippi to region west of Arkansas Territory n Resistance: n Black Hawk’s Sac and Fox in Illinois n Osceola’s Seminole in Florida n Accommodation: Cherokee n Took up farming and cattle raising n Developed a written language n Drafted a constitution n 1828 Georgia declared all Cherokee laws void and claimed their land as part of Georgia Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 INDIAN REMOVALS n Cherokees sued in Supreme Court n Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) n Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Cherokee were not a foreign nation and thus could not sue in U.S. court n Worcester v. Georgia (1832) n Involved two missionaries to Cherokee who had not obtained license required by Georgia n Marshall ruled state could not control Cherokee or their territory n Supported this decision in follow up case when Cherokee convicted in Georgia court sued and Marshall overturned conviction since incident had occurred on Cherokee territory thereby making Georgia’s actions unconstitutional Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 INDIAN REMOVALS n Jackson supported Georgia n Trail of Tears (1838) n 15,000 Cherokees were forced to leave Georgia for Oklahoma n At least 4,000 died on the way n Jackson’s actions regarding Georgia convinced many southern states’ righters that he would not oppose doctrine of nullification Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE NULLIFICATION CRISIS n 1832 Tariff failed to lower prices enough to satisfy southerners, especially South Carolina n Upcountry cotton planters suffering competition from more fertile Alabama n Planter aristocrats of rice­growing Tidewater were troubled by northern criticisms of slavery n Blacks outnumbered whites