The Rise of a Mass Democracy
Directions: Listen as I cover the following points. Then make up questions for the notes. I will tell you how many questions. Make sure you write down the answers as well.
The Corrupt Bargain of 1824
- Four front runners: John Quincy Adams (Mass), Henry Clay (Ky), William Crawford(GA), and Andrew Jackson (TN). They claimed to be Republicans
- Jackson: war hero whose message of govt for the people by the people appealing, but failed to win majority in electoral vote.
- Clay: in position to affect outcome of election with his influence so he didn’t vote for Crawford because of his health, hated Jackson militarism, so he gave support to Adams. His influence got Adams elected president and himself as secretary of state. Jacksonians protested against this obvious partnership between Adams and Clay who they believe put himself in a position to be the next president after Adams.
A Yankee Misfit in the White House
* Adams: irritable, sarcastic, and tactless, but honorable. Came into office amid public outrage since he did not win popular vote. His supporters expected to be rewarded by him creating room in administration for them. He refused to give in to their demand and they decided not to help him stay in office longer.
* He promoted nationalism: nation coming to together for the good of its people. People did not agree: they wanted state’s rights and sectionalism. He wanted to create roads, canals, university to unite people. People hated idea especially south who felt threatened that the federal government would interfere with their “peculiar institution”
* Land policy angered Westerners who wanted to expand west into Cherokee territory but Adams said no because he felt it necessary to treat the Indians fairly.
Going “ Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828
- people started campaigning for Jackson early even while Adams was still in office
- Jackson portrayed as a rough hewn frontiersman and champion of the common man whereas Adam was seen as an aristocrat who did not care about the people.
- Adam not corrupt as he was portrayed. He had high morals and values. Jackson not poor as portrayed, he was a wealthy planter.
- Mudslinging political campaign emerged: both supporters from both camps use spread gossips and rumors about both candidates to persuade voters to vote for their candidates
- Election: Jackson won votes from the South and West, Adams retained Northeast,but not enough to get reelected. Jackson won electoral vote (178 t 83)
Old Hickory as President
- rough upbringing, orphaned, survived many sicknesses
- second pres. Without college ed. Own slaves, cultivated broad acres , successful planter, frontier aristocrat: hard to put him in one category
The Spoils System
- System emerged during Jackson presidency where political supporters were rewarded with public offices
- Jackson supported this idea on democratic grounds: give a man a chance. The truth was that the system was a way to show the candidate their appreciation to their supporters. This support detrimental for government because incompetent men held offices and they could not do their duties. Illiterates, incompetents, and crooks were given public offices. Spoil system important element of the two-party order: Americans picking a party and sticking with them through thick and thin
The Tricky “Tariff of Abominations”
- Tariffs protected American industry against competition from European manufactured gds, but drove up prices for all Americans.
- South who relied on Manufactured goods hated the tax because they used it as an excuse for their hard times. The north who was industrialized did not have a problem with the tax. South could sell their cotton in world market without worrying about tax, but had to pay tax on Americans goods they needed. The bottom line is they were afraid that if the federal government could be powerful enough to make them pay taxes then they can also make them get rid of their slaves ( federal rights impose on state’s rights).
“Nullies” in South Carolina
S.C. during Adams Presidency declared that the tariff were void or nullified. In other words if the state did not want to follow it then they don’t have to. Jackson did not put up with this and he warned them that he will use military force if necessary to enforce law. Henry Clay used his influence to get a the compromise Tariff of 1833 passed through Congress where the tariff was reduced by 10 percent over eight years and also give federal government to use force to collect federal tariff if necessary.
Homework: Read page 265 beginning with the subheading The Trail of Tears through Big Woes for the Little Magician( page 274). Take notes over the reading and bring your notes to class tomorrow. You will have a quiz over your reading!
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