Topic 10

The Age of Jackson (and Van Buren), 1829-1840

A. Jackson: Child of the American Revolution

B. The Inauguration – The wildest scene in Washington since the British burned the place in 1814.

1. About 10,000 of Jackson’s most mud-spattered followers showed up to see their hero, Old Hickory, installed in the presidential office.

2. And this mob scene tell us that …

C. The Age of Jacksonian Democracy: what was Jacksonian Democracy?

1. In a narrow sense, refers to Jackson and the Democrats coming to power in Washington, driving from office John Quincy Adams and his friends who had “robbed” them of the presidency in 1824.

2. The term has a broader meaning and refers to the common people, that is the common white males, coming to power in America.

– They favored doing away with all barriers, like property qualifications, that kept them from voting.

– They believed in driving the aristocrats, like Adams and Clay and their friends, out of office, and giving the common folk their share of offices – hence the “spoils system.” (See additional comments below, Topic D. A New Day)

– They opposed powerful institutions, like the Bank of the U.S., that they believed promoted the interests of a wealthy few and opposed the interests of the common folk of America.

– They favored Indian removal.

– The tragic side to all of this is that this was “democracy” for white men only; no women, blacks or Native Americans need apply.

D. New Day: The spoils system comes to Washington

1. A definition: firing and hiring for political reasons

2. At the state and local levels, this was nothing new, but it was new at the federal level. When a new administration came into office, most officeholders kept their jobs.

3. Under Jackson, things changed. Jackson fired ½ of all federal officeholders appointed by the president.

4. In his defense, his motives were good:

– Means of rooting out corruption in the federal government

– Having a large turnover in office was a way to open up and ventilate the federal government and give many qualified people an opportunity to serve in the government.

5. Qualified is the key word: the worst thing about the spoils system is that over time as it took root in the government, many unqualified people got federal offices. It became a means of rewarding unqualified nobodies by appointing them to a federal office.

E. Issues During Jackson’s Presidency

1. Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears

– The Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw and Chickasaw

– Jackson strongly supported removal

– Indian Removal Act of 1830

– A sad episode in American history: the Trail of Tears

2. The Tariff and Nullification

– Tariff Act of 1832 – Reduced tariffs down to level of 1824

– Most southerners pleased, but not SC; the time to nullify federal law had arrived!

– November 1832 – Ordinance passed that declared the Act of 1832 and 1828 null and void

– Jackson and Vice President John C. Calhoun

– Next move up to Jackson

• Sent warships to Charleston harbor

• Proclamation to people of SC

• Force Act – Gave the president authority to use military force to enforce the tax laws

• Henry Clay and the Compromise Tariff Act of 1833 – More reductions over a 9-year period down to the level of the Tariff of 1816.

• Both signed, March 1, 1833

– Next move up to SC, and SC backed down, but also tried to save face

– What this crisis tells us about Jackson – He was a strict construction unionist.

3. Jackson and the Bank of the U.S.

– Jackson strongly opposed:

• It was unconstitutional

• It was a financial monster – allowed a handful of bankers to run the country’s economy

– Asked Congress to consider whether charter should be renewed

– Nicholas Biddle, the president of the Bank, and Henry Clay decided to push a bill though Congress in 1832 to recharter the bank.

– Why? They were trying to make the Bank and issue in the campaign, in the hope that this issue would defeat Jackson.

– Election of 1832 – Jackson won despite veto of bank bill

– Another thing to remember: the Anti-Masonic Party, a training ground for many young politicians

– Jackson killed off the bank by withdrawing federal deposits which were now placed in the so-call “pet” banks.

4. Jackson and the Specie Circular – July 1836

– Economy growing rapidly

– Standing at the heart of economic boom was a real estate boom. Real estate promoters were making a lot of money buying land from the federal government and then reselling for hefty profits.

– Much of the land was being bought and sold with paper bank notes issued by state banks.

– Over time, the value of these paper notes tended to depreciate and prices of land spiraled upward.

– As land prices went up, the prices of many other things did as well and these rising prices created problems for the middle and lower classes.

– In short, an inflationary spiral had overtaken the country.

– To Jackson, not a healthy situation. Wanted to put the brakes on this inflationary spiral and bring prices of land and other goods down. Hence, the Specie Circular.

– It said: Land bought from the federal government must be paid for with gold or silver.

– Jackson put the brakes on a little too hard!

– Kind of like, cars must be bought with cash!

F. Rise of the Whig Party

1. After the election of 1832, Jackson’s enemies began working together against him

2. Great problem: lack of unity

3. Election of 1836: split the vote and throw the election into the House of Representatives

G. Martin Van Buren and the Panic of 1837

1. A depression hit in 1837, and you might well blame Jackson – Specie Circular

2. But the people blamed Van Buren

3. Van Buren’s proposal: The Independent Treasury

4. Did not end the depression, and it dragged on and on….

H. Election of 1840 – Tippecanoe and Tyler too! Little Van is a used up man!