Chapter 13
Definitely know that the Whig Party believed strongly in high tariffs, internal improvements, and moral reform (bear in mind that Henry Clay was a prominent Whig party member and the above-mentioned values look very similar to Clay's "American System" from the 1820s).
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FYI: Soon after making his decision on the 2nd B.O.U.S. it's important to note that AJ set about quickly shutting the institution down.... this created economic turmoil throughout the country and led to strange things like individual banks issuing their own paper currency throughout the west... Also, there was widespread economic turmoil and a great deal of land speculation and a great deal of people gong "bust" because of bad investments, poor lending decisions by financial institutions, and a lack of oversight by the Federal Government..... ultimately this economic upset would result in the "Panic of 1837" which was bad... but AJ had already left office and his successor, MVB, had to deal with the Panic
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In the 1840 election, Van Buren was unpopular due to the economic crisis that had begun in 1837 and which left his Presidency stuck in the mud (the "Panic of 1837" was largely the result of Andrew Jackson's actions, particularly those he took after deciding that the 2nd Bank of the United States should not have its charter renewed)
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John Calhoun
Once and ardent nationalist and vice president of the United States, then a spokesman for purely southern interests
For what reason did they choose to call themselves the "Whig" Party?
They deliberately chose this name to recollect 18th century British and Revolutionary American opposition to the monarchy.
In the 1836 election, the Whigs chose to have FOUR Whig candidates run for President. There was a very specific reason for doing this and the Whigs hopes it would help them win...for what reason did they nominate so many candidates? Also, who won in 1836?
They nominated more than one candidate for presidency because they hoped that each would have a different regional appeal and scatter the vote so that no candidate would win majority. The deadlock would have to go to the House of Reps and since Henry Clay was a big supporter of the Whigs, he would choose one of them. The winner of the 1836 election was Martin Van Buren (a Democrat).
Who ends up winning the 1832 election?
Andrew Jackson
Who won the popular vote?
Andrew Jackson
Upon hearing the news that the Cherokee tribe had gained the right to not be resettled, Jackson supposedly uttered the words "John Marshall has made his decision, now let's see him enforce it"...what did he mean by those words and, more importantly, what actions did Andrew Jackson take?
Andrew Jackson proposed a voluntary removal of the Indian race which would eventually become forced as the Indian Removal Act was passed
Sam Houston
Former Tennessee governor whose victory at San Jacinto in 1836 won Texas its independence
Denmark Vesey
Freed South Carolina black slave whose 1822 rebellion raised southern fears about slavery
In the end, what was Andrew Jackson's statement (what position did he take on the issue at hand regarding the 2nd Bank of the United States?
Jackson vetoed the BOUS re-charter bill saying, "The Bank...is trying to kill me, but I will kill it."
Who did Andrew Jackson defeat in 1828?
John Quincy Adams
Trail of Tears
the forced removal of Cherokees and their transportation to Oklahoma
Kentucky Resolution
written by James Madison; stated that the Alien and Sedition acts were unconstitutional
What were some of the values and issues Andrew Jackson's new party (the Democrats) sought to uphold?
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In terms of his policies (his "nationalism") John Quincy Adams managed to upset a great deal of people from different regions of the country...what were some of the moves he'd hoped to make and what regions of the country did they upset?
-he pushed nationalist programs to build (a) roads and canals, (b) a national university, and (c) a national observatory. This upset the south, and was seen as an elitist waste of money. -he also tried to slow down the western land speculation. Although this was likely a wise move financially speaking, the West hated this. They'd grown accustomed to getting easy credit to easily buy land.
What are some examples of "mudslinging" from the elections in this chapter?
-people said that Rachel Jackson was an adultress. She'd been married prior to Jackson, then it was discovered that her divorce hadn't been finalized. The Jackson's quickly fixed the situation, but the words stung and Rachel Jackson died only one month after the election -Jacksonians swayed people against John Q. Adams by painting him as dishonest huckster (in reality, he was an honest and honorable man).
Since President Jackson was a southerner what would he likely have felt about the tariff?
Because of where he was from, he probably would not have agreed with the law. But because of the greater good he did not express an opinion
John Marshall
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by John Adams
How did the opponent figure this would help him win in 1832?
Clay thought that this would be a lose-lose situation for Jackson and he would lose voters either way
What new political party did that bitter losing candidate help to creat in the years between 1824-1828?
Democratic-Republicans
Against whom was Andrew Jackson running in 1832?
Henry Clay
Andrew Jackson's 1832 opponent tried to win the election by forcing Andrew Jackson to make a public statement regarding the 2nd Bank of the United States...on what specific issue did the opponent demand that Andrew Jackson issue his statement?
Henry Clay (and Daniel Webster) started a re-charter bill for the BOUS. The thought was that Jackson would be in a lose-lose situation, where if he vetoed the bill the north would be against him and wouldn't vote for him but if he signed it the south and west would be angry.
Who orchestrated the compromise that ultimately defused the situation? What was the compromise? How was Andrew Jackson's reputation affected by his actions during the 'nullification crisis'?
Henry Clay defused the compromise. The compromise was "The Compromise Tariff of 1833" which ended up lowering the tariff and the government backed down. His reputation affected his actions by giving him lots of backup and supporters. The tariff was reduced over about ten years ( gradual reduction). AJ's reputation as a strong leader was solidified.
What were Andrew Jackson's views of the President and the Federal Government?
It could and should be used as a powerful instrument of economic activism on the part of American people; he also believed that political participation by the "common man" should be increased.
For what reason was the new tariff (the Tariff of 1828) given the nickname the "Tariff of Abominations"?
It really only benefited the north and their manufacturing, and drove up the prices for the west and south
For what reason did southerners refer to the Tariff of 1828 as the "Tariff of Abominations"?
It really only benefited the north and their manufacturing, and drove up the prices for the west and south. Jackson and his followers said it was a way for the rich to get richer by jacking up the prices that the poor would have to pay.
Specie Circular
It was issued in 1836 and required that public land be purchased with gold or silver ("hard currency")
For what reason did a losing candidate nickname this the "Corrupt Bargain" election and who was that losing candidate?
Jackson and his supporters claimed the politicians had made a deal to grab the White House from the people. This may be a stretch, and even if it did happen, it wasn't illegal but just the machine of politics at work.
Why wasn't that man awarded the Presidency?
Jackson didn't win the majority of electoral votes, but none of the candidates did, so the election went to the House of Representatives, who would pick from the top three candidates: Jackson, Adams, and Crawford. Henry Clay, as House Speaker, was in a unique position to influence the vote.
Hopefully by now you know what the term "spoils system" means: how did Jackson implement the "spoils system" during his Presidency and what impact did the "spoils system' have on the American political landscape?
Jackson implemented the spoils system by "cleaning house" (firing a lot of people) in Washington and hiring many of his supporters. *
Why did Jackson, however, insist that the tariff law be obeyed? What did he threaten to do if South Carolina continued to 'nullify' and not enforce the tariff?
Jackson insisted the law be obeyed (President's job to enforce the law) because he believed that we, as a country, wither have a national government or we don't. He believed that the Federal government needed to have more power than the states' rights. He threatened to send the army down to take over the local ports and secure enforcement of the tariff law.
What was John Quincy Adams' personality like? How did the general population react to his personality?
John Quincy Adams was a thinker instead of a politician. He was irritable, sarcastic, and tactless. He was one of the most successful Secretaries of State, but one of the least successful presidents. Not many people liked him (less than 1/3 of voters had voted for him), but the ones who did started to give up on him throughout his presidency.
What four men were running for President?
John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William H. Crawford, and Andrew Jackson
Daniel Webster
Majestic New England statesman who defended "liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable"; a Senate leader, and leader of the Whig party
Santa Anna
Mexican general and dictator whose large army failed to defeat the Texans
To where (and from where) were most of these Native Americans resettled?
Most of these Native Americans resettled from Georgia to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears
Political "Machines"
New Professional political organizations that were "greased" by the offices and favors handed out by winning candidates.
So...Texas ultimately won its war for independence in 1836...after the war they petitioned the U.S. government to become our newest state. What was President Jackson's response...and WHY?
President Jackson said NO because of the new slave rules with the states. If Texas became a state it would become a slave state and the USA was trying to avoid slavery. (US was worried Mexico wanted it back and would re attack)
Kitchen Cabinet
President Jackson's informal group of political advisors
You should know that the 1832 election witnessed the emergence of three new elements to the political scene in the United States. What are these 3 three new elements?
Public platforms, a third-party candidate, and national nominating conventions
What did South Carolina threaten to do (in addition to 'nullifying' the tariff law)?
SC threatened secession if Washington tried to impose the tariff over the nullification vote.
Davy Crockett
Semiliterate, bear-killing Tennessee congressman whose rough popular appeal exemplified the New Democracy
San Jacinto
Site of General Sam Houston's victory against Santa Anna that won Texas independence in April 1836
Corrupt Bargain
Supposed deal to swing the presidential election of 1824 in return for a place on the cabinet
Nicholas Biddle
Talented but high-handed bank president who fought a bitter losing battle with the president of the United States
Tariff of Abominations
Tax on imported goods passed in 1828 to try and help northern manufacturing; causes the nullification crisis, and the south hated it.
What exactly is "The Alamo"?
The Alamo is a Spanish mission in Texas where a battle was held between the Mexicans who were lead by Santa Anna, and the Texans. They were fighting for the independence of Texas. Texas lost, but their army put into new management thanks to Sam Houston and they turned around / and won their independence at the battle of San Jacinto
Which Native American tribe put forth a successful lawsuit defending their rights to NOT be removed (which ultimately received the support of John Marshall and the rest of the Supreme Court)?
The Cherokee nation took their case to the Supreme Court when the Georgia legislature declared the Cherokee Tribal Council illegal in 1828. John Marshall overturned this decision three times in favor of the Cherokee.
What did Calhoun declare in his essay "The South Carolina Exposition"?
The Exposition said that the states, such as South Carolina, could nullify (or declare null and void) the tariff. This was a direct challenge to the federal government.
What group of people eventually chose the winner and who was the winner?
The House of Representatives eventually chose the winner, and since Jackson was Clay's main rival (they both were westerners), Clay threw his support to Adams and John Quincy Adams was elected president (who chose Clay as Secretary of State)
What 1830 law set in motion the forced migration of the Native Americans?
The Indian Removal act was passed by Congress making the relocation law and the Bureau of Indian Affairs was started to oversee matters
What region of the country most heavily supported Andrew Jackson and which region supported his opponent in 1828?
The West and South supported Jackson and the North supported Adams
What changed dramatically from 1820-1840
The number of "eligible voters" grew dramatically as people became more interested in political process, and the requirement to be a landowner in order to vote was dropped.
Around the time of the Trail of Tears (1830 and beyond), the U.S. government was promising Native American tribes access to a "permanent frontier"; first of all what was meant by that term? Secondly, what was the natural border/ boundary that served as the eastern border of the "permanent frontier"? Finally, how well did the U.S. government keep its promise?
The permanent frontier meant that once the Natives moved the American nation would never bother them again; the eastern border was Mississippi; the Americans did not keep their promise
Spoils System
The popular idea that public offices should be handed out on the basis of political support rather than special qualifications.
For the loser at the Alamo, what was positive about the battle itself?
The positive thing about losing the Alamo was that the Texans has a modo to live by "Remember the Alamo" and more reason to win their independence. Alamo Battle was two weeks long: this time gave the rest of the Texas army time to organize themselves while the Mexicans were preoccupied at the Alamo
Log Cabin/ Hard Cider
The role that Harrison took on during his campaign. He was portrayed as the poor "Farmer of North Bend", who had been called from his cabin and his plow to drive corrupt Jackson spoilsmen from the "presidential palace". He also played an impoverished old farmer who should be content with a pension, a log cabin, and a barrel of hard cider
In the Battle of the Alamo, what two forces were engaged in battle and who won?
The two forces that were engaged in the battle of the Alamo were the Texans and the Mexicans. The Mexicans won.
Mudslinging
The use of insults to attack an opponent's reputation
In the years before Texas's War for Independence (1836) what was the view of the Mexican government regarding Americans moving to Texas? What restrictions eventually were placed on residents of Texas by the Mexican government prior to 1836 (think about things like religion, citizenship, and slavery)?
They were required to learn Spanish and become Catholic. They had to report that they were going to settle in the area, but some people did not. Mexicans encouraged Americans to relocate to Texas. No slavery*
What does it mean to 'nullify' a law? What essays did Jefferson and Madison write that supported 'nullification'?
To 'nullify' means to declare null and void. Jefferson and Madison wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, which supported nullification.
Peggy Eaton
Washington figure whose supposedly scandalous social life caused a cabinet crisis and the resignation of Vice President Calhoun
In the 1840 election the victor ___________ was buoyed by his successful military career, in particular his victory at__________. He becomes the first _______ to win the Presidency.
William Henry Harrison, Tippecanoe, Whig
South Carolina Exposition
a document written by Calhoun (in secret) that protested the tarriff of 1828.
Panic of 1837
banks collapsed and an economic depression followed
Force Bill
gave the president power to use military force to collect tariffs (from southern states) if the need arose, 1833