Political Trends of the Antebellum Era (1824-1840) The Rise of the

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Political Trends of the Antebellum Era
(1824-1840)The Rise of the Common Man
Jacksonian Democracy
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Decline of the Notables
Read the excerpts from the speeches of the first
six U.S. presidents.
In what ways did Washington, Adams, Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe and John Quincy Adams embody a
sort of political elitism?
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I. What was new about the new democracy in
antebellum America?
Universal White Manhood Suffrage
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Common Men begin gaining political power over
notablesEx Davy Crockett
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Economic Advancements Change Politics

• Create Class Divisions

• Power More Broadly Held

• Less rural/urban divide
• Regional economics
• Independent artisans lost ground to outwork
  system
• Wealthy favored by taxes
• Classes easily exited self-made man

• Universal Male Suffrage
• Egalitarian marriages in the north
• Mass production and machine tools helped smaller
  entrepreneurs
• Unions gain rights for workers

Context set up in CH. 9
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De Tocqueville comments of political trends
in Democracy in America
The most able men in America are rarely elected
to office.
Democracy and socialism have nothing in common
but one word, equality. But notice the
difference while democracy seeks equality in
liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint
and servitude.
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John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson
Changing Political Trends Personified by
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Andrew Jackson
John Quincy Adams

• Old Hickory
• becomes the
• hero of the
• Common Man
• and the new
• Democratic Party
• War Hero
• Self Made man
• Westerner

• Intellectual
• Diplomat was the
• symbol of the
• nationalist
• establishment in
• the early 19th C.
• Harvard Educated
• Son of a President
• New Englander

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Election of 1824 alleged Corrupt Bargain Ends
Era of Good Feeling
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Jacksons Revolution of 1828
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The reign of King Mob at Jacksons Inauguration
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New Democracy in Action as Jackson Increases
Political Patronage Spoils System or
Rotation of Office ??
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• Other
• democratic
• Trends
• Anti-Masonic Party
• Open Party Conventions
• replace closed Caucuses
• More local political
• offices
• (ex sheriff judges)
• elected rather
• than appointed

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II. Jackson the Native AmericansShould a
democratic leaderpursue a policy favored by a
majority of constituents if manyconsider it
morally wrong?
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(No Transcript)
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• 5 Civilized Tribes
• Indian Removal Act
• Worcester v. Georgia

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(No Transcript)
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Trail of Tears
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III. Jackson the Tariff of Abominations
Should a democratic leaderthreaten force to
pursue a policy not favorable to one section of
the nation?
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Southern View of Tariff
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Nullification Crisis

• States Rights vs. Nationalism
• 1828 - Tariff of Abomination
• John C. Calhoun South Carolina Exposition
• Jackson uses military intimidation Force Act
• Compromise Tariff of 1833

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Jackson and the 2nd B.U.S. Should a
democratic leader ignore Congress and the
Supreme Court in order to check the power of
business interests the social elite to please
the common man?
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The Bank War of 1832Whether or not to
re-charter the 2nd BUSsparks a class cultural
debate between

• Rich vs. Poor
• East vs. West
• Elite vs. Common Man

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J B A I C D K vs. D S
L O E N
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(No Transcript)
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Jackson as King Veto Jackson ignores Supreme
Court (again) and vetoes a 3rd BUS - puts
federal into state pet banks
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Martin Van Buren President (1837 1841) Term
marred by Panic of 1837
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V. Legacies of the Jacksonian Era
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Populism adopted by both political
parties Tippecanoe Tyler Too Log Cabin
Hard Cider Election of 1840 Increases
the Influence of the Presidency