Chapter 10 - Summary Give Me Liberty!: an American History PDF

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Chapter 10: Democracy in America The Triumph of Democracy 

March 4, 1829—Andrew Jackson sworn in as president o Career embodied major developments of his era  Market revolution  Westward expansion  Slavery expansion  Growth of democracy o Symbolized the triumph of political democracy  Came from humble beginnings—orphaned during Revolutionary War

What were the social bases for the flourishing democracy of the early mid-nineteenth century? Property and Democracy 

No state entering Union after original 13th required property requirements for voting o 1860, in older states, all except 1 barred property qualifications

The Dorr War 

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Exception to property qualifications for voting was Rhode Island o Must own real estate valued at &134 or rent at $7 per year o Factory production centered economy o Growing class of property-less wage earners unable to vote October 1841—supported of democratic reform organized a People’s Convention o Drafted new state Constitution o Gave right to vote to all adult white men while eliminating full blacks Reformers ratified Constitution in extralegal referendum (referendum: a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision; extralegal: beyond the authority of the law) o Inaugurated Thomas Dorr as governor President John Tyler sent troops to state o Movement collapsed o Dorr imprisoned for 2 years for treason Dorr War demonstrated the passions aroused by the continuing exclusion of any group of white men from voting

Tocqueville on Democracy   

1840, more than 90% of adult white men eligible to vote Country lacked traditional nationality = democratic political institutions came to define nation’s sense of its own identity Democracy in America: Two works, published in 1835 and 1840, by the French thinker Alexis de Tocqueville on the subject of American democracy. Tocqueville stressed the cultural nature of American democracy, and the importance and prevalence of equality in American life o Account of society in midst of political transformation o Came to study prisons o Realized, to understand America he must understand democracy (disliked—he was an aristocrat)

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Key insight = democracy was more than right to vote or a particular set of political institutions Democracy = “habit of the heart” = culture that encouraged as essential to freedom:  Individual initiative  Belief in equality  Active public sphere populated by numerous voluntary organizations

The Information Revolution   

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Market Revolution + political democracy = expansion of public sphere + explosion in printing (“information revolution”) Steam power to newspaper printing = mass circulation and 1 cent vs. 6 cents per paper New York Sun and New York Herald o Introduced new style of journalism, emphasizing sensationalism (crime stories, exposes of official misconduct) 1820s and 1830s, “alternative” newspapers appeared o Freedom’s Journal—first black newspapers o Philadelphia Mechanic’s Advocate—labor publications o The Liberator and Cherokee Phoenix—1st Native American newspaper

The Limits of Democracy 

Democracy central to freedom and nationality = need to define boundaries o 1851, United States Magazine and Democratic Review: “principle of universal suffrage” meant that “white males of age constituted the political nation”  Gender and racial differences were understood as part of a single, natural hierarchy of innate endowments  White males = inherently superior in character and abilities

A Racial Democracy   

Blacks portrayed in theatrical presentations by whites in blackface o Portrayed as stupid, dishonest, and ridiculous Authors portrayed them as stereotypes o Happy slaves prone to superstition or long-suffering but devout Christians Franchise: The right to vote o Revolutionary era: Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia = only ones to explicitly confine vote to whites  Other states made voting difficult for blacks though o 1800—no norther states barred blacks from voting  Every state that entered union after 1800 (except Maine) limited right to vote to white males o By 1860, blacks could only vote in 5 New England states (4% of nation’s free black population) o In effect, race had replaced class as the boundary between free men who could vote  New white immigrant male could vote immediately upon immigration, free blacks who were residents for years could not

Nationalism and its Discontents What were the social bases for the flourishing democracy of the early mid-nineteenth century? The American System  

War of 1812 = national pride Bank of the United States expired in 1811—country lacked a uniform currency o Found it impossible to raise funds for war effort 2

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Transportation still primitive o One shipment from New England took 75 days to reach New Orleans  Imported British goods major source of competition to manufacturers John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay (War of 1812 war hawks) believed “infant industries” deserved national protection American System: Program of internal improvements and protective tariffs promoted by Speaker of the House Henry Clay in his presidential campaign in 1824; his proposals formed the core of Whig ideology in the 1830s and 1840s o Idea was originally that of James Madison stated in his State of the Union address in Dec. 1815  Blueprint for government promoted economic development o Plan rested on 3 pillars  1. New national bank  2. A tariff on imported manufactured goods to protect American industry  3. Federal financing of improved roads and canals  “Let us bind the nation together with a perfect system of roads and canals”—important to unity o March 1817, on eve of retirement from office, President James Madison vetoed the bill  Changed his mind because allowing government to exercise power not mentioned in constitution would be dangerous to individual liberty and southern interests  Two parts did become law: o 1. Tariff of 1816 (did become law despite veto): First true protective tariff, intended to protect certain American goods against foreign competition  Protected American made goods—especially cheap cotton textiles  Supported by southerners—believed it would enable them to develop a manufacturing base to rival New England’s manufacturing o 2. Bank of the United States: with 21 year chapter from Congress

Banks and Money  

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2nd bank resented by public Like 1st bank it: o Was a private, profit making corporation that acted as governments financial agent o Issued paper money o Collected taxes o Paid government debts Charged with making sure other banks issued money with real value o Paper money consisted of notes promising to pay back bearer on demand a specified amount of “specie” (gold or silver)  Often printed more money than gold or silver in their vault  Bank of United Sates was supposed to correct this by preventing over-issuance of money

The Panic of 1819 

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Instead of regulating the printing of money, the Bank of the United States participated in a speculative fever that swept country after end of War of 1812 o Resumption of trade with Europe created huge overseas market for cotton and grain o Rapid expansion of settlement into west o High loan demands for land purchases, especially in South (Cotton Kingdom was expanding)—banks happy to loan so they printed more money Early 1819, European demand for American products declined—economic bubble burst o Banks asked for repayments (state and national) 3

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o Farmers and businessmen declared bankruptcy o Unemployment rose in eastern cities Panic of 1819: Financial collapse brought on by the sharply falling cotton prices, declining demand for American exports, and reckless western land speculation States suspended collection of debts by creditors o Kentucky established state bank and flooded state with money that creditors were required to accept in repayment of loans Eased burden on indebted farmers, hurt creditors Deepened American distrust in banks—Second Bank of United States blamed States retaliated against nation bank by taxing its local branches McCulloh v. Maryland (1819): 1819 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which Chief Justice John Marshall, holding that Maryland could not tax the Second Bank of the United States, supported the authority of the federal government versus the states o Reasserted broad interpretation of governmental power: Declared the Bank a legitimate exercise of congressional authority under the Constitution’s “necessary and proper” clause

The Missouri Controversy 

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1816, James Monroe defeated Federalists candidate Rufus King o Era of Good Feelings: Contemporary characterization of the administration of popular Republican president James Monroe, 1817-1825 Two terms in office were one-party government o No two-party competition = politics organized along lines of competing section interest 1819, Congress considered request of Missouri to draft a Constitution in preparation to become a state o NY Republican congressman, James Tallmadge moved that  Further slave introduction be prohibited  Children of hose already in Missouri be freed at 25 years old o Tallmadge’s proposal sparked 2-year controversy—Republican unity shattered along sectional lines  His restrictions passed House (supported by North)  Died in Senate o Missouri Compromise: Deal proposed by Kentucky senator Henry Clay in 1820 to resolve the slave/free imbalance in Congress that would result from Missouri’s admission as a slave state; Maine’s admission as a free state offset Missouri’s admission as a slave state  1820, Illinois Senator Jesse Thomas proposed compromise  Missouri authorized to draft Constitution without Tallmadge’s restriction  Maine (prohibited slavery) would be admitted to Union to maintain sectional balance between free and slave states  Slavery would be prohibited in all remaining territory in Louisiana Purchase north of Missouri’s southern boundary

Nation, Section, and Party What efforts strengthened or hindered the economic integration of the nation? The United States and the Latin American Wars of Independence   

1810-1822, Spain’s Latin American colonies rose in rebellion and established independent nations o Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru 1825, Spain’s American empire reduced to islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico 1822, Monroe administration become 1st government to extend diplomatic recognition to new Latin American republics 4

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Empire crisis in Spanish-American the same as in British -America: trouble when trying to raise financed o Spanish local elites wanted same power as residents in mother country Spanish-American Declaration of Independence borrowed directly from US o 1st issues in 1811 using language very similar to Jefferson o “United Provinces” Latin-American Constitution more democratic that the US o Sought to create a single national “people” out of diverse populations  Extended right to vote to free blacks and Indians o Black participation in wars set in motion the abolition of slavery Latin-American wars lasted longer and were more destructive o More difficult for republics to achieve economic development

The Monroe Doctrine 

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John Quincy Adams—James Monroe’s secretary of state o Devoted to consolidating the power of national government at home and abroad o Feared Spain would try and regain its old colonies Monroe Doctrine: President James Monroe’s declaration to Congress on December 2, 1823, that the American continents would be thenceforth closed to European colonization, an that the United States would not interfere in European affairs o 1. US would oppose any further efforts at colonization by European powers in the Americas o 2. US would abstain from involvement in wars of Europe o 3. Warned European powers not to interfere with newly formed independent states of Latin America o Sometimes called “America’s diplomatic declaration of independence” o Claimed US as dominant power in Western Hemisphere

The Election of 1824  

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Sectionalism ruled domestic politics Election of 1824: o Jackson: popular for military victories over British at the Battle of New Orleans and over the Creek and Seminole Indians o John Quincy Adams: Republican leaders insisted it was time for South to relinquish presidency  Support concentrated in New England and North o William H. Crawford (Secretary of the Treasury of Georgia): Wanted party to reaffirm the principles of stats’ rights and limited government  Represented South’s Old Republicans o Henry Clay (Kentucky): popular but support laid primarily in West Jackson won most votes but not a majority of all votes (because there were 4 candidates) o Clay was eliminated o Choice among other 3 fell to House of Representative o House chose Adams, believing he was  Most qualified  Most likely to promote the American System o Clay gave his support to Adams believing Jackson’s election would hurt his own presidential ambitions  Became Secretary of State  Charge that he made a “corrupt bargain”—bartering critical votes for public office— followed him and prevented him from becoming president himself Election laid ground work for new system of political parties o Supporters of Jackson and Crawford = Democratic Party

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Supports of Adams and Clay = Whig Party of 1830s

The Nationalism of John Quincy Adams 

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Most distinguished pre-presidential career (son of John Adams) o At 8, witnessed Battle of Bunker Hill o At 14, worked as private secretary and French interpreter for American envoy in Europe o Served as ambassador to Prussia, the Netherlands, Britain, and Russia o Senator of Massachusetts Adams had a clear vision of national greatness o Supported the American System of government-sponsored economic development o Abroad, hoped to encourage American commerce throughout world (Monroe Doctrine illustrated this) o Enhance American influence in Western Hemisphere o Passionate expansionist: believed US would peacefully absorb Canada, Cuba, and part of Mexico

“Liberty Is Power”   

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Adams viewed federal government as very expansive Called for legislation promoting agriculture, commerce, manufacturing and the “mechanical and elegant arts” Plans included establishment of o National university o Astronomical observatory o Naval academy “Liberty is power” o Alarmed strict constitutionalist Spent more time on internal improvements than all 5 predecessors combined Enacted steep increase in tariff rates in 1828

Martin Van Buren and the Democratic Party  

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Jackson supporters: rallying cry for individual liberty, state’s rights, and limited government Martin Van Buren, NY senator began organizing Jackson’s support for election of 1828 o Adams: old politics, son of a president, intellectual accomplishments o Van Buren: represented new political era, son of a tavern keeper Van Buren believed political parties were necessary and desirable o Unlike founding generation who believed they were dangerous and diversive Political parties: o Checked those in power o Offered voters a real chance in elections o Would counteract sectionalism  Brought political leaders from different regions together in support of common candidates and principles o Formed bond of unity in a divided nation Set out to reconstruct Jeffersonian political alliance between Southern planters and plain republic (farmers and urban workers) of North

The Election of 1828 

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By 1828, Van Buren established Democratic Party o Local and state party units overseen by national committee o Network of local newspapers devoted to party and election of Jackson o General commitment to limited government Jackson’s campaign: manliness v. intellect

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o Jackson could fights, Adams could write Jackson opponents: declared him murderer for executing army deserters and killing men in duels, questioned morality of wife who married him before divorce was finalized Jackson won by landslide—carried South and West + Pennsylvania Jackson’s election was 1st to demonstrate how the advent of universal white male voting, organized by national parties, had transformed American politics

The Age of Jackson In what ways did Andrew Jackson embody the contradictions of democratic nationalism? 

Jackson proclaimed himself champion of the common man o Vision of democracy excluded  Indians—believed they should be pushed west of Mississippi River  Blacks—remain slaves or be freed and shipped abroad o Strong nationalist—believed that states (not D.C.) should be focal point of governmental activity

The Party System 

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Politics became series of political contests o Every year there were elections to some office (local, state, or national) o Parades and rallies by political parties o Politicians were popular heroes with mass followings and nicknames  Jackson—Old Hickory  Clary Harry of the West  Van Buren—Little Magician (or Sly Fox to critics) Party machines headed by professional politicians reached every neighborhood o Provided jobs to constituents and ensued voters went to polls Spoils System: The term meaning the filling of federal government jobs with persons loyal to the party of the president o Government posts should be open to the people, not reserved for privileged class o Introduced principle of rotation in office (spoils system) o Loyalisty to party main qualification for jobs like postmaster and customs official Political innovations o Large national conventions to choose national candidates o Every town had its Democratic and Whig newspapers to present party’s position on political issues  Jackson’s kitchen cabinet (informal group of advisors) consisted of mostly newspaper editors

Democrats and Whigs 

Democratic Party Issues (Jackson supporters) o Politics revolved around issues spawned by market revolution and tension between national and sectional loyalties o Alarmed by widening gap between social classes o Warned “nonproducers” (merchants, bankers, speculators) were seeking to use connections with government to enhance wealth to the disadvantage of the “producing class” (farmers, artisans, laborers) o Government should be hands-off toward economy—no special favors to entrench economic interests  Enable the ordinary to fair competition of self-regulating market o Attracted: entrepreneurs (resented government aid to established businessmen), farmers, and city workingmen (suspicious of corporate enterprises), poorer, isolated farming regions, slaveholders (states’ rights protected slavery) 7

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Whigs Party Issues o United behind American System believing it could guide economic development with:  Protective tariff  National bank  Aid to internal improvements o Strongest in Northeast—rapidly modernizing region o Supported government-supported economic growth  Established businessmen, bankers, farmers in regions near rivers, canals, and the Great Lakes, and largest Southern planters

Public and Private Freedom  

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Party battles of Jacksonian Era reflected clash between “public” and “private” definitions of American freedom and their relationship to governmental power The Democrats: governmental power was a threat to liberty o During Jackson’s presidency, Democrats  Reduced expenditures  Lowered the tariff  Killed the national bank  Refused pleas for deferral aid to internal improvements  By 1835, Jackson managed to pay off nation debt  Result: states replaced federal government as country’...