Essential Question Essential Question: –How did America progress towards greater democracy between...
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Transcript of Essential Question Essential Question: –How did America progress towards greater democracy between...
Essential QuestionEssential Question:–How did America progress
towards greater democracy between 1800 & 1840?
Essential Question:Essential Question:–Examine Alexis de Tocqueville’s
journey through America in the 1830s & read excerpts from his observations. What did this French visitor observe about U.S. society & gov’t in the 1830s?
Alexis de Tocqueville
The Growth of White Men's Democracy
The Growth of DemocracyFrom 1824 to 1840, democracy
was extended to more Americans:–Before 1800, most states limited
the right to vote exclusively to property owners & taxpayers
–By 1840, these restrictions were removed for most white men
–Nowhere else in the world was the right to vote as widespread as in the USA
Less than 50% of white men could vote
90% of white men could vote
This increase in “democracy” was a major shift from the “virtuous republic”
envisioned by Jefferson & Hamilton
The Growth of DemocracyBy the 1830s, a “democracy of
commoners” became more accepted than a “republic of natural aristocrats”
–Positions of power became attainable for “self-made” men
–Americans valued equal opportunities among white men, but not necessarily equality
White males were seen as equal before the law & in voting
Decreased requirements in the licensed professions
No clear domestic servant class
There was a growing % of Americans who owned no land
Rising industrialization led to a population of low-paid laborers
Division between commercial farmers & yeoman farmers
Quick Class Discussion: Why did this unprecedented growth in democracy occur?
Before 1800, most states limited the right to vote exclusively to property
owners & taxpayers
The Simple Answer: Westward expansion led to an increase in democracy
Westward expansion led to increased suffrage for “common” men in the “new states” who
did not qualify in the “older states”
Jefferson’s vision of “republicanism” did not apply in the West because there were no
“virtuous elite” to rule for the people
As more western states extended democracy to
“common men,” political parties in eastern states felt
pressure to do the same
By 1840, more than 90% of all adult white men could vote (“universal white male suffrage”)
But…this extension of suffrage did not include African-Americans or women
Universal Manhood Suffrage Political parties developed new
types of politicking in order to reach “new voters”–In the 1820s, politicians began
using campaigns, parades, slogans to appeal to the masses
–Well-organized, statewide “political machines” developed
–Party loyalty became expected –Partisan newspapers boomed
Universal Manhood Suffrage
Could “mob rule” really work in America?
Partisan newspapers played an important role in early American politics
Universal Manhood SuffrageThe 1830s & 1840s experienced:
–Massive voter turnout due to the growth of suffrage & increased organization of political parties
–Direct methods of selecting presidential electors, county officials, state judges, & governors (replaced indirect methods by state legislatures)
What is voter turnout like today?
Democratic CultureIn the 1830s, high literacy & cheap
printing allowed artists & writers to work for a “mass” audience:–Popular genres include
romanticism, gothic horror, & landscape paintings
–Authors included Wadsworth, Emerson, Melville, Hawthorne, Whitman, Poe; showed human nature, morality, romanticism
Kindred Spirits, by
Asher Durand
PoliticsPolitics:The Elections of
1824 & 1828
John Quincy Adams video
The Election of 1824The election of 1824 was a 4-way
race among Dem-Republicans:–John Quincy Adams
represented New England–William Crawford represented
the South –Henry Clay & Andrew Jackson
represented the West Jackson won the popular vote but
not a majority of electoral votes
Sec of State under Monroe
Speaker of the House; author of American System
Not taken seriously at first; but “war hero” status made Jackson a nat’l candidate
Sec of Treasury under Monroe
Jackson did well in the South & the West
Clay’s influence was limited to a few
western states
JQ Adams won NE
Crawford won VA but few other Southern states
But, because no one candidate received 51% of the electoral votes, the House of Reps had
to determine the presidential winnerAdams won when
Henry Clay threw his support behind him
Led to charges that Adams had "bought"
the presidency (Corrupt Bargain!!)
J. Q. Adams' AdministrationAdams had a difficult presidency:
–JQ Adams wanted to continue the nationalist programs of the “Era of Good Feelings”
–The depression of 1819 limited the nationalist agenda & few of Adams’ policies became law
–A protective tariff was passed to help farmers & industry, but this angered the South
One exception: the National Road
Jackson Comes to Power“Jacksonians” prepared for the
election of 1828 by creating a well-organized, national campaign – Jackson (TN) formed a coalition
with Adams’ VP Calhoun (SC), Van Buren (NY), & 2 newspaper editors (KY) to rival JQ Adams
– Formed the basis of 1st modern political party, calling themselves the “DemocratsDemocrats”
“Democrats” distinguished themselves as different from the “Nationalist Republicans” who has strayed from the Jeffersonian ideal
But, these “Jacksonian Democrats” are not going to mirror the “Jeffersonian Republicans”
Jackson Comes to PowerThe election of 1828 changed
American politics:– Showed the effectiveness of
political parties in elections – It was the 1st election with overt
mudslinging & propaganda – Exciting appeals to average the
man (public rallies & barbeques)Jackson won the election as a
“common man of the people”
“Ms. Jackson is a bigamist” & “Ms. Adams is a bastard”
Democrats presented Jackson as “Old Hickory,”
uneducated, a hero, a dueler & a man of the people
Democrats painted Adams as an out-of-
touch aristocrat
Who is Andrew Jackson? Jackson’s wild & rowdy inauguration
Jackson Comes to PowerJackson was a popular candidate
but it was not clear what type of president Jackson would be:
–Jackson’s supporters wanted states’ rights & limited gov’t
–During the campaign, Jackson never clarified his stand on major issues: banks, tariffs, etc.
–Only stood for Indian removal
ConclusionsIn the 1820s & 1830s, America
became more democratic:–Westward expansion facilitated
the expansion of suffrage for common white men
–Led to unprecedented voter participation by citizens
–Allowed for a new breed of “common man” politicians to come to power
Review QuestionsReview Questions:
–What did the term common man mean in the early 19th century?
–In what ways were Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe different from the “common man”?