Rise of mass politics & popular democracy

Rise of mass politics & popular democracyRise of mass politics & popular democracy

•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •Monroe finished second term – last of Vir. DynastyMonroe finished second term – last of Vir. Dynasty•4 candidates towered above the rest:4 candidates towered above the rest:

•John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams of Massachusetts – highly intelligent, of Massachusetts – highly intelligent, experienced, and aloofexperienced, and aloof•Henry Clay of Kentucky – the gamy and gallant “Harry of the Henry Clay of Kentucky – the gamy and gallant “Harry of the West”West”•William H. Crawford of Georgia, able though ailing William H. Crawford of Georgia, able though ailing •Andrew Jackson of Tennessee – gaunt and gusty hero of New Andrew Jackson of Tennessee – gaunt and gusty hero of New OrleansOrleans


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •All four professed to be “Republicans”All four professed to be “Republicans”

•Well organized parties had not yet emergedWell organized parties had not yet emerged

•John C. Calhoun appeared as the vice-presidential candidate John C. Calhoun appeared as the vice-presidential candidate

•on both the Adams and the Jackson ticketson both the Adams and the Jackson tickets


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •Results were confusingResults were confusing•JacksonJackson, the war hero, strongest personal appeal, , the war hero, strongest personal appeal, especially in the west. especially in the west. •Campaigned against the forces of corruption and Campaigned against the forces of corruption and privilege in government.privilege in government.•won almost as many popular votes as his next two won almost as many popular votes as his next two opponents together, but failed to win a majority of opponents together, but failed to win a majority of electoral voteselectoral votes


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •Results were confusingResults were confusing•The House of Representatives was to break deadlock The House of Representatives was to break deadlock (12(12thth amend.) amend.)•Must choose among the top three candidatesMust choose among the top three candidates•Clay was eliminatedClay was eliminated•Clay was Speaker of the House, therefore he presided Clay was Speaker of the House, therefore he presided over the very chamber that had to pick the winner.over the very chamber that had to pick the winner.


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •Clay reached decision by eliminationClay reached decision by elimination

•Crawford had stroke and was then out of the raceCrawford had stroke and was then out of the race•Clay hated Jackson. Jackson was his rival for allegiance of Clay hated Jackson. Jackson was his rival for allegiance of the West.the West.•Jackson resented Clay’s public denunciation of his Florida Jackson resented Clay’s public denunciation of his Florida foray in 1818.foray in 1818.


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •John Quincy Adams was left. A free living gambler and John Quincy Adams was left. A free living gambler and duelist had no personal relations with Clay.duelist had no personal relations with Clay.

•The two had much in common politically.The two had much in common politically.•Both were fervid nationalistsBoth were fervid nationalists•Advocates of the American systemAdvocates of the American system

•Shortly before balloting Clay met with Adams and Shortly before balloting Clay met with Adams and assured him of his support.assured him of his support.


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •Early 1825 Decision dayEarly 1825 Decision day

•Some members of the House were carried in on stretchers to Some members of the House were carried in on stretchers to be able to vote.be able to vote.•Adams won on the first ballotAdams won on the first ballot

•A few days later the victor announced that Clay would A few days later the victor announced that Clay would be his new be his new secretary of statesecretary of state..

•Much desired officeMuch desired office•3 of the last four office holders had become president3 of the last four office holders had become president•Bribe put the people’s second choice in office before the firstBribe put the people’s second choice in office before the first


•The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 The “corrupt bargain” of 1824 •Masses of angry Jacksonians raised a protest against the Masses of angry Jacksonians raised a protest against the “corrupt bargain”.“corrupt bargain”.•Continued for almost four yearsContinued for almost four years•Jackson condemned Clay as “Judas” of the westJackson condemned Clay as “Judas” of the west•If there was a bargain, there is no proof. Was it really If there was a bargain, there is no proof. Was it really corrupt or was Clay truly qualified for the job?corrupt or was Clay truly qualified for the job?


•A Yankee Misfit in the White HouseA Yankee Misfit in the White House•John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams

•Brilliant, irritable, and sarcasticBrilliant, irritable, and sarcastic•Brilliant record in statecraft, especially foreign affairs,Brilliant record in statecraft, especially foreign affairs,•One of the most successful secretaries of stateOne of the most successful secretaries of state•Puritanical honor, but not remembered as a great Puritanical honor, but not remembered as a great presidentpresident•His political allies wished that he would strike a few His political allies wished that he would strike a few more “corrupt bargains” more “corrupt bargains”


•A Yankee Misfit in the White HouseA Yankee Misfit in the White House•John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams

•He refused to oust efficient office holders in order to He refused to oust efficient office holders in order to create vacancies for his supporters. (only 12 were create vacancies for his supporters. (only 12 were removed during his term in office)removed during his term in office)•If he would not reward loyalty, why should they labor?If he would not reward loyalty, why should they labor?

•Adams / Nationalistic issuesAdams / Nationalistic issues•Nation turning from post-Ghent nationalism and toward Nation turning from post-Ghent nationalism and toward states’ rights and sectionalism.states’ rights and sectionalism.


•A Yankee Misfit in the White HouseA Yankee Misfit in the White HouseAdams / Nationalistic issuesAdams / Nationalistic issues

•Nation turning from post-Ghent nationalism and toward Nation turning from post-Ghent nationalism and toward states’ rights and sectionalism.states’ rights and sectionalism.

•11stst annual message he urged congress for the construction of annual message he urged congress for the construction of roads and canals. roads and canals. •Renewed Washington’s call for national universityRenewed Washington’s call for national university•Advocated federal support for an astronomical observatory Advocated federal support for an astronomical observatory (angered the south)(angered the south)•Tried to curb feverish speculation in the public domain. Tried to curb feverish speculation in the public domain. (angered westerners)(angered westerners)•Tried to protect the Cherokee – backed down to GA’s Tried to protect the Cherokee – backed down to GA’s governors threat to use armsgovernors threat to use arms


•Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828•Jackson’s campaign began February 9, 1825, the day of Jackson’s campaign began February 9, 1825, the day of Adams election.Adams election.•Republicans had split into two camps:Republicans had split into two camps:

•National RepublicansNational Republicans – Adams – Adams•Democratic RepublicansDemocratic Republicans – Jackson – Jackson

•Adams contingent – described Jackson’s mother as a Adams contingent – described Jackson’s mother as a prostitute and his wife as an adulteressprostitute and his wife as an adulteress

•Recounted his numerous duel and brawls and trumpeting his Recounted his numerous duel and brawls and trumpeting his hanging of six mutinous militiamen with black-boardered hanging of six mutinous militiamen with black-boardered handbills shaped like coffinshandbills shaped like coffins


•Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828•Jackson supporters presented him as a frontiersman Jackson supporters presented him as a frontiersman and champion of the common man.and champion of the common man.

•He was actually a wealthy planterHe was actually a wealthy planter•And Adams was probably too moral for the jobAnd Adams was probably too moral for the job

Rise of mass politics & popular democracyRise of mass politics & popular democracy•Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828Going “Whole Hog” for Jackson in 1828•Voting Day electorate split along sectional lines.Voting Day electorate split along sectional lines.

•Jackson strongest support came from the South and Jackson strongest support came from the South and WestWest•Middle states and the Old Northwest were dividedMiddle states and the Old Northwest were divided•Adams won the backing of his own New England and Adams won the backing of his own New England and propertied “better elements” of the Northeast.propertied “better elements” of the Northeast.•Popular converted to electorate Jackson’s victory could Popular converted to electorate Jackson’s victory could not be denied.not be denied.•Votes for Jackson had been gained by political machines Votes for Jackson had been gained by political machines by power was shifting away from the conservative by power was shifting away from the conservative eastern seaboard and to the emerging states in the westeastern seaboard and to the emerging states in the west

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Rise of mass politics & popular democracy