I. Democracy in Theory and Practice  Fear that democracy would lead to anarchy wanes in the 1820s and 1830s  Equality of opportunity stressed  America becomes society of winners and losers  Opening story of hotels??????????

A. Democracy and Society  Egalitarian expectations despite growing economic inequality  No distinctive domestic servant class  No class distinctions in dress  White male equality before the law  Egalitarian attack on licensed professions-is this a good thing? Thomsonianism??  Popular press the source of information and opinion

B. Democratic Culture  Artists work for mass, democratic audience rather than for an aristocratic elite  Popular genres include Gothic horror, romantic fiction, and melodramas.  Only a few truly original, romantic artists-to be a success, one had to cater to the masses.

What’s the deal with George?

C. Democratic Political Institutions  Nearly all adult white males gain right to vote without property qualification  Appointive offices made elective  Professional politicians emerged  Political machines develop at state level

 Parties often serve special economic interests  Parties share commitment to equality of opportunity  Parties differ on how to achieve common aims  Neither party seeks to extend rights beyond adult white male constituency  Radical third parties argue the cause of African Americans, women, working people with little success.

D. Economic Issues  Interest in government economic policy intensified after 1819-economic panic  Some wanted to do away with banks, paper money, and easy credit  Others wanted more government aid  Political parties took stands on the role of the federal government in economic growth

E. Labor Radicalism and Equal Rights  Working men’s parties and trade unions emerged in the 1820s and 1830s  They advocated public education reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to debtors prison, and hard currency  They made some gains but they proved to be only temporary  The women’s rights movement and abolitionists made little progress

II. Jackson and the Politics of Democracy  Jackson becomes a symbol of democracy’s triumph  Actions of Jackson and his party refashion national politics in a democratic mold

A. The Election of 1824 and J. Q. Adams' Administration  The election of a five-way race  Jackson wins popular vote  Adams wins in House of Representatives with Henry Clay’s support  Clay’s appointment as Secretary of State leads to charges Adams "bought" the presidency  Mid-term election of 1826 gives Jackson forces control of Congress

B. Jackson Comes to Power  Jacksonians organized for election of 1828  appeal to sectional self-interest  make politics exciting to the average man  Jackson wins election as a man of the people  Jackson democratizes presidency  fires at will officeholders he does not like  defends by asserting the right of all men to a government post  link

C. Indian Removal  Indian removal policy inherited from prior administrations-Jefferson, Madison, etc.  Jackson believes that the federal government had not pushed Indians hard enough  Responds to Cherokee resistance by asking Congress for Indian Removal act of 1830  U.S. Army forces Cherokees west along the Trail of Tears

Indian Removal

D. The Nullification Crisis  John C. Calhoun leads development of intellectual defense of state sovereignty  tariff passed, South Carolina objects but takes no action  tariff passed, South Carolina nullifies  Jackson threatens to send army  Both sides retreat  South Carolina gets lower tariff  Jackson demonstrates federal will

III. The Bank War and the Second Party System  "The Bank War" a symbolic defense of democratic value  Leads to two important results  economic disruption  a two-party system

A. Mr. Biddle's Bank  Bank of the United States unpopular  Open to charges of special privileges  Manager Nicholas Biddle looks and behaves like an aristocrat  Bank possesses great power and privilege with no accountability to the public

B. The Bank Veto and the Election of 1832  Jackson vaguely threatens Bank in first term  Biddle seeks new charter four years early  Congress passes, but Jackson vetoes  claims the Bank is unconstitutional  defends veto as a blow for equality  Jacksonian victory in 1832 spells Bank’s doom

C. Killing the Bank  Jackson destroys Bank by federal deposits  Funds transferred to some state (“pet”) banks  Biddle uses his powers to cause recession, attempts to blame Jackson  Destruction of Bank provokes fears of dictatorship, costs Jackson support in Congress

D. The Emergence of the Whigs  Whig party a coalition of two forces  opponents of Jackson  Anti-Masonic party  Whigs defend activist government in economics, enforcement of “decency”  Democrats weakened by  defection of working-class spokesmen  depression produced by Jackson’s fiscal policies

E. The Rise and Fall of Van Buren  Martin Van Buren succeeds Jackson in 1836  Term begins with Panic of 1837  Laissez-faire philosophy prevents Van Buren from aiding economic distress  Van Buren attempts to save government funds with independent subtreasuries  Whigs block subtreasuries until 1840  Panic of 1837 blamed on Van Buren

The Rise and Fall of Van Buren (2)  Whigs fully organized by 1840  Whig candidate William Henry Harrison  image built as a common man who had been born in a log cabin  running mate John Tyler chosen to attract votes from states-rights Democrats  Harrison and Tyler beat Van Buren

IV. Heyday of the Second Party System  Election of 1840 marks rise of permanent two- party system in the U.S.  Whigs and Democrats evenly divide the electorate for next two decades  Parties offer voters a clear choice  Whigs support a "positive liberal state," community  Democrats support "negative liberal state," individual  Parties share a broad democratic ideology

Conclusion: Tocqueville’s Wisdom  Alexis de Tocqueville praises most aspects of American democracy  Warns of future disaster if white males refuse to extend liberty to women, African Americans and Indians.