SSUSH7 Students will explain the process of economic growth, its regional and national impact in the first half of the 19th century, and the different responses to it. e. Explain Jacksonian Democracy, expanding suffrage, the rise of popular political culture, and the development of American nationalism.

 President Jackson decides not to run for a 3 rd term and hand picks his Vice President Martin Van Buren to be his successor.  Van Buren wins the election of 1836 easily but doesn’t realize that he will inherit many problems from Jackson’s presidency – especially Jackson’s war with the National Bank.

 Jackson’s “Pet Banks” were issuing more paper currency than they had in gold and silver  Jackson realized this was becoming a problem for the government as people bought land from the US government with almost worthless paper money  In August of 1836, Jackson announces the US government would not accept paper currency for payment—only gold or silver specie

 By May of 1837—people were in a panic and banks stopped accepting all paper currency  The Panic of 1837 caused banks to fail and cost many people their savings, sent hundreds of businesses into bankruptcy and put one-third of Americans out of work  Van Buren tried to reduce federal spending, but that sent low prices even lower  In 1840, Van Buren and Congress approved a treasury that would only use gold and silver coin, but it only made matters worse

 As the Democratic party’s candidate, President Van Buren, runs against Whig Party’s candidate William Henry Harrison.  The Whigs portrayed Harrison as the old war hero and Van Buren as the pampered, privileged aristocrat. (Actually it was the other way around.)  Harrison was famous for his defeat of Tecumseh at Tippecanoe Creek and also won important victories in the Northwest Territory in the War of 1812  Harrison wins the election and begins to try to revitalize the US economy from its deep depression.

 One month into his term as president, Harrison dies of pneumonia. He catches a cold after giving his inaugural speech in cold weather without a heavy coat.  John Tyler, Harrison’s Vice President will become President.  John Tyler was NOT supposed to end up as president—he was only on the ticket to get southern votes to help Harrison win the election.  Most of Tyler’s presidency was a difficult power struggle between his philosophy of states’ rights and the Whigs—who kicked him out of the party and tried to have him impeached  Tyler will be referred to as “His Accidency” by members of the Whig party.