top of page

Unit 4: 1800-1848

Outline
General Timelines
gt

Timeline #1: Jeffersonian Era & Pre-War of 1812

APUSH Unit 4_ Jefferson Timeline #1.png

Timeline #2: War of 1812

APUSH Unit 4_ Jefferson Timeline #2.png

Timeline #3: Post-War of 1812 Political Developments

APUSH Unit 4_ Pre-Jackson & Jackson Time

Timeline #4: Market Revolution

APUSH Unit 4_ Market Revolution & Indivi

Timeline #5: The Cotton Kingdom

APUSH Unit 4_ Cotton Kingdom Timeline.pn

Timeline #6: 19th Century Reform Movements

APUSH Unit 4_ Reform Movements Timeline.
General Maps
gm

Map # 1: US during War of 1812

APUSH Unit 4_ Jefferson Map #1.png

Map # 2: Post-War Political Developments

APUSH Unit4_ Pre-Jackson & Jackson Map #

Map # 3: The Market Revolution

APUSH Unit 4_ Market Revolution & Indivi

Map # 4: The Cotton Kingdom

APUSH Unit 4_ Cotton Kingdom Map #1.png

Map # 5: 19th Century Reform Movements

APUSH Unit 4_ Reform Movements Map #1.pn
Course Content
cc

Developments in Jefferson's Presidency:

djp

Jefferson's Developments as President

Achievements by Jefferson

  • Jefferson's overall vision for America was an agrarian society instead of an industrial cities w/ big cities

  • Jefferson was a very smart & shrewd politician

    • Easily won reelection in 1804 against Charles C Pinckney, increased Republican majorities in Congress

  • Jefferson cut national debts by half

    • Removed internal taxes, only imposed taxes on westward land & imports​

  • Jefferson reduced navy size, which cut gov spending

    • Believed a navy would undermine his agrarian vision for America

    • Established West Point in 1802 as a reduced navy would require a large army

  • Won a conflict with North African states, causing him to pay less in tariffs

    • All ships passing through Mediterranean had to pay tariffs to North African Kingdoms

    • Jefferson built up his navy for war against Tripoli (one of the kingdoms) and won, so he didn't have to pay that tax ever again

West Point Museum.jpeg

Marbury v Madison & Federalist Majority in Court

  • Jefferson sought to maintain a Republican majority in the Supreme Court

    • Sought to repeal Adams's "midnight appointments"

  • Marbury v Madison court case challenged Congress's policies, establishing Judicial Review

    • John Adams appointed Marbury as justice, but his commission letter was delivered when Adams left office

    • James Madison (Jefferson's secretary of state) protested Marbury's appointment as it was late

    • Court got involved, John Marshall (chief justice) said that the appointment was invalid

      • This was known as Judicial Review, the idea that Court can nullify unconstitutional acts passed by Congress & executive branches

  • Through Judicial Review, John Marshall established the concept of the Supreme Court's relationship to executive & legislative branches 

  • Later, Jefferson sought to impeach justice Samuel Chase, a far-right Federalist in court

    • Congress impeached him, but less than 2/3 of Senate voted in favor, so the case was closed

    • Set the precedent that impeachments can only be used in case of crimes, not for routine purposes

  • Jefferson had to deal with a Federalist majority in Court, which supported extreme policies that he hated

350px-Plaque_of_Marbury_v._Madison_at_SC

Rise of American Culture

Education

  • Education was limited and mostly for white males

    • Religious education was common in south

    • Secular education was common in north

    • Mostly were private schools, only rich could afford

    • Poor people went to inferior schools

  • Everyone else (not white males) had limited opportunities

    • Women often went to primary schools but not universities as they didn't need a job

      • Believed they needed to learn to teach republican values to their kids

    • Indians received little education

      • Some missionary schools opened for Indians

      • Whites sought to "civilize" the Indians

    • Slaves & free blacks had barely any education

      • If slaves went to school, they'd learn about their terrible condition & learn to rebel

      • Free blacks in the north sometimes went to segregated inferior schools

  • Universities were rare, really expensive

  • Medical knowledge was almost nonexistant

    • UPenn opened first medical school, taught people about germs & anatomy using cadavers​

    • Benjamin Rush believed that bleeding & purging would cure people (it failed)

    • Number of midwives decreased

University_of_Virginia_1856_(Bohn)_color

Culture & Religion

  • Americans sought to develop their own culture distinct from Britain

    • Sought to promote patriotic education in schools

    • Noah Webster created an American Dictionary w/ different spellings from Britain

      • honour became honor, etc.

  • American authors sought to create literature that represented American culture & style

    • Many wrote novels, much different from the British idea of poetry

  • As republican ideals of liberty spread, people started to separate from religion

    • Church attendance was significantly decreased

    • John Murray founded the Universalist church in 1779, rejected the idea of predestination

      • Believed anyone can use reason and faith to achieve salvation

      • Unitarian church was very similar to this

    • People believed in rational religion instead of formal church gatherings

    • This decline in religion caused 2nd Great Awakening

First-Parish-Church-Unitarian-Universali

Westward Expansion & Exploration

Louisiana Purchase

  • Since 1800, Napoleon (French emperor) sought to regain land in the New World

    • Regained Louisiana Territory from Spain in Secret Treaty, Treaty of San Ildefonso (1800)

    • French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti) declared independence, Napoleon sought to regain it

  • Jefferson found out about French regain of Louisiana

    • Pinckney's Treaty w/ Spain authorized Americans to use Port of New Orleans

    • Now under French control, that wasn't the case

    • American merchants complained that they lost their rights to Port of New Orleans

      • If Jefferson ignores them, he'd lose popularity

      • If Jefferson questions French authority there, he'd risk having a war with France

  • Jefferson's final idea was just to buy the Port of New Orleans so American merchants could dock there

    • Sent Robert R. Livingston to France to sign peace settlement to end Quasi War in 1800

    • Sent James Monroe to France to assist him & petition to purchase Port of New Orleans

    • Napoleon offered the entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million, which they agreed to

      • Napoleon had already failed his ambitions in the New World, so he sold it to raise revenue (1803)

  • Louisiana territory was organized into districts that could petition statehood at a certain population

    • Just like Northwest Territory​

BB13pA8G.jpeg

Lewis & Clark's Expedition

  • Jefferson sought to expand westward to Pacific Ocean

    • Hired Meriwether Lewis & William Clark to lead a westward expedition

  • In Spring 1804, Lewis & Clark ​(along w/ some others) traveled westward from St. Louis

    • Shoshone Indian woman Sacajawea helped guide them across the Rocky Mtns

    • Reached Pacific Coast in 1805, returned to St. Louis in 1806 w/ lots of geographical knowledge

  • Jefferson also dispatched Zebulon Pike to explore the upper Mississippi Valley

    • Pike started in 1805, reached Colorado in 1806 & discovered a tall mountain (now called Pikes Peak)

    • Returned & told that the land to the west is uninhabitable & like a desert

painting-of-expedition.jpg

Burr Conspiracy

  • Many Federalists in New England hated westward expansion

    • A group known as "Essex Junto" sought to secede from the US

    • Needed support from NY & NJ as their economies are more powerful & can help the new nation

      • Alexander Hamilton, leading Federalist of NY, refused the proposal​

  • The Federalists had one last chance to make their case

    • Aaron Burr (Jefferson's first VP) was running against Hamilton for New York governor

    • If Burr was elected, Burr would secede from the union w/ the New England Federalists

  • Burr lost the election & challenged Hamilton to a duel​

    • Hamilton didn't want to be a coward, so he agreed to it

    • Burr beat Hamilton in the duel, causing Hamilton to die the next day

  • Burr fled to the west to escape prosecution for murder

    • Allied w/ James Wilkinson, governor of Louisiana Territory, to create a state in Southwest US, separate from the US

  • Jefferson hated Burr's goal but believed everything he sought to do

    • Burr led a group of armed men into Ohio River

    • Wilkinson told Jefferson that Burr would attack New Orleans

    • Jefferson had Burr jailed & sent to trial

    • Burr was acquitted as there was no evidence that he'd actually attack New Orleans

      • This is known as Burr Conspiracy

Alexander-Hamilton-Aaron-Burr-duel-1804.

War of 1812:

w01812

Causes of the War of 1812

Conflict with Britain at Sea

  • During French Revolution, Napoleon led France through a war w/ rest of Europe

    • Britain defeated France at Battle of Trafalgar (1805)

      • France issued Continental System, a law preventing Britain from trading w/ continental Europe

      • Britain responded & issued "Orders in Council," blockading France from trade w/ continental Europe & Britain

    • US couldn't remain neutral in France-Britain conflict

      • Britain would attack US for trading w/ France

      • France would attack US for trading w/ Britain

  • Britain later instituted the policy of "impressment," harming the US

    • British would force American sailors to serve in the British navy

      • This idea was called "impressment"

    • Many of these impressed sailors would defect back onto American ships when they get the chance

    • Britain thus reserved the right to search any American ship for defected British soldiers

    • In 1807, James Barron commanded Chesapeake ship of the US

      • British ship Leopard arrived, forced Barron to let them search his ship

      • Barron refused, so British opened fire, so Barron surrendered

      • British dragged 4 men off Barron's ship

      • Known as the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)

    • James Monroe was sent as diplomat to Britain

      • Britain compensated the US for the incident

d19c4d65a16cd991ca46a226a6276ebc.jpg

US's Trade Embargo

  • Congress enacted The Embargo Act of 1807

    • Prevented US ships from trading in any foreign port

    • Many people evaded this law, especially Federalists

    • This idea of placing an embargo was called "peaceable coercion"​

  • In 1809, as the Embargo of 1807 was hurting the economy, Congress enacted Non-Intercourse Act

    • Allowed US ships to travel anywhere except Britain & France

  • In 1810, Congress signed Macon's Bill No. 2, allowing trade w/ France & Britain if they repeal their restrictions on American shipping

    • France agreed to it

    • Britain agreed much later, and the US sought war with Britain until they'd repeal their restrictions

      • This is the main cause of War of 1812

1812-1200x630-cropped.jpg

The Indian Opposition to the US

  • William Henry Harrison was congressional delegate from NW territory & promoted westward expansion

    • Passed Harrison Land Law of 1800, making it easier for whites to acquire land in the west​

    • Jefferson supported Harrison & extracted many treaties from the Indians for land in the Midwest

    • Jefferson offered the Indians to assimilate into white society or move west of the Mississippi River

  • British supplied the Indians in the west w/ arms

    • After Chesapeake-Leopard Incident (1807), anti-British feeling spread throughout US​

    • British thought the US would invade Canada, so the British mobilized resources in Canada

    • Britain also supplied arms to the Indians in the US against the Americans (to help the British)

    • Allowed the Indians to somewhat resist white encroachment in the west

  • 2 Indians emerged as leaders, unifying the Indians​

    • Tenskwatawa ("the prophet") was a religious leader, promoting an anti-white feeling among the Indians​

      • Unified the Indians through his religious ideas

      • His home base (Prophetstown) became a sacred place

    • Tecumseh unified the Indians militarily & formed armies to attack white settlements

      • Once, William Henry Harrison burned down Prophetstown in Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)

      • Still, Tecumseh continued to mobilize his army and raid white settlements

Battle of Tipperance Kutz and Allison pr

Desire to Conquer Florida & Start of War

  • Americans had long desired to take over Florida

    • Many Indians in Florida launched raids into Georgia​

    • Many slaves in Georgia escaped to Florida

    • Florida's location was ideal

  • In 1810, Americans took over a Spanish Fort at Baton Rouge (present-day Louisiana)

    • James Madison (current president) agreed with them to annex the strip of land from Louisiana to Florida

    • Believed war with Britain was a pretext to annex that land

  • Because of all of these causes (mostly British threats to American shipping), Americans sought war w/ Britain

    • In 1810 elections, many elected representatives supported war

      • Henry Clay became Speaker of the House & promoted a vision for war

      • John Calhoun was head of Committee of Foreign Affairs & also supported war

        • Clay & Calhoun had important roles later in American History

    • Eventually, in June 1812, James Madison approved war w/ Britain, starting the War of 1812

  • In addition to annexing Florida, US wanted to annex Canada

GettyImages-158653369-5cdd8bd897e246a7ab

Battles in the War of 1812

American Battles with the Indians

  • In first phase of the war, Britain was preoccupied with Napoleonic Wars in Europe

    • Thus, war was mostly between US and the Indians 

    • Many Indians were brought to Canada by the British, and the British in Canada supplied them w/ weapons

In Jul 1812, Gen. William Hull invaded Canada through Detroit. He failed & retreated back to Detroit in Aug 1812

In Apr 1813, Gen. Zebulon Pike burned city of York (present-day Toronto). US won, but Pike was killed

In Sept 1813, Com. Oliver Hazard Perry defeated British navy at Battle of Lake Erie (Put-in Bay)

WHAP Website Logo 2.png

In Mar 1814, Andrew Jackson defeated Creek Indians in Florida (Tecumseh's allies). He seized control of some parts of Florida (Battle of Horseshoe Bend)

In Oct 1813, Gen. William Henry Harrison led army via Thames River in Canada. Killed Tecumseh at Battle of Thames

American Battles with the British

In Apr 1814, Napoleon is defeated in France, exiles in Elba. Thus, Britain can focus more on this war instead of Napoleonic Wars

In Aug 1814, British troops defeat an American militia at Bladensburg (near Washington DC)

The same day as Battle of Bladensburg, British troops advance to Washington DC, burn many buildings including White House

WHAP Website Logo 2.png

In Jan 1815, US defeats British at Battle of New Orleans & kills British Commander Edward Pakenham. This ended the war

In Sept 1814, British attack Fort McHenry (Baltimore). US clogs the harbor w/ sunken ships, so British attack from a distance. US wins

Americans successfully defended British force at Battle of Plattsburgh (Sept 1814)

Fun Fact: Creation of the Star Spangled Banner

During the Battle of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key (American lawyer) was aboard one of the British ships. From the ship, he saw that the fort was very destroyed, but the flag was still waving. He wrote a poem about the flag called "Star Spangled Banner" on the back of an envelope. This later became the national anthem in 1931. 

End of the War of 1812

Hartford Convention

  • During War of 1812, Federalists in New England opposed the war effort

    • Hated the Republican government of the US

    • Celebrated British victories

    • New England (which was majority Federalist) sought to secede from the Union

  • In Dec 1814, Federalist delegates from New England met at Hartford (Hartford Convention)

    • Discussed grievances to the Republican gov​

    • Unfortunately, the Federalists who supported secession were outnumbered by a more moderate majority that opposed secession

    • Made a list of 7 Constitutional amendments to protect New England from influence from the rest of the US

  • However, after Victory at New Orleans (Jan 1815), many started to despise the Federalists (mostly b/c they supported the British)

    • Plans for secession were canceled

    • Largely caused Federalist party to disappear

Hartford-Convention.jpg

Peace Settlement

  • Treaty of Ghent (1814) restored pre-war boundaries & agreements

    • US would give up demands to annex Canada​

    • US would give the Northwest land to the Indians

      • This was not actually implemented

    • Discussed & approved in Dec 1814, officially ratified in Feb 1815

  • A treaty in 1815 allowed the US to trade freely w/ Britain without any restrictions

  • Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817) told US & Britain to disarm themselves near US-Canada border at Great Lakes

Signing_of_Treaty_of_Ghent_(1814).jpg

Pre-Jackson Era:

pje

Westward Expansion

Migration to the West

  • Growing pressure in the East caused migration to the west

    • More immigration from Europe to East created a population pressure

    • The soil (in farms) was exhausted of its nutrients

    • To accommodate more slaves, more land was needed​

  • Natives were the main hindrance to westward migration, but they were easier to control

    • War of 1812 largely eliminated them

    • US built forts in the region to protect the whites from the natives

    • US initiated "factor system," where US officials give resources to natives at a low cost

      • Allowed US officials to control natives

  • Many migrated on newly-built steamboats/flatboats

  • To scout western land, US War Dept. dispatched Stephen Long

    • Led 19 soldiers, tried to find source of Red River (but failed to do so)

    • Backed Zebulon Pike's claim that the West is like a desert

westward.jpg

Economy in the West

  • In the Southern region, cotton was really common

    • Arkansas / Mississippi Region was known as "black belt" due to its dark nutritious soil

      • Perfect for growing cotton

    • Known as "Cotton Kingdom"

    • Many wealthy landowners migrated to the west, sometimes took their slaves with them​

  • In the West, fur-trapping was really common

    • When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, it opened up trade w/ US​

    • Before, Indians would trap fur & trade w/ whites, but now, Whites trapped fur themselves

    • Many companies trapped fur in the west region

    • John Jacob Astor founded Astor's American Fur Company in Oregon

      • Sold it to the British

      • Moved to the Rockies to trap fur there

    • Andrew Henry & William Ashley founded Rocky Mtn Fur Company (1822)

      • Hired many employees to trap fur, these ppl depended on wages (like factory system)

    • Most fur-trappers lived harmoniously w/ Mexicans and Indians

    • Jedediah Smith entered CA by land & started fur-trapping there, but he was killed by Mexicans

Miller-2C-2BAlfred-2BJacob-324744.jpg

"Era of Good Feelings"

Start of the "Era of Good Feelings"

  • The Period from ~1815-1825

    • After War of 1812, increased American nationalism

      • Henry Clay's American System

      • More transportation, national identity, etc.

    • Sometimes described as reign of James Monroe

  • When James Monroe was elected in 1816, he led a goodwill tour throughout the country

    • His victory caused Federalists to largely disappear

    • Believed his presidency was "era of good feelings"

  • Also known as end of the First Party System

    • Federalists ceased to exist

    • Republicans also lost some unity

    • Monroe was last president of Virginia Dynasty

      • Jefferson, Madison, Monroe were all from VA

4th-of-July-1819-Philadelphia-John-Lewis

The American System

  • After War of 1812, more feelings of nationalism spread among Americans

  • In 1815, James Madison (president) promoted the idea of the "American System"​

    • Wanted a national bank​

    • Tariffs on imports to protect domestic industry

    • Wanted roads & canals to make transportation easier throughout US

  • Congress made charter for 2nd National Bank in 1816

    • Set to expire in 1836

    • Previously, 1st National Bank expired in 1811, creating many regional banks

      • These issued paper money, which wasn't backed by gold/silver, causing fluctuation in prices

    • New National Bank had more money & was backed by gold/silver bullion

  • Congress raised tariffs on imports to protect domestic industry

    • American textile industry grew due to factories, but British tried to sell their own textiles in US

    • The tariff reduced the amount of British goods sold here

  • Many roads & canals were also built throughout east coast to ease transportation

    • PA State gov sponsored a road from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh

    • Many steamboats traveled down Ohio & Mississippi Rivers

    • Still, roads were bad and caused slow travel

      • Difficult for goods to arrive in time, causing price fluctuation throughout US

      • Western roads were poorly built

  • American System was largely supported by Speaker of the House Henry Clay

Delta_Queen_Paducah.jpg

Annexation of Florida

  • John Quincy Adams was Monroe's Secretary of State

  • Adams sought to annex Florida

    • Had conquered Western FL during War of 1812, but that claim was disputed​

    • Wanted actual claim to the entire FL

  • During Seminole War (1816-1858), Seminole Indians launched raids across the FL border into US territory

    • John Calhoun (Secretary of War) encouraged Andrew Jackson (military general) to launch raids into Florida

      • Jackson took over 2 Spanish forts

  • Spanish realized they couldn't defend FL from the US

    • Realized that US had the right to launch raids into FL to prevent threats like the Seminoles

    • Spanish foreign minister Luis de Onis signed Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 w/ John Q Adams

      • US gained Florida, US would give up its claims to Texas

Seminole-Indian-War_11-24-15.png

Panic of 1819

During & After War of 1812, industry boomed, farmers sold at higher prices due to more wartime demand. Speculators bought land in the west

In 1819, economic increase slowed, speculators lost some money, national bank tightened its loans to speculators

Speculators couldn't pay the loans, and farmers lost a lot of money, causing financial panic from 1819 to mid 1820s

The Missouri Compromise

  • Missouri applied for statehood in 1819

    • Already had slavery well-established there​

    • There were 11 free & 11 slave states, so Missouri's admission would threaten the balance

    • NY Congress rep James Tallmadge Jr. believed MO should gradually emancipate its slaves

      • Provoked lots of controversy

  • Maine also applied for statehood as a free state

  • Henry Clay (speaker of the House) believed ME should me admitted as free, MO as slave state

    • Both states would be admitted at the same time, maintaining free/slave balance

    • Known as Missouri Compromise

    • Prevented the US from having conflict between north & south

  • Senator Jesse B Thomas proposed Thomas Amendment

    • All lands north of southern MO boundary in Louisiana Territory should be free

    • Congress soon adopted this

unnamed (7).jpg

John Marshall's Court Decisions

Fletcher v Peck

Land grants cannot be repealed. First time he ruled a state law unconstitutional. 

Dartmouth College v Woodward

Dartmouth's land grant cannot be repealed. 

Cohens v Virginia

Supreme Court has the power to review all state court decisions. 

McCulloch v Maryland

Supreme Court has the power to establish & regulate a national bank. States cannot tax the banks. 

Gibbons v Ogden

Supreme Court has the power to regulate interstate commerce. 

Their Effects

Overall promoted more power of the national government over the individual states. 

Johnson v McIntosh

Only national gov can buy Indian lands. Indians cannot sell their land to individuals. 

Worcester v Georgia

Only national gov can regulate access to Indian territories. States cannot do that. 

Their Effects to the Indians

Established Indians as subordinate to national gov but unregulated by states. Meant to protect them from Westward Expansion. 

Monroe Doctrine

  • From 1810-1822, all Spanish Colonies in Central & South America got independence

    • Spain was distracted from Napoleonic Wars​

    • These colonies claimed independence, drafted their own constitutions

  • James Monroe was the first to recognize their independence

  • John Q Adams (Secretary of State) drafted Monroe Doctrine (1823)

    • One of most important documents in US foreign policy​

    • Established US as a dominant power in Western Hemisphere

    • 3 parts to the doctrine are listed below

US would not interfere with European internal wars or with existing European colonies in the Americas

European powers cannot recolonize any nations in the Americas

European powers cannot interfere with the affairs of newly-independent American nations

Rise of Opposition to the Republicans

Election of 1824

  • There were 4 Republican candidates

    • John Quincy Adams (less popular, most support from Northeast)

    • Andrew Jackson (popular war hero, support from all over the nation)

    • William Crawford (Secretary of Treasury, most support from South

    • Henry Clay (Speaker of the House, support from the West)

  • In the end, Jackson had most electoral votes, Adams in 2nd, Crawford in 3rd, Clay in 4th

    • No one had the majority, though​

    • Clay rivaled Jackson and supported Adams b/c Adams supported the "American System"

  • B/c no one received the majority of electoral votes, the House decided the election

    • According to 12th amendment, House chooses among top 3 candidates

      • Clay (4th place) was eliminated

    • As Speaker of the House, Clay supported Adams as Adams also believed in "American System"

      • With this, majority of house supported Adams, and Adams became president

  • Jackson hated this result, believed it to be a "corrupt bargain"

ElectoralCollege1824-Large.png

Presidency of John Quincy Adams

  • John Q Adams believed in promoting US economic & diplomatic power, wanted US nationalism

    • Negotiated annexation of Florida in 1819

    • Wrote Monroe Doctrine (while he was secretary of state) to establish US diplomatic dominance

    • Believed he could annex Cuba, Canada, parts of Mexico

  • Made many internal improvements​​

    • Supported Clay's "American System"​

    • Financed many roads, canals, etc.

  • Wanted American economic dominance

    • Wanted tariffs on imports to protect domestic industry

    • Passed "tariff of abominations," a tax on some imported from Britain

      • Merchants in Northeast previously complained about cheap price of imported English wool

      • Merchants in the west & south complained about other cheap imported products

        • Adams had to impose tariffs on other products as well

john-quincy-adams-9175983-1-402.jpg

Election of 1828

  • This election had 2 candidates

    • John Quincy Adams (incumbent)

      • His followers were National Republicans​

      • Believed in strong economic nationalism

      • Appealed to many remaining Federalists

    • Andrew Jackson

      • His followers were Democratic Republicans

        • Basically the Modern Democratic Party

      • Believed in widening of opportunity

        • Sought to alleviate the wealth gap​

      • Appealed to lower classes & those who hated the "economic aristocracy"​​

      • Was viewed as a "common man"

  • Popular participation was really high in this election

    • Lots of people were exposed to campaigns

    • 57% of eligible voters voted (2x from last election)

  • In the end, Jackson easily won

    • Adams had support from Northeast region

    • Jackson had support from South & West

US-Election-1828-425x312.png

Jacksonian Era:

Spread of Democracy in America

Jackson's Presidency & Expanding Democracy

  • Jackson believed in giving all white males privileges

    • Wanted to subjugate blacks & Indians

    • Wanted all white males (whether or not they own property) to have right to vote

    • There was more popular participation in voting as electors were more often chosen by the people

  • Known as the president of the "common man"

    • He was a commoner himself

  • Believed in giving more power to the people

    • Fired some officeholders for corruption​

    • Didn't want people in office for too long

    • Initiated the Spoils System

      • The political party in power gives government positions to its supporters

  • There were still restrictions, though, to universal white male suffrage

    • Blacks & women could never vote

    • In casting their vote, people had to speak out loud to a moderator

      • Made voting prone to intimidation

Andrew_jackson_head.jpg
je

Dorr Rebellion

Thomas W Dorr wanted RI to lift property requirement for voting. Dorr organized the "People's Party" in 1840, passed its own constitution w/ universal white male suffrage

Existing Rhode Island gov passed its own constitution. Thus, there were 2 govs in 1842. Real gov believed Dorrites to be rebels

Dorrites tried to capture the state arsenal, but they failed and surrendered

Tocqueville and Democracy in America

  • Alex de Tocqueville was sent by France to study prisons in US​

  • Inste