I. SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY (1824)
A. End of the Era of Good Feeling
1. The Era of Good Feeling
resulted in confusion during the
election of 1824. "Every" candidate was a Republican.
2. Causes of split: a) Panic
of 1819; b) divisive sectional
interests especially abolitionism
B. Changes in the Political Process
1. Extension of suffrage
with the removal of property
requirements.
2. Change in Voting Methods:
Voice vote changes to written ballot
(colored) - Kentucky was the last to give up voice vote in
1890. No secret ballot until after Civil War.
3. End of the Caucus
System: From 1800 through 1820 the
candidates had been picked by the incumbent and confirmed by a
party caucus. This process worked well for the Republicans but
limited voter participation. In the election of 1820 James
Monroe ran unopposed on the Republican ticket. The caucus
system fell apart in 1824 because by that time 18 out of 24
states chose presidential electors by popular vote rather than
by the state legislatures as had been previously done. People
wanted more say in the nominating process.
II. ELECTION OF 1824: Evidence of
sectionalism - each region of the
country had a candidate.
A. Republican Party:
Selected William H. Crawford of Georgia who had
run second to Monroe at
the party caucus in 1820. He was Secretary
of the Treasury under Monroe.
Supported by Madison, Monroe,
Jefferson.
B. South: John
C. Calhoun of South Carolina who did not run in the
general election but ran
unopposed for Vice President
C. New England:
John
Quincy Adams (Secretary of State under Monroe;
had been a Federalist, became
a Republican in early 1800's)
D. West: Henry
Clay of Kentucky (Speaker of House, Great Compromiser,
War Hawk) and Andrew
Jackson of Tennessee (hero of the Battle of New
Orleans)
III. RESULTS OF THE ELECTION OF 1824:
No candidate received a majority
of the electoral votes. House of Representatives
had to choose from the three leading candidates.
A. Crawford had a stroke so was not considered.
Clay
was 4th, so out of
the running. He supported
Adams against Jackson. Adams won. Adams
later appointed Clay Secretary
of State. Was this a political deal?
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B. Jackson had received the largest popular
vote. His followers were
upset at his loss to Adams.
They labeled it a "corrupt bargain."
Jackson called Clay "Judas
of the West." This ruined Clay's chances
for the presidency.
IV. PRESIDENCY OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
A. BIOGRAPHY:
B. PROGRAM: federal
building of a national university, the development
of cultural resources, construction
of national roads and canals,
scientific research, protective
tariffs, a national bank, and an
enlarged navy.
C. INABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS:
Congress, dominated by
Democratic-Republicans,
opposed him. Most considered him cold and
aloof. The Jacksonians sabotaged
his administration whenever
possible.
V. ELECTION OF 1828
A. Candidates
1. National Republicans: J.Q. Adams. Carried New England.
2. Democratic Republicans:
Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun.
Carried
almost every state outside of New England.
B. Jackson Strategy:
Jackson stressed two points, 1) Denial of the
"popular will" in the election
of 1824; 2) appointment of Clay as
Secretary of State as evidence
of the "corrupt bargain"
C. Campaign 1828:
This was a mudslinging campaign. The death of
Rachel Jackson a month after
the election was attributed by Jackson
to the abuse of the campaign.
D. Significance of the Jackson Victory
1. Victory did not reflect
support for his policies but rather a
form of hero worship.
2. The Democratic Party became
the first well-organized national
political party in the United States. Democrats had utilized
the mass production of campaign material such as badges,
medals, ceramics.
3. Jackson's election represented
the importance of the West and
the rising democratic spirit in politics.