Around the presidential election of 1824, the presidential candidates -John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Andrew Jackson- took part in the “Corrupt Bargain”, an alliance made between Adams and Clay in order to secure Adams’ presidency. During the Electoral College, Jackson received 99 votes in front of Adams who received 84 votes, while Jackson did receive more votes, he had not gotten a majority of votes, so the House of Representatives were to choose the next president. The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Henry Clay, was to choose between the two candidates. Instead of choosing for the sake of the country, Clay chose to help himself, as Adams had offered him a position as the secretary of state. After Adams’ presidency was secured,
Chapter 9 The Jefferson Era was between 1800 and 1816. It started with The Federalist and Republican Parties fighting an election campaign in 1800. Federalists supported President Adams and Charles Pinckney for vice president. Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr as his running mate.
A time of immense change and political involvement, the antebellum years of the early 1800s is one of the most intriguing time periods of America’s history. Harry L. Watson’s incredible book, Liberty and Power: The Politics of Jacksonian America, details the ups and downs of politics during Jacksonian America. Watson does a great job on explaining how the eighteenth century concept of republicanism transformed nineteenth century America in the form of a ‘market revolution.’ Social, political and economic changes were the center of life during Jacksonian America. Watson’s synthesis is a must-read for anyone interested in Jacksonian politics.
America entered into the Era of Good Feelings which was a time of one party rule and peace. Democratic Republicans ruled the national government and voters had to chose a candidate from this political party. Culturally America didn’t change as slavery still in the south, industry still in the north, and western lands are still unknown. However, Henry Clay’s American System created a compromise between all regions with Northern industry, Southern Slavery, and Western Farmers. Therefore, The Missouri compromise increased sectionalism and brought economic differences to each region of the United States.
Even having a whole age named after him, Andrew Jackson’s decisions darning his presidency caused divide between the American people; ether they commended him on his impulsive behavior or despised it. Many American’s felt this radical change of their nation as a betrayal to the goals of the Jeffersonian Republicanism. The demolition of the national bank, though Jefferson was against it, in turn destroyed trust with in the elite. The total disregard to the Supreme Court leading to the “Trail of Tears” represented un-democratic ideals.
Henry Clay was responsible once again in writing the compromise of 1850 as he did the Missouri compromise in 1820. This was seen as a chance to extended the promises made by the compromise of 1820. In this compromise, there was a settlement in the border issues between New Mexico and Texas. There was also the admission of California as a free state which would balance out with Texas as a slave state. With Texas becoming a slave state, it abandoned its claims north of the 36° 30’ latitude line, because the compromise of 1820 had forbidden slavery above that line.
The Election of 1824 had four candidates; Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, Henry Clay, and John Quincy Adams. All of them were “Republicans”, yet well-organized parties had not yet started. This election was the first to not have any candidate run as a Federalist. Out of the four candidates, Jackson was by far the most popular, especially in the west, since he was a war-hero. His main rival, Clay felt hatred towards Jackson, and vice versa.
Jackson vs. Clay Andrew Jackson vs. Henry Clay: Democracy and Development in Antebellum America is a book written by Harry L. Watson. Harry L. Watson writes the different stances of the presidential race in the Antebellum Era in America. He is very unbiased in his writing, clearly stating each presidential candidate. Andrew Jackson’s beliefs are clearly democratic, meaning he believed that a growing wealth and power in the business community may erode the equality of ordinary citizens. This party was also known as the ‘Jackson Party’.
William Cohen, “Jefferson and the Problem of Slavery,” Journal of American History 56, no 3 (1969): 503-526 Thomas Jefferson is one of the pioneers who laid the foundation for what is now The United States of America. Jefferson is also reflected to be one of the most controversial because of his juxtaposing political posture of race and slavery compared to his personal beliefs on this same matter. He, along with other “Founding Fathers,” owned slaves but also believed that all men are equal and are to be treated equally. William Cohen in his article, “Jefferson and the Problem of Slavery,” talks about the complexity and contradictions of Thomas Jefferson through his political actions as compared to his personal practices. Jefferson was complex
The American System was a plan brought forth by Henry Clay, about economic development. The American system was brilliant plan that allowed federal funding for internal development. This plan created a protective tariff in order to protect American businesses but in turn created a high tariff on imported goods some American industries can strive. The American System helped the textile business, while British were bringing clothes over and selling them cheaper. The American system also wanted to create high land states, so that the revenues my help economic development.
The question of slavery expanding or being terminated has been a question that has been asked all throughout the antebellum period. Yet, all through that period it was never answered. Conflict between abolishing slavery which was fought for by the Northerners and preserving slavery, fought for by the Southerners has spiked as time has gone on. Though, each plan that was designed to make a compromise between the two conflicting arguments has just seemed to arouse the fighters even more. For example, The WIlmot Proviso Act was shot down by opposed Southerners, the Compromise of 1850 infuriated both argumentative sides, and the secession of South Carolina angered and feared Northerners.
The Democratic-Republican politicians came up with the American System, based on the financial ideas of Alexander Hamilton. Henry Clay and John Calhoun helped create a vision that the federal government should encourage economic enterprise (Schultz, 2103). This economic system was to help improve the economy and lives of Americans in the United Stated, create a new transportation system connecting America and taxing foreign goods (Alchin, 2017). The main factor in the American system was the creation of a national bank, known as the Second Bank of the United States.
In American History, few ideological disagreements have been as important as the divide between Andrew Jackson’s Republican Party and Henry Clay’s Whig Party. Both parties were led by brilliant men whose political arguments would lay the foundation on the nature of democracy and economic development that are ever present in our national discourse. Jackson thought America should remain as it was in its current state and feared improvement whereas Henry Clay felt that America was destined for greatness and change. In order to fully understand and appreciate their national debates, a detailed analysis of the two political leader’s differences on democracy and economic development will be presented herein as well as how this debate overcame the
One of the major problems with the Articles of Confederation is that power was established state by state and limited power to a central government. The Constitution fixed this by balancing powers between the states and the Federal government. Also they created three branches of government: legislative, judiciary, and executive. Other solutions to the Articles of Confederation made by the Constitution were levying taxes by Congress, Congress having the right to control trade between states and countries, amendments became easier to ratify, and the executive branch had the power of checks and
Andrew Jackson was a wild, energetic president that had the will and stability to make the United States a stronger, and more unified nation. A good democracy, in general, requires equal rights, an educated and strong leader, peace, stability, checks and balances, voting rights, and power in the hands of the people. Having a good and strong democracy also requires leadership of the people, and for them to stand up for their rights. In Andrew Jackson’s presidency, he is known for always striving for what he wants, even if the people of the United States didn’t agree with him.
