A.P U.S History Chapter 11 Study Guide

The Jacksonian Democratic Party and the Whig Party where the two main groups of government in the early 1800's. The Whigs believed that President Jackson was too much like a king. In fact, they called him King Andrew the first. They also believed that the government should be actively involved in the economy of the government. The Democrats, on the other hand believed that a strong state government was best for the country. In their viewpoint, an agricultural society was far better than an industrial one.

The major parties since early 1830s in the United States of America were the Democratic Party, organized by Andrew Jackson, and the Whig Party, assembled by Henry Clay from the National Republicans and in opposition to Andrew Jackson.

The First Party System refers to a period between 1792 and the 1820’s when the American political system was divided into two parties. Both parties, the Federalist Party, and the Democratic-Republican Party, wanted control of the Congress, the presidency, and the states. The parties were the result of the differences between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson on how to solve various national problems such as the economic crisis that was threatening the nation at the time (Dickerson, 2004). However, the roots of these political parties and concerns emerged during the constitution ratification process. On one hand, the Federalists supported the constitution while, on the other hand, the Antifederalists (Democratic-Republican) did not support it due to key issues that had not been considered in the new constitution (rAndon HersHey & Beck, 2015).

Soon after the war of 1812, the Federalist Party collapsed, leaving just one political party in the U.S. for over a decade. It was not until the election of 1824 that there was an emergence of a second party system. As stated previously one party led by Andrew Jackson was the Democrats. The Democratic Party developed when Andrew Jackson was elected president. The democrats believed in helping the common man. They stayed out of state affairs, favored the working class, and were tolerant of immigrants. The Whig party which consisted of mainly prosperous people formed in opposition to the Democratic Party. They believed that the federal government should be actively involved in the economy to stimulate growth. They were also in favor of tariffs to protect infant industries and internal improvements.

Andrew Jackson, whose presidential term lasted from 1829-1837, was the first president to ever be chosen by the people to lead. Because he was not born into a rich family, people felt that they could relate to him better. He too preferred supporting the common public over the wealthy aristocrats. During Jackson’s period in office he was able to shift the majority of power in the United States to farmers and small businesses in the western part of the country. Jackson vetoed many bills in order to benefit common people and also created the spoils system to balance out his cabinet. Like Jefferson, Jackson was extremely opposed to the Bank of the U.S., believing that it would only make the wealthy even

Economic developments were important to the period, such as in 1832 when Andrew Jackson vetoed the renewal of the Bank of the United States’ charter and the congress failed to overturn the veto. This led to Jackson successfully weakening the bank’s power. Jackson then won the next election, despite attempts from supporters of the bank.

2. Who were the new Republicans? Which groups comprised this party? What was its platform?

During the time periods between the 1830s and 1840s, two political parties: the Democratic party and the Whig party had faced the challenges among their ideological differences on the role of federal government in the economy and the westward expansion, but did compromise in certain ways. The one-party system of Monroe’s presidency had led to the creation of a two-party system under the presidency terms of Andrew Jackson. The supporters of President Jackson were known as the Democrats and the supporters of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, rivals of Jackson, came to be known as the Whigs. The Democrats were influenced by Thomas Jefferson, whereas the Whigs were influenced by Alexander Hamilton. The Democrats were in favor of states’ rights and opposed the growth of a powerful central government. Democrats also favored in rapid territorial and external growth. The Whigs were in favor of a stronger federal government that was dominated by Congress. Whigs also favored gradual territorial expansions and internal improvements. In future reference, the Democratic and Whig party created the two political parties in which we see today, the Democratic and Republican Party.

A new order of demonstrated political loyalties, such as seen in Texas and the South from Reconstruction until the middle 20th century with the movement from a Democratic majority identification to a development of parity between the Democratic and then in the latter half of the 20thcentury the shift to Republican

During the time of the third President’s presidency, President Andrew Jackson made decisions for the United States. Andrew Jackson helped push the westward expansion, exceed in technology, and give more people the chance of a better job and life. Over the years of his presidency, he has given many citizens as many equal rights as possible. Jackson believed that it is good to limit the terms of the government and a president in office because he did not want to to resemble a king, or one ruling for life. Though, at the time, citizens were white men who owned land.

After fighting the Indians and secessionists, he suddenly faced his most daunting enemy: the Bank of the United States. The bank war was the central political controversy of his administration. The bank war began in the summer of 1832 when Congress, led by Henry Clay, renewed the bank’s charter. Clay pushed the bill through for political reasons and presented it to Jackson. President Jackson stated, “The bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it” (Jackson). Jackson vetoed the bank bill and returned it to the Senate. He thought he was right and the bank was wrong. Jackson closed the bank when it still had four years left on its existing charter. In the summer of 1833 while Congress was in recess, Jackson ordered his treasury secretary to redirect federal deposits from the Bank of the United States to various state banks. What Jackson wanted to do was not legal at all because he had to fire a couple of secretaries of the treasury until one secretary did what he wanted done. When Congress returned and found out what Jackson had done they censured him because of his actions. By 1836, the Bank of the United States was dead. One more time, Jackson is perceived as a king because of the way he did certain things. The way he closed the bank, when the bank still had four years left to be open, proves the type of supreme leader he thought he

Although, rather than act on the interests of the people during his presidency, Jackson seemed to only act on his own interests as he exhibited a “my way or the highway” mentality that led to undemocratic actions. This mentality can be seen through his spoils system where Jackson replaced government officeholders with people who were his political supporters and who were loyal to him. His appointments did not really take into consideration the qualifications or the skills of the new officeholders, but he only really cared about their loyalty to him and 20 percent of the original officeholders lost their jobs due to this new policy (Keene, 237). Jackson’s controlling mentality was also demonstrated through the bank war as he vetoed Congress’s bill to recharter the National Bank. Although the veto was popular to many as it attacked the rich and powerful and appealed to the humble members of society, he had to be sure the bank could not be revived by withdrawing all federal funds (Keene, 250). This was a rash move that could seriously damage the economy, and Jackson had to fire two people until he found someone who was willing to become secretary of the Treasury and follow his orders. Many people viewed Jackson’s actions in the Bank War as tyrannical and the political cartoon titled King

3. In June 1919 a bill was passed by Congress, the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. This bill was made law on August 26, 1920.

After shutting down the Bank of the United States in 1836, President Andrew Jackson did not receive what he had hoped for in exchange. The Bank War surely had a profound effect on the future of the United States including everything that led up to the panic of 1837. Bray Hammond in his essay The Jacksonians: Expectant Capitalists states how Jackson's advisors blinded him to facts and the actual usefulness of the bank. They allowed Jackson to destroy the bank instead of correcting its flaws, a decision that would later create an economic boom in the United States. Many believe that Jackson allowed himself to also be blinded by his ego and agrarian beliefs which resulted in profound consequences in the end.

Jackson also failed to realize that if there is money to be handled there must be a way to store it and keep track of the money. Jackson denied the rights of Congress given to Congress in Article 1, section 8, clauses 1-3 of the United States Constitution. This section gives Congress the right to “lay and collect taxes; to borrow money; to regulate commerce; to declare and conduct a war; and to raise and support armies.” (Library of Congress) The point of conflict is that even though the right of the federal government to create a national bank is not stated it is implied because without a bank there is nowhere to store money allotted through this clause. In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) it was determined that “Congress may incorporate banks and kindred institutions” (US Supreme Court Cases & Opinions.) which established a precedence that was overlooked by President Jackson.