During the late 1850’s, stated that the preservation on the young nation’s freedom, pended on how many registered voters went to the polls. The paper went on to say that it was the “positive duty of every citizen of a Republic to vote.” Do you agree with this statement? Quite clearly, the influx in voting rights was due to reduction of property rights in many states and the establishment of universal white male suffrage. Also, a rise in political parties, vigorous campaigning, and constituent politics led to an increase of 26.9% of registered voters voting for President in 1824 to 80.2% in 1840.What other fact ors may have led to the quadruple in voters throughout this time period?
Changing Political Culture (pg. 393)- After an endorsement for J.Q. Adams by Henry Clay, with the promise of becoming Secretary of State through the “corrupt bargain”, Andrew Jackson broke the Democratic- Republican Party into two, creating his own Democratic Party, and Adams a National Republican. Do “corrupt bargains” similar to the one between Adams and Clay take place in politics today? For example Senator Ben Nelson’s State of Nebraska receiving $200 million in Medicaid benefits for his state in order to ensure his “Yea” vote on the Senate’s Healthcare Reform Bill. Not only did these political parties take sides on policies, but also appealed to popular emotions, religious beliefs, and ethnic prejudices. Is it ethical for a voter to vote for a candidate on any of those three preferences, or should voters strictly vote based on policy preferences?
Jackson’s Path to the White House (pgs. 393-395) Clearly the battle lines were drawn for the Election of 1828: Jackson and the Democrats v. Adams, Clay, and the National Republicans. Jackson’s military past enthused people and he claimed that he was the common man’s candidate. He labeled Adams as an intellectual and the slogan for the election became: “a man who can fight (Jackson), a man who can fight (Adams).” Do politicians competing today for an elected office make similar accusations about each other? Vigorous campaigning that had never been seen before as well as political methods in passing the Tariff of Abominations in order to try to court Northern voters to Jackson, helped “Old Hickory win the Presidency with 565 of the vote. What techniques do politicians use today to appeal to voters and are they similar to those of the Antebellum Period?
Old Hickory’s Vigorous Presidency (pgs. 395- 396) Jackson made his authority clear as an executive officer. He became the bully on the playground to Congress, vetoing 12 bills during his two terms, something a President had never done before. He also made it clear that he would set a precedent for future Democrats to prevent federally funded internal improvements by doing such things as vetoing the Maysville road project. Do Democrats for the most part hold to this policy of Jackson today? Finally Jackson had to quite frankly hold a crippling nation together. Study these three attitudes:
“Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and inseparable.”-Sen. Daniel Webster
“Our Union-it must be preserved.” President Andrew Jackson
“The Union- next to our liberty most dear.” Vice President John Calhoun
What inferences can you make about the relationship between the President and the Vice President? Should they have nearly identical political ideologies?
Jackson’s Native American Policy (pgs. 396-399)- Andrew Jackson made it clear: he wanted Native Americans out of the way of Anglo-Saxon Americans. In doing so he wished to set up reservations for them west of the Mississippi River. The policy of assimilation that the U.S. Government policy had toward Natives was the complete opposite of Jackson. Jackson felt so strongly on this issue that he broke the law by violating judicial review (Remember Marbury v. Madison?) in cases which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the sovereignty and land protection of the Native American people. However with Indian Removal and Indian Intercourse Act of 1834 Jackson sent the N.A.’s west (Trail of Tears), deploring them of everything and sending them into shambles. But remember: Jackson had fought a vicious war years prior with the Creek, not only defeating their army but their entire civilization. So I ask you this: Was Jackson’s Indian Policy based off of political belief or a racial hate for the red people, or both? You decide!
Jackson’s Bank War and Van Ruin’s Depression (pgs. 399-401)-33% unemployment in 1837 under Van Buren because of Jackson’s policies? And Jackson is great? Poor Martin! Jackson’s appeal to the “common man” carried to the national bank. Jackson, in order to uphold his populist promises declared war on and destroyed the national bank, by placing government funds in state or “pet banks”, however, the effects of this was massive inflation. While Jackson had one foot out the door ready to leave office, he created specie circular, requiring the payment of government land in the mid west in specie. This in a way showed a concession of Jackson’s War on Biddle and the Bank as a mistake. Should political popularity be more important in a decision for America than what is right?
The American Party System (pgs. 401-403)- “Tippecanoe and Tyler too,” twas the ring to Whig victory over Martin “Van Ruin” in the Election of 1840, where the Democratic idea of increased voting backfired on the Democrats, with an astounding 80% of voters showing up at the polls. The failure of the National Republican Party evolved it into the Whig Party with similar policies of moral reform and federal internal improvements, however their tactics of giving liquor to voters and parades led them to victory in 1840 and built themselves up to be a strong political party until their falter in the late 1850’s. Are these political tactics still used today to attract voters? What are different tactics used today?
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