Society and Politics in the Early Republic

Life in Northern StatesIndustrial Revolution in the North

Poor soil encouraged industry over agriculture. Rivers provided power and transport. Banks in cities provided capital. Access to coal and iron ore. Encourages urbanization as people move to cities

seeking jobs.Textile Production in the North

Cotton from South. Women and children to work machines. Numerous towns and cities as markets for textiles.

Lowell, MassachusettsSpinning, weaving, and all steps under one roof.Single women came from farms to work in textile mills.They lived in company boarding houses.Long hours, poor working conditions.Opportunities for friendship and community.

Slavery and the Old South

King CottonThe Cotton Gin – Eli Whitney

Cotton plantations and slavery rapidly spread west.South the world’s largest producer of cotton.Cotton more than half of all American exports.

In 1817, South produced 461,000 bales of cotton. In 1860, South produced 4.8 million bales.

Southern economy became entirely dependent upon slavery.

In 1820, 1.5 million slaves. In 1860, 4 million slaves.

Cities and Industry DID NOT grow in South.

Andrew Jackson’s Presidency

‘Old Hickory’“Corrupt Bargain” in Election of 1824Campaign/Election of 1828

Candidate of the Common Man Party Politics

Inauguration DayThe Bank of the United States (BUS)The Nullification Crisis

Was the Union permanent? Was secession a valid way to protect minority rights?

Jackson’s Indian Policy Trail of Tears

The Tariff of Abominations

Jackson had lost the Election of 1824 in the Northeastern United States.His supporters in Congress created a tariff to protect eastern manufacturers and help Jackson to win the next presidential election.Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations) – protective tariff on raw materials, agricultural imports and some manufactured goods, including a 50% duty on cotton cloth.The Tariff hurt the South – they had to buy high-cost American cloth or highly taxed British goods. Cost southern planters $100 million annually.

The Nullification CrisisVice President John C. Calhoun argued that the Union was a compact between sovereign states. Thus, the people of each state had the right to nullify any federal law they believed unconstitutional.If a state chose to nullify a law Congress could either: repeal the law or propose a constitutional amendment giving the federal government the power in question.If the amendment was ratified and added to the Constitution, the nullifying state could then either: accept the decision, or exercise its right as a sovereign state by seceding from the Union.

Jackson’s Response to Nullification

Jackson said that the Union was not a compact of sovereign states. The Supreme Court, not the states, had the final authority to determine the meaning of the Constitution.Jackson believed the Union was perpetual – no state had the right of secession. Nullification was treason!Resolution: Jackson signed a compromise which called for a gradual lowering of duties over the next decade, but asked Congress to pass the Force Bill of 1833, which gave him the ability to enforce tariff duties. In return, South Carolina repealed its nullification of tariff laws, but nullified Force Bill, which Jackson ignored.

Significance of Nullification Crisis

Was the Union permanent?Was secession a valid way to protect minority rights?

The Bank of the United States

The Second Bank of the United States had been chartered for 20 years in 1816.The B.U.S. had generally played a responsible economic role.Jackson believed the bank to be corrupt and to benefit only the wealthy elite.Supporters of the bank believed Jackson would not veto the legislation to give the bank a second charter during an election year so they sought a second charter four years earlier in 1832.Jackson did veto the bank. Additionally, he moved public funds out of the bank and into private state banks.Jackson’s action created a panic and contributed to an economic depression.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/1832bank1.jpg

Jackson’s Indian Policies

War against the Creek Indians.The Trail of Tears.

King Andrew – the Imperial Presidency

Jackson greatly increased the power of the President.Jackson believed the President was the true representative of the people – far more than the legislative and judicial branches.Supported rights for the common white man, but fought extending rights to Indians, blacks, and women.Jackson was criticized by his opponents as “King Andrew” – he vetoed 12 bills, all previous presidents had vetoed a combined 9 bills.What are some examples of Jackson taking a lot of power as President?

Quick WritePlease write down three examples of Jackson taking more power than the president had generally taken prior to his administration.

Reforming Society The Second Great Awakening

Camp meetingsTemperance

The American Temperance SocietyHealth and SexualityInstitutional Reform

Schools Health Facilities and Asylums

Working-class Reforms

AbolitionismNew England Antislavery SocietyWilliam Lloyd Garrison

The LiberatorFrederick Douglass

The North StarTactics

Literature Petitions Boycotts Calls for Rebellion

Jackson’s Response – “Gag Rule”

Women's RightsAngelina and Sarah GrimkeConnection to Antislavery MovementSeneca Falls Convention (1848)

Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions

“. . . But we are assembled to protest against a form of government, existing without the consent of the governed – to declare out right to be free as man is free, to be represented in the government which we are taxed to support, to have such disgraceful laws as give man the power to chastise and imprison his wife. . . . And, strange as it may seem to many, we now demand our right to vote according to the declaration of the government under which we live.”

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Seneca Falls Declaration, August 2, 1848

Abby Kelley wrote, American women “have good cause to be grateful to the slave, for in striving to strike his iron off, we found most surely, that we were manacled ourselves.”

“I ask no favors for my sex. I surrender not our claim to equality. All I ask of our brethren is, that they will take their feet from off our necks and permit us to stand upright on that ground which God designed us to occupy.” Sarah Grimke