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| | Jackson was disliked and thought to be a tyrant by bankers and pro-British (basically, the former Federalists) that a new political party arose just to defeat Jacksonian Democrats: the Whig Party, founded by the powerful Senator Henry Clay from Kentucky in 1834. This party absorbed the Antimasonic Party, which had been founded in 1832 in order to oppose the influential Masons. The Whig Party, which included bankers, states' rights supporters, established politicians like Daniel Webster and John Calhoun, and everyone who disliked Jackson, became a formidable political force and would ultimately elect Presidents William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor before the Civil War. | | Jackson was disliked and thought to be a tyrant by bankers and pro-British (basically, the former Federalists) that a new political party arose just to defeat Jacksonian Democrats: the Whig Party, founded by the powerful Senator Henry Clay from Kentucky in 1834. This party absorbed the Antimasonic Party, which had been founded in 1832 in order to oppose the influential Masons. The Whig Party, which included bankers, states' rights supporters, established politicians like Daniel Webster and John Calhoun, and everyone who disliked Jackson, became a formidable political force and would ultimately elect Presidents William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor before the Civil War. |
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| − | In the first post-Jackson presidential election, his popularity remained too strong for the Whig Party to defeat. President Van Buren, the only American president not of British (including Irish) descent, was elected in 1836 by riding Jackson's "coattails" (i.e., his popularity). But Van Buren was hurt by the financial Panic of 1837. Some felt that the financial panic was due to a lack of a national bank to prevent many local bank failures. Also during Van Buren’s presidency: Gag rule barring petitions on slavery in Congress. Elijah Lovejoy was brutally murdered in 1837 across the river from Missouri for criticizing slavery. | + | In the first post-Jackson presidential election, his popularity remained too strong for the Whig Party to defeat. President Van Buren, the only American president ever elected who was not of British (including Irish) descent, won in 1836 by riding Jackson's "coattails" (i.e., his popularity). But Van Buren was hurt by the financial Panic of 1837. Some felt that the financial panic was due to a lack of a national bank to prevent many local bank failures. |
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| | Van Buren was defeated for reelection in 1840 by clever slogans by the Whig Party such as “Van, van the used up man” and “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” (Harrison was a military hero for defeating the Indians at Tippecanoe.) | | Van Buren was defeated for reelection in 1840 by clever slogans by the Whig Party such as “Van, van the used up man” and “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” (Harrison was a military hero for defeating the Indians at Tippecanoe.) |
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| | Annexation of Texas – 1845. Slavery issue resurfaces with new territories and balance of free versus slave power in the Senate. War with Mexico in 1846-48, which many northerners opposed on moral grounds and also opposed based on a suspicion that the South sought more slave territories. Wilmot Proviso: no territory acquired from Mexico may have slavery. Never passed the Senate but inspired the abolitionists. | | Annexation of Texas – 1845. Slavery issue resurfaces with new territories and balance of free versus slave power in the Senate. War with Mexico in 1846-48, which many northerners opposed on moral grounds and also opposed based on a suspicion that the South sought more slave territories. Wilmot Proviso: no territory acquired from Mexico may have slavery. Never passed the Senate but inspired the abolitionists. |
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| − | Compromise of 1850 confronted these problems: California had gold (gold rush of 1849) and wanted to join the Union as a free state, but that would upset the slave-free state balance. Texas wanted all the territory between it and Santa Fe (now in New Mexico). Washington, D.C. allowed slavery and had the biggest slave market in North America.
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| − | The aging senators Clay (Kentucky), Webster (Massachusetts) and Calhoun (S.C.) worked together to keep the Union intact. Clay, the ultimate compromiser, led the way. Here was the deal:
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| − | Texas got $10 million in exchange for relinquishing its claim to the land, money that Texas used to pay off its debt to Mexico. New territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah would be organized based on the views of their inhabitants whether to allow slavery. The slave trade would be abolished in D.C. California would be admitted as a free state.
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| | == Slavery 1800-1840 == | | == Slavery 1800-1840 == |