Expanding DEMOCRACY [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 7] Period 4: 1800-1848 (Re-Upload)

Summary

This video from Heimler's History delves into the expansion of democratic participation in the U.S. from 1800 to 1848. It outlines the causes and effects of this expansion, highlighting the Panic of 1819 and its economic repercussions, which led to increased demands for the franchise from small farmers, working men, and frontier settlers. As a result, property ownership was decoupled from voting rights in many states, allowing more individuals to participate in politics. This shift resulted in a significant realignment within the Democratic Republican party, leading to the emergence of two factions: the Democrats, who favored a more expansive view of federal power, and the National Republicans, who advocated for limited federal power and strict constructionism. The contentious 1824 election, which saw John Quincy Adams elected by the House of Representatives after a deadlock, further fueled the divide, eventually solidifying these factions into formal political parties by the 1828 election.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ The democratic process in the U.S. expanded significantly from 1800-1848, including more people in the voting franchise.
• 🏛️ Small farmers, working men, and frontier settlers began demanding the right to vote, leading to political reform.
• 📉 The Panic of 1819 caused economic turmoil, leading to high unemployment and bankruptcy rates, which in turn increased the demand for political accountability.
• 🏦 The Second Bank of the United States' tightening of lending policies contributed to the Panic of 1819 by causing state banks to close.
• 📉 A decrease in demand for American exports, such as cotton, exacerbated the economic crisis of the Panic of 1819.
• 🔑 Prior to reform, the right to vote was connected to property ownership, effectively disenfranchising those without land.
• 🔄 By 1825, most eastern states had lowered or eliminated property qualifications for voting, allowing more people to participate in democracy.
• 💥 The Federalist party was crumbling and the Democratic Republican party began to fragment into the Democrats and National Republicans.
• 🤝 The Democrats favored a more expansive view of federal power and loose constructionism, while the National Republicans advocated for limited federal power and strict constructionism.
• 🔥 The election of 1824 was contentious, with no candidate winning a majority of electoral college votes, leading to a decision by the House of Representatives.
• 🤔 Andrew Jackson, despite winning the most popular and electoral votes, did not become president due to the 'corrupt bargain' controversy, which was more perception than reality.

Q & A

What was the time period discussed in the video?

The video discusses the period from 1800 to 1848.

What was the significant change in the democratic process during the first half of the 19th century?

Participatory democracy expanded significantly, allowing more people the right to vote.

What was the main reason for the Panic of 1819?

The Panic of 1819 was caused by the Second Bank of the United States tightening lending policies to control inflation, leading to many state banks closing and a severe economic downturn.

How did the economic situation affect the desire for voting rights?

The economic turmoil, particularly in the West, led laboring men to demand the right to vote so they could hold politicians accountable for the economic crisis.

What was the connection between property ownership and voting rights before the reforms?

Before the reforms, the right to vote was connected to property ownership. If a person did not own land, they did not have the right to vote.

How did the political landscape change as a result of the increased number of voters?

The increase in voters led to a significant growth and realignment in political parties, with the Democratic Republican party fragmenting into the Democrats and the National Republicans.

What was the stance of the Democrats on federal power?

The Democrats had a more expansive view of federal power, adopting the old Federalist convictions and a loose constructionist interpretation of the Constitution.

What was the position of the National Republicans regarding federal power and constitutional interpretation?

The National Republicans advocated for limited federal power and strict constructionism, interpreting the Constitution in a more literal and restrictive manner.

What was the outcome of the 1824 presidential election?

The 1824 election resulted in a deadlock, with no candidate winning a majority of electoral college votes. The House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams as president after Henry Clay, who came in fourth, threw his support behind Adams.

Why was the outcome of the 1824 election controversial?

The controversy arose because Andrew Jackson, who won the most popular and electoral votes, did not become president. His supporters claimed that the selection of Adams and the subsequent appointment of Clay as Secretary of State constituted a 'corrupt bargain.'

What was the state of the Democratic Republican party by the next election in 1828?

By the 1828 election, the factions within the Democratic Republican party had hardened into formal political parties, leading to a more structured political landscape.

Outlines

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📚 Expansion of Democratic Process (1800-1848)

The video discusses the significant expansion of participatory democracy in the early 19th century. It outlines the causes and effects of this expansion, highlighting the demand for voting rights from small farmers, working men, and frontier settlers. The Panic of 1819 and its economic consequences are identified as a key factor leading to the desire for political reform. The video also explains how the franchise was previously tied to property ownership, but reforms led to the lowering or elimination of property qualifications for voting, particularly by 1825. This change resulted in a substantial growth and realignment within political parties, with the Federalist party's decline and the rise of factions within the Democratic Republican party, which would later form the basis for new political parties.

Keywords

💡Participatory Democracy

Participatory democracy refers to the concept where citizens have a direct role in the decision-making process of a political system, rather than relying on elected representatives to make decisions for them. In the video's context, it is highlighted that during the first half of the 19th century, the right to vote expanded to include more people, which is a key aspect of participatory democracy. This expansion is linked to the economic and social changes of the time, such as the Panic of 1819 and the desire of small farmers and working men to have a say in politics.

💡Panic of 1819

The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, characterized by a contraction in the money supply, a credit crunch, and a depression that followed. The video explains how this economic downturn led to widespread unemployment and bankruptcies, which in turn fueled the desire among the working class to have a political voice and the ability to hold politicians accountable for their actions.

💡Franchise

In the context of the video, the franchise refers to the right to vote. Initially, this right was tied to property ownership, meaning that only those who owned land could vote. The video discusses how the Panic of 1819 and the push for reform led to changes in this system, with many states lowering or eliminating property qualifications for voting, thereby expanding the franchise to include more people.

💡Universal White Male Suffrage

This term refers to the political principle that all adult white men, regardless of property ownership, should have the right to vote. The video mentions that several frontier states had already established this principle, and it played a role in the broader push for political reform and the expansion of the franchise across the United States.

💡Democratic Republicans

The Democratic Republicans were a political party in the early 19th century United States. The video explains that by the 1820s, this party was the only national party, but it began to fragment into factions due to various issues, including the interpretation of federal power and the Constitution. This fragmentation was a significant part of the political realignment discussed in the video.

💡Federal Power

Federal power refers to the authority and jurisdiction of the federal government in a country. In the video, the debate over the extent of federal power is a central theme, with the Democrats advocating for a more expansive view and the National Republicans supporting limited federal power. This debate is tied to the broader discussion of the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and the balance between state and federal authority.

💡Loose Constructionism

Loose constructionism is a legal theory that suggests the Constitution should be interpreted in a flexible manner, allowing for a broader interpretation of the powers of the federal government. The video notes that the Democrats adopted this approach, which was previously associated with the Federalist party, as part of their political stance.

💡Strict Constructionism

Strict constructionism is the opposite of loose constructionism and advocates for a narrow interpretation of the Constitution, arguing that the federal government can only exercise powers that are explicitly stated within the document. The National Republicans, as described in the video, supported this approach, which is associated with figures like Thomas Jefferson.

💡Election of 1824

The Election of 1824 was a contentious presidential election in the United States, where no candidate won a majority of electoral college votes, leading to a decision by the House of Representatives. The video describes how this election was marked by factionalism within the Democratic Republican party and resulted in a situation where John Quincy Adams was elected president despite Andrew Jackson winning the popular vote, a decision that Jackson and his supporters dubbed the 'corrupt bargain.'

💡Corrupt Bargain

The term 'corrupt bargain' was used by Andrew Jackson and his supporters to describe the outcome of the 1824 election, where John Quincy Adams was chosen as president by the House of Representatives after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes. Jackson's followers claimed that a deal was made between Adams and Henry Clay, who became Adams' Secretary of State, even though there was no concrete evidence of wrongdoing. The video explains that this term reflects the perceived injustice of the election process at the time.

💡Political Realignment

Political realignment refers to a significant shift in the political landscape, often involving changes in party systems or the emergence of new political parties. The video discusses how the events leading up to and including the Election of 1824 contributed to a realignment in American politics, with the factions within the Democratic Republican party eventually forming the basis for new political parties.

Highlights

The democratic process in the U.S. expanded significantly from 1800 to 1848, including more people in the political process.

Small farmers, working men, and frontier settlers began demanding the right to vote, known as the franchise.

The Panic of 1819 led to economic turmoil, causing a rise in unemployment and bankruptcies, which in turn led to demands for political reform.

The Second Bank of the United States' tightening of lending policies contributed to the economic crisis by causing state banks to close.

The franchise was previously connected to property ownership, but reforms led to the lowering or elimination of property qualifications for voting.

By 1825, most eastern states had reformed their voting qualifications, allowing more people to participate in democracy.

The Federalist party was crumbling, and the Democratic Republican party began to fragment into factions, leading to a significant growth and realignment in political parties.

The Democratic Republicans split into two factions: the Democrats, who favored expansive federal power, and the National Republicans, who advocated for limited federal power.

The election of 1824 was contentious, with four candidates from the same party leading to a decision by the House of Representatives.

Andrew Jackson won the most popular and electoral votes but did not receive a majority, leading to John Quincy Adams' election by the House.

Jackson's followers called the selection of Adams and the appointment of Henry Clay as Secretary of State the 'corrupt bargain', despite no evidence of wrongdoing.

The factions within the Democratic Republican party hardened into formal political parties by the next election in 1828.

The video provides a comprehensive overview of Unit 4, Topic 7 of the AP U.S. History curriculum.

The讲解者 encourages viewers to subscribe for more content on the AP U.S. History curriculum.

The讲解者 uses humor and a conversational tone to make the historical content more engaging for the audience.

The讲解者 emphasizes the importance of understanding the economic and political factors that led to the expansion of democracy.

The讲解者 provides a detailed analysis of the causes and effects of the Panic of 1819 on the U.S. economy and political landscape.

The讲解者 explains the concept of loose and strict constructionism in the context of the Democrats and National Republicans' differing views on federal power.

Transcripts

Well hey there and welcome back to Heimler’s  History. So we’ve been going through UNit 4  

of the AP U.S. History curriculum and  in this video we’re going to consider  

how the democratic process expanded  to include more and more folks  

from 1800-1848. So get them brain cows  ready because they about to get milked.

So during the first half of the 19th  

century participatory democracy  expanded pretty significantly,  

and I want to show you the causes of why that  occurred and what the effects of it were.

So first, let’s have a look at the causes.  So during this period of time small  

farmers and working men and frontier settlers  began demanding the franchise, which is to say,  

the right to vote. In order to understand  why, we need to talk about the Panic of  

1819. So in the years leading up to this  panic the Second Bank of the United States  

had tightened up their lending policies in  order to try to control inflation. Inflation,  

in case you don’t know, means rising prices. Now  that seems like a perfectly good thing to do,  

but in restricting the funds available  to borrow, the national bank caused  

many state banks to close, and that’s when  things got, what’s the word for it? Nasty.

So add to these irresponsible banking practices  a decrease in demand for exported American  

goods like cotton, and you got yourself a  right economic mess. Unemployment shot up,  

bankruptcies occured seemingly everywhere, and  for those who were now unable to pay their debts,  

they went to prison in staggering numbers. And so  as a result of all of this turmoil laboring men,  

especially in the West where the depression hit  hardest, wanted to be able to hold politicians  

accountable. Now you may be wondering,  why could they vote up till this point?

The reason is that during this time  the franchise was connected to property  

ownership. YOu ain’t got no land, you  ain’t got no vote. And so combine the  

frustration over the Panic of 1819 with the  fact that several frontier states had already  

established universal white male suffrage  unconnected to land, and the nation was  

ripe for reform. And so by 1825 most eastern  states joined with their western counterparts  

and had substantially lowered or in some cases  eliminated property qualifications for voting.

And now with so many more folks  entering the political fray,  

a significant growth and realignment  in political parties occured. So let’s  

talk about that realignment. I mentioned in a  previous video that the Federalist party was  

crumbling because of its opposition to the War  of 1812, and by this point they were basically  

defunct. And so it was the Democratic Republicans  who were the lone national party at this point.

But because of all the events I mentioned  earlier, this party began to fragment into  

factions. The first faction was known as  the Democrats and the second was known  

as the National Republicans. Now don’t get  confused here. These aren’t new political  

parties (although that will come later),  these are just two rival factions within  

the Democratic Republican party. The Democrats  had a more expansive view of federal power. In  

this way they just took up the old Federalist  convictions about the national government.  

They also absorbed the Federalist’s  notion of loose constructionism, which,  

in case you forgot, is a way of interpreting  the Constitution more, you know, loosely.

The National Republicans, on the other hand, were  like the Democratic Republicans in the image of  

Thomas Jefferson. They stood for limited  federal power and strict constructionism,  

which was a tighter way of interpreting the  Constitution which basically said that the  

federal government can do nothing that is  not explicitly written in the Constitution.

So with all this factionalism rampant in  the party, the election of 1824 was set  

to be kind of dumpster fire, and on that  count, it did not disappoint. Unable to  

agree on a single presidential candidate,  the Democratic Republicans ended up with  

four candidates: John Quincy Adams, Henry  Clay, William Crawford, and Andrew Jackson.

Now Jackson and Adams were the strongest  contenders, and when the election came,  

it was Jackson who won the most popular votes,  but none of the candidates won a majority of the  

electoral college votes. Therefore, according  to the Constitution, when that happens,  

the president must be chosen by the House of  Representatives. So Clay, because he came in  

fourth in the electoral votes, threw his support  behind Adams and used his influence in the House  

to ultimately get Adams elected. Jackson, as  the winner of the most popular votes and the  

most electoral votes, as you can imagine, was  furious. And then to add fuel to that fire,  

as soon as Adams assumed the presidency, he  named Henry Clay as his Secretary of State.

Jackson and his followers called this the corrupt  bargain, even though, in truth no one had done  

anything wrong. It was the Democratic Republicans  themselves who had created this problem by putting  

forward four candidates. In that situation  it was dang near impossible for anyone to win  

the required majority. And the House was doing  its Constitutional duty to select a president,  

and it’s the president’s prerogative to appoint  a cabinet. So to my knowledge there was no real  

evidence of wrong doing, but nevertheless, such  a situation stunk to Jackson and his supporters.

But by the time the next election rolled  around in 1828, these two factions had  

hardened into formal political parties, of  which, I shall say more in the next video.

ENDSCREEN

Okay that’s what you need to know about Unit 4  topic 7 of the AP US History curriculum. Click  

anda five on your exam in May. And if you  subscribe right here, there will be no hint  

of a corrupt bargain. You subscribe and I keep  making videos. That’s how it goes. Heimler out.