The Candidates their life and their politics
The 1828 election featured the showdown between two contemporaries who will become famous not just for their pursuit of the presidency but on the manner by which such feat was pursued by both individuals. This analysis begins with the description of the two - John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Both have earned their educational and academic merits through schooling, although in different fashion. Adams was from a family that was better off compared to the family history and background of Jackson, and Jackson only experiencing the comforts of life when he managed to become stable financially through his hard work.
Both are hard workers and dedicated patriots, especially Jackson who experienced first hand the brutality of the British colonial masters, who was responsible for imprisoning him and his brother and was responsible for the difficult life he had when he was young resulting to the death of his siblings and his parents when he was still very young. Both will serve the United States, in some ways similar while in other ways different from one another. Both will become US presidents, but they are appraised differently by the people they served, by their contemporaries and by history, in consideration to what they have done and accomplished and what they have failed to do as well.
Although both politicians, there were noticeable differences. Adams was a dyed in wool politician. His service to the US has always been political in nature, serving as an elected government official and as an appointed public servant holding one of the most prestigious positions in the US government the Secretary of State. Jackson, on the other hand, was not purely politician. He traces his roots towards American politics by way of military service, and a much decorated one at that. Born in the time of extreme armed conflict versus the colonial British, Jackson, at an early age, was already serving at wartime, albeit at first, he was a mere courier. Later in his life, he would become a very good and talented soldier. His tour of duty as a soldier will include the War of 1812 that saw his service as a colonel decorated by battlefield victory and the promotion to Major General soon thereafter because of his extraordinary accomplishment during this conflict, and the First Seminole War. Incidentally, Jackson and Adams paths crossed here. Jackson, under attack from Spain because of his actions in Florida, was defended by Adams, who then was serving as Secretary of State. Their paths would again cross in 1824 during the election for presidency which featured many candidates besides Adams and Jackson.
The main line that dented the relationship of the two is the time when Jackson was defeated in the election after political strategy allowed Adams the victory. During the time, the conditions were favorable for Adams. He was deeply embedded in US politics and are strongly connected with other politicians while Jackson was mainly an officer in the field who is not as well connected to US politics at the time in comparison to Adams. By the time Jackson sought the presidency the second time, things were different. Jackson was secured a solid party and a solid political base which he managed to do since he was not as active in the battlefield compared to how he was several years ago. For Adams, the connections were still there, politically. However, Adams would not be able to use it this time since the public has made sure that they decided the outcome of the election this time and not the political clique that manipulated the1824 elections that handed Jackson the bitter defeat and to Adams, the victory and the presidency which he would surrender to Jackson four years later.
Authors and analysts of the 1828 election believed that above everything else, the battle was fought not on how the two individuals stood regarding particular issues, but was about mainly who the people like the most between the two in the most basic and simple and non-political manner. This was strengthened by the analysis that explained that personalities rather than issues were the key ingredients of the election of 1828, and that Jacksons victory is to be explained mainly in terms of his personal charisma and his partys superior organization.
The Political Parties
Political parties are strongly influential in the outcome of the 1828 elections, based on what happened in the political parties in the very recent past and what was happening to the parties in the current present at the time of the campaigning, election and victory. Political parties are important, considering the fact that during the 1820s, politics in most states remained chaotic. The political parties play an integral part in making sure everything is set and organized for their selected candidate so that he or she has a good chance of winning.
Prior to the election, there were many movements involving the parties that will move for the election of Adams and Jackson. There were splits in the parties as well as alliances among individuals who themselves are strong drawers of supporters to which the party was very amenable to. There were also internal and external problems that the parties of Adams and Jackson have to face before and during the campaigning and election so that they can contribute significantly to the winning of the presidency of their own respective candidates. Many factors were based in consideration to the party who it looks after, what are the agendas it wants to accomplish, what it has done in the past that the voters consider favorable, etc. The two competing political parties were Jacksons Democratic Party and Adams Republican Party, with Jacksons party being represented by a donkey and Adams party being represented by an elephant. Although some were laughing at the idea of the donkey for the party symbol, Jackson believed that there is a better symbolism for that which he used, including hard work.
How the parties of Adams and Jackson performed in the election is reflective of the present conditions and was a result of the strategizing of the party and its leaders to ensure that their candidate wins. In the case of Jackson, the Democratic Party was, during the 1828 elections, more capable in consolidating power and influence to back Jackson. There is no other politician of equal influence, relevance and clout to break the power base into pieces and scatter the support towards different candidates. The Democratic Party should also be commended in their role in making sure that besides the loyalists of Jackson or the Jacksonians, there were also support coming from other groups, like those considered as Old Republicans.
In preparation for a rematch resulting to being defeated unfairly in the 1824 elections, it was not only Jackson who moved so that he can claim what was rightfully his in the first place but his party as well was already in motion even before Adams was able to complete his first year of service as president. Adams was already informed that his second term will be challenged by Jackson. Jacksons pursuit to run again for 1828 resulted in an important change in his party. From being a Republican, the followers of the party started labeling themselves as Democratic, creating the Democratic - Republican Party which later morphed simply as the Democratic Party. The changes in the party were, in effect, a portent of things to come not just for Jackson but for his followers, supporters and to his constituents by the time he was sworn in as president.
As for Adams, his party was not doing him any good when they failed in advising him on what to do when he was serving his term. His party should have had a strong sense of direction so that they can help Adams not just in doing the right thing but more importantly to do the right thing that can help the popularity of Adams so that he is fit to fight the next election. The party should have thought of the implications of the perceived corrupt bargain that led to the victory of Adams and should have thought of ways on remedying it. However, since the party allowed Adams to fall from one political mistake to the next one, the party should be blamed as well why Adams acted as he did, which doomed his bid for the presidency. By that time, the people thought that Adams, and in some extent his party, was already detached to the real issues that needs to be addressed and are already not cognizant about what needs to be done, describing Adams as unaware of the changing political climate.
The Importance of the Populist Party
The officially recognized populist party is yet to officially exist in the political sphere of the United States society close enough to influence significantly the 1828 elections for the presidency of the United States. The concept of the populist party and its impact in the election for the US presidency, particularly during the 1828 showdown between Adams and Jackson, was strongly felt at the time. This is affected by the social conditions of the US society at the time. The populist party is a political organization and movement wherein the main leaders and movers are those who are involved in the lower economic sector of the society, particularly blue collar workers and the agrarian laborers like farmers, to name a few. The agenda that are being set by this group are agendas that are favorable to this particular group of individuals, which usually meant changes in the social status quo that protects the interests of the rich people largely because the rulers of the society are the rich people themselves.
The concept of the Populist Party and the result of the 1828 US presidential election is related and connected to one another. The party or the candidate that supported the ideas of the Populist Party and the populist movement is believed to have possession of the votes of a significant number of votes who are supportive of the Populist Party, the populist ideals and the populist movement. The question now is who between Jackson and Adams and between the Democratic and the National Republican party supported the populist party, populist movement and populist ideal. If both are proclaimed supporters or both parties identified as allies to his particular movement, who between the two won the votes of this particular group in the end
Jackson won the elections and this speak highly of two things first, of how well he courted the voters belonging to the financial sector of the populist party or movement and second, how the same people showed their appreciation and belief of Jacksons genuine intentions to help this particular group of people by voting for him and helping him win. Jackson was known as someone who used the concept of the peoples will to legitimize his actions which is directed to people who belong to the lower financial tier of the society, thus making him closely connected to the populist party. There are those who believe that in analysis the election was not representative of the victory of the peoples will but was an indication of the peoples indifference. Perhaps the best indicator regarding the relationship of Jackson and the people that would comprise the Populist Party or movement is the inauguration of President Jackson. For the first time in history, Jackson has opened the gates of White House so that the poor people can also celebrate with him in the victory. This resulted to the entry inside the White House of poor people who nonetheless came to see the president they voted for.
It appeared that between the two, Jackson was identified more strongly towards populist movement or ideals than Adams, allowing Jackson to win the votes of the people supporting this movement. In fact, Jackson was the US president who advocated for the shift towards being an agricultural republic wherein the government will focus on hinging its productivity by strengthening the different agricultural tiers to which the US has plenty of and to which the government can rely on and depend for its products that it can sell locally or abroad. This was an idea that would put formerly financially marginalized group of people in the core of the economic ethos of the country and its productivity. Again, it is a very strong statement regarding the pro-populist stand of Jackson, his party and his tenure as US president. The concept of the agricultural republic is part of the change that was considered as a result of how Jackson was leading the country towards a direction different from previous presidents like the one he replaced and defeated, Adams. Andrew Jacksons election ushered in a new era.
The candidates policies
The policies of the candidates were important factors in the election and in the outcome of the elections. What Jackson and Adams promised to accomplish in the eventuality of their victory was something that the voters considered significantly. It was also an important consideration for the voters and in the outcome of the voting the political policies that Jackson and Adams strongly upheld and to which they were strongly identified with. Analysts believed that the people saw something in the policies that Jackson promised to them and are set to be accomplished upon his victory, making the people believe in the policies of Jackson which helped him win the election and allowed the start of a new political era.
Meanwhile the defeated Adams, who was also incumbent president, can consider his policies as something that was not approved generally by the majority since he was not able to win in his re-election. It can be considered that Adams did not win at all in a convincing fashion featuring the actual votes of the people since his first tenure was considered as a result of a political strategizing in the part of Adams that allowed him to secure the presidency. Despite serving four years as president, it would be suitable to assume that the policies that Adams allowed to be identified to him through his initiatives were something that the people in general was not in strong favor of. This was the reason why they turned to Jackson and trusted the policies that Jackson is set to put in action should he win the presidency. This situation speaks a lot about the policies of the two individuals and how these policies strongly influenced the outcome of the election for Adams and for Jackson.
One of the policies that was connected with Jackson and keyed his winning the 1828 elections was democratization, which was believed to have started to seriously manifest in the US socio-political sphere beginning in 1828, the year Jackson won the presidency. This sense of democratization was empowered by Jacksons policy to fight what he considered as the renewal of the presence of a corrupt government which he vowed to fight and destroy. Jackson sensed that something had gone wrong with the republic, that selfishness and intrigue had corrupted the government.
The critics and supporters of both candidates used as leverage or foothold for their arguments for or against the policies of either Adams or Jackson the implications of the actions of the two. Some believed that Jackson may sponsor a set of policies that are characterized by the harmonious relationship of individuals inside the American society. He has interacted and managed them when he was serving as a leader in the military front. There are those who think otherwise considering his hate for the British and his past actions versus non Americans like Spanish and Native American Indians, which they believe will result in the creation of policies that will not serve the best interest of the country when it comes to considering the international relationship of the US that it will pursue sooner or later even if Jackson wins the presidency. For Adams, they believe that his stand on being pro American System will lead to his creation of policies adhering to the same set of values, which some people approve of, and some people disagree to.
In analysis, to come with such idea for the paradigm in decision making in policies is unsuitable for national politics. In this field, there are more complicated considerations that do not simply manifest itself as a decision to pick between the white and the black. The actions of both Jackson and Adams in the past are nonetheless resultant to how they react to present conditions and situation and what alternatives and options were given to them prior to the action and decision making. This can still change in the future, as much as the inclination for particular policies of the two individuals can also change in the future should any one of them be elected president.
Indeed, policies were attacked and Jacksons and Adams camps both used the policies of one another to scare people from voting in favor of their enemy. For example, Adams was discouraging people to opt for Jackson explaining that should Jackson win, it could mean that absolute proscription of New England and an exclusion of Massachusetts interests in the next administration. These things are absolute outcomes based on the policies that Jackson was known for.
Voting patterns and changes in voting
There is a noticeable change in the voting pattern in the United States at the time, considering that the elections prior to the 1828 elections were an event to which Jackson lost. Merely a few years later, the electorate seemed to have quickly changed its mind regarding Jackson and his ability to lead, hinting the critical change in voting patterns as well as voting behavior. The majority leaned towards Jackson and relied on what Jackson can and is expected to do if and when he wins the office, which he did. Many people during the 1824 elections were split towards who to vote considering the fact that there were many candidates. Many candidates eventually split the votes among themselves making it difficult to identify a clear winner.
But in the 1828 elections, the voters displayed two things in lieu of the change in votes and in voting patterns. First, the majority was backing Jackson, and second, Adams throughout his tenure has become less and less popular and was disliked by the majority of the voters. Similarly disliked was the idea of Adams serving a second consecutive term which the people blocked through a resounding and convincing anti-Adams majority electoral vote that erased all the questions regarding who the people wanted to lead them.
The changes in the voting patterns and in the voting during the 1828 election is not simply because people wanted someone knew. Often, the public is easily swayed to allow the leader to serve one more time if (1) there are evidences of the leaders solid performance throughout his tenure, and (2) if there is proof that the opponent has the potential to be worse than the incumbent. In the case of Adams, it appeared that he was set to lose in majority landslide vote against him. The change in the voting pattern was affected by two things the people feels that Adams hardly did anything that earns him the chance to serve for another term, and that people are realizing that Jackson can be a better leader compared to Adams and that is why the people gave him a chance.
Whereas, the 1824 elections was a neck and neck raise that was eventually decided by the representatives, the 1828 elections showed the might of Jacksons popularity by reversing the previous voting pattern to reveal a collection of electorate ready and willing to vote for a similar leader and the electoral vote revealing a 178-83 win for Jackson. The eventuality of a landslide victory in favor of Jackson was already predicted even by the supporters of Adams even before the official announcement was released to the public.
Of course, it was not a case of a totally radical change in the voting patterns and some features and characteristics persisted. For example, Adams stronghold still reflected competitive number of votes in his favor. However, the numbers are mere numbers whether it was a statistically and numbers-wise a close fight or otherwise is already irrelevant. Adams, in his heart of hearts, knew that the bigger chance was leaning towards his defeat against Jackson, not by change in voting patterns, but by the change in preferences that changed the voting pattern. For example, Jackson was able to secure a second consecutive term, and so are other US presidents who served before Adams.
The voting pattern on re-electing the incumbent, therefore, is not something new. Adams was not able to experience the voting pattern of allowing someone to serve for two consecutive terms. He gave the electorate and the people reason why they would change the voting pattern. This was largely based on Adams performance as president and how the people are not satisfied enough for them to help Adams win a convincing landslide victory versus Jackson.
Some of the states inside which Adams won showed similar strong support for Adams during his bid for re-election, including the nine states that carried Adams campaign. This indicates semblance of maintenance on voting patterns. Also, voting through party alliance and affiliation still remained strong and has been a part of the voting pattern that persisted during the 1828 election.
The important politics of the time
An important aspect of the politics and the decision making process of the voters that swayed the majority votes towards the winner Andrew Jackson was how the two candidates responded to different important political issues at that time. This affected the US and was a point of concern not just for its leaders but also a legitimate concern among the people in general. Some of the issues that the people wanted resolved and to which Jackson and Adams positioned themselves with regards to their stand on the matter includes the issues on tariffs, the issue on the creation and maintenance of the US of a National Bank, the issue on government spending and lastly, the political personalities and characteristics of both candidates.
Tariffs
The imposition of tariffs on particular goods especially those imported from other countries and other tariffs that has been burdening the economic-political sphere of the country is one of the pressing and serious issues at the time, and the people are generally split into two regarding this issue some wanted to support it while others are against it, and this position of the people have swayed back and forth, in consideration to additional provisions, new implications and other effects that the current condition of the tariffs imposes upon the people to which they react to in a case to case basis. As candidates for the highest office of the country that can influence the future of the tariff in the United States, the electorate is curious to the position of both individuals regarding tariffs.
In tariffs, Adams, in similar fashion to the American System, was favorable to the idea of putting stiff tariffs to control the influx of foreign products (including British products) inside the US. If this happens, the downturn in imported items can help boost the local products and the economy of the US. The tariffs being raised can be used to improve the country by using it for infrastructure and social welfare among others. It was believed that Jackson believed differently. This difference in belief was the reason why Henry Clay supported Adams in the 1824 elections that led to the loss of Jackson in that election.
National Bank
The politicians and the political, economic and social leaders of the time were torn between agreeing and supporting or disagreeing and rejecting the idea of the creation of the National Bank in the US. In the issue of National Bank, voters also looked at the position of Adams and Jackson. This somewhat influenced the appraisal of the individuals on Jackson and Adams, and in the process, affected their votes. As for Jackson, Jackson has openly challenged the concept of the national bank in the past, and continued to challenge the national bank during and after his 1828 election to presidency. Government spending The issue of government spending is important. The two candidates differ not on whether it is wrong or right but where it should be placed and how it should be directed and regulated, with Jackson and his agricultural republic looking at a particular direction on how to use the resources while Adams saw things differently.
The candidates Perhaps the most important political consideration at the time is no other than the candidates themselves. Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams are not just individuals. They are also a key political aspect of the US politics during their time, considering the influence of both men in politics, how their actions and positions can impact the political landscape of the country and considering how they wished and planned to impact the socio-political, socio-cultural and socio-economic spheres of the country, either in defeat or loss since both men will remain material individuals in the society regardless of their predicament in the 1828 elections.
Others simply believed that part of the strategy of Jackson was to not make a clear stand on all of these issues during the campaign period. People were unsure whether he was supportive or in disagreement to issues like the National Bank, the tariffs and government spending. Authors believed that he did this deliberately just to prove to himself and to his opponents that he will win because simply said, the people wants him, and no other leader. He was correct.
G. Historical factors key to the election for each party and for the nation as a whole
The election of Andrew Jackson and the defeat of John Quincy Adams and the resulting victory and defeat of the parties involved in each candidate is affected by present conditions as discussed earlier in the paper as they are affected by historical factors. The things that happened in the past influence the ability of the party and its candidate towards either winning or losing in the elections. For example, the National Republican party of Adams was slowly losing its hold on the people. This is because of what it has been doing politically which, to the people, appeared as acts of protecting the interests of the rich, the well connected and the influential people inside the elite group of families with very respectable pedigrees, without regard for the growing masses who are average or poor in income and finances.
Historically, Adams and his party were already courting defeat. The country and its people are already primed for selecting a new leader for the US even before the elections were held because of the things that have happened in the past which stayed and lingered in the minds and thoughts of the people. The biggest historical factor perhaps is the infamous corrupt bargain that featured Henry Clay and Adams. Many people believed that what happened was a deplorable political act that robbed the people of the just manifestation of their exercise of the right to vote. The winner of the election was not someone chosen by people but someone who was placed in this position through political strategy. In his defense, no one can actually say and fully claim. Proof of such corrupt bargain that happened between the two and that everything else are superficial and circumstantial evidence to the case in point. Adams should have known better and should have addressed this problem and issue in such a way that this will not be a point in history from which the people will be reminded of how leaders cheat the results of the election. The people were, in some aspects, vindictive because they feel betrayed and cheated upon. They wanted to make up for that by supporting the defeat of Adams.
For Jackson, the things that affected him are simply his actions in the past particularly during the time he was a soldier. As a soldier in the battlefield, there will always be stories about how brutal a person can be, about the atrocities he or she allegedly made, and the wrong decisions and actions he took. All of these did not impact him significantly. There is also the socially accepted form of acceptance wherein actions committed in battle are only reflected in battle and peace time society is different. Jackson was given the chance to lead a peace time US. Simply, the people experienced Adams in the past and they did not want him or his policies anymore to be the one running and leading the society towards its future. They wanted a new one. They wanted Jackson to influence the change in the history.
For the country, the key historical components is that the people have seen the lives they lead in the past, and the desire to live in a condition better than this propelled them to act during the elections in the manner that they did. The plight of the people will always be a historical component that will be significant in the elections. Come Election Day, people will ask themselves if they want to maintain the current situation or if they want to allow change to happen by giving another individual a chance to vote.
Historically, the victory is not determined and fought inside polar political party identifications. This historical trend was changed by the Adams-Jackson 1828 rematch for the presidency. There are those who argued that party lines are not as strong as they were during the 1828 elections. In American political life, the years from 1814 to 1825 are generally known as the era of good feelings in which party divisions largely faded into oblivion (Jenkins, p 97).
John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson are two Americans in the history of public service that rendered great service to the United States. Sadly, the images and background of individuals who did a great service like Adams and Jackson can be tarnished by particular events they are involved in, like the details revolving around the election of 1828 that figured the two fighting for the position. Regardless of these issues, what is important and what remains significant above this is the fact that they tried and succeeded in being the best possible US president that they can be. Politics is a dirty game and every politician will have his own share of mud if one wants to tread this particular path of service to the country. Adams defeat in the 1828 election and Jacksons victory tells the public a lot about the election process, about the people participating in the election process, about how history can impact the individual during election, and how the outcome of the election will be presented in the history in the end.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment