THE PERSONALITIES of POLITICS
The Second Generation: Less than the giants who went
before; many sought the presidency, but few were chosen, and not always the
best.
John Quincy Adams: Nationalist [see Diary]
Monroe’s secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, was the
North’s best known political leader in the 1820s. Originally a Federalist like
his father, Adams converted to the Republican party after 1800. Adams was capable,
ambitious, and intelligent, but he was inept in personal relationships and
was
a demanding perfectionist. He was a committed nationalist, open-minded toward
tariff policy, and supportive of the bank and internal improvements. He was
personally opposed to slavery.
- Very effective diplomat and Secretary of State
- Monroe Doctrine, Spain Treaty, etc.
- Abominable politician
- Supported Bank and Internal Improvements
- Avid abolitionist as Congressman after 1830
Daniel Webster: Lawyer and Orator
Daniel Webster was a congressional leader. He was a skillful
constitutional lawyer and a remarkable orator. Webster had a powerful mind,
but, though a rhetorical nationalist, he was often lazy and was slavishly devoted
to serving the business interests of New England. He opposed the War or 1812,
protective tariffs, the bank, cheap land, internal improvements, and slavery.
- The "Divine
Daniel"
- Opportunist: Went where the wind blew
- Basically a nationalist
Henry Clay of Kentucky was one of the most charming
political leaders of his generation. Intellectually inferior to Adams and Calhoun,
Clay nevertheless used his charisma and skill at arranging compromises to carry
him far in national politics. He authored the American System of protective tariffs
and internal improvements to meld the interests of east and west. He supported
the bank, and disliked but tolerated slavery.
- "The Great
Compromiser"
- The "American System":
Protective tariff, national bank (Clay supported in 1816), internal improvements
(roads, canals, harbors, railroads,
post offices/roads)
John C. Calhoun: A Powerful Intelligence. Calhoun
was a staunch nationalist in the era of the War of 1812—indeed he was one of
the "war hawks." But to keep his home base in South Carolina solid, he had to
move in the direction of states’ rights, which made him the foremost spokesman
of the southern cause, but less and less a viable candidate for president.
- "No human
blood"
- Nationalist
until late 1820s, turns states’ rights,
loses hope of presidency
Calhoun, Clay and Webster
become
the "Great Triumvirate." None became president.
DeWitt Clinton: Canal
Builder—Mover
and Shaker; Governorship of New York becoming powerful position.
Martin Van Buren.
- North’s most masterful politician was Martin Van Buren,
the affable leader of New York’s Albany Regency.
- Seldom took a strong position on any of the key issues
of the day. To him, issues were merely means of winning elections.
- The "Red Fox"—"Little Magician"—"Old
Kinderhook"
- Clever politician—took
no sides on issues
- The Albany Regency
William H. Crawford: The Great Manipulator
- States’ Righter; "Radicals";
- Pro bank,
light tariff—too
extreme for national
- Stroke in 1824 takes him out of race for President
Thomas Hart Benton, colorful
expansionist who supported homestead legislation and internal improvements, but
who vehemently opposed all
banks. He was the champion of small western farmers and Missouri’s business interests.
Benton had local appeal.
William Henry Harrison: "Tippecanoe";
Famous general, territorial governor
Andrew Jackson