A Blog Exploring American History and Politics
In the wake of the Panics of 1837 and 1839, Congress sent the White House a new bill to be signed into law: The Bankruptcy Act of 1841. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 593. From then on, bankruptcy would be part of American life, providing an option for when debts become […]
MoreLetters from the “Federal Farmer” to “The Republican” New York, November 8, 1787 Following are excerpts from a series of letters published in New York, supposedly from the Federal Farmer to The Republican: “A general convention for mere commercial purposes was moved for—the authors of this measure saw that the people’s attention was turned solely […]
MoreFollowing William Henry Harrison’s death just a month into his presidency in 1841, John Tyler rose to the presidency, in the first instance of a president dying while holding the office. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 589.
MoreIn 1832, Henry Clay addressed the Senate, expressing his hope that “some day,” America “would be rid of this, the darkest spot on its mantle,” speaking of slavery. Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 586 quoting Life, Correspondence, and Speeches of Henry Clay, ed. Calvin Colton (New York, 1857), I, 189, 191.
MoreThe Election of 1840 juxtaposed the Whig Party’s policies against the Democratic Party’s more fluid policies. The Whigs “possessed a more coherent program: a national bank, a protective tariff, government subsidies to transportation projects, the public lands treated as a source of revenue, and tax-supported public schools.” Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of […]
MoreThe Election of 1840 is one that stands out in history. That is for principally one reason: voter turnout.
MoreAs was customary until 1904, an incumbent president did not campaign openly for his re-election. This was true for President Martin Van Buren as well. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 573.
MoreWilliam Henry Harrison, a Whig, won the White House in the election of 1840. In March 1841, for his inauguration, he stood in the cold and wind and spoke for an hour and a half. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 570.
MoreA Further Reply to Elbridge Gerry: “A Landholder” [Oliver Ellsworth] V Connecticut Courant (Hartford), December 3, 1787 Following are excerpts from Oliver Ellsworth’s article, published in the Connecticut Courant: “The vice-president is not an executive officer, while the president is in discharge of his duty; and when he is called to preside his legislative voice ceases.
MoreFollowing the Panics of 1837 and 1839, America began rapidly expanding a new innovation: the railroad. While this would seem to have brought the country together, in fact, it increased sectionalism, creating more tension between the North and the South. Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 569.
More