Lecture 19: The Market Revolution Beats All Challengers

1) Andrew Jackson and the "Last Chance to Say No."/The Age of the Common Man

a) Republican thought hates new capitalism-- identifies with effiminancy, luxury, corruption

b) Jackson as symbol of the Republican Male
    Farmer/Westerner
    Helping other “little guys” against the Powers
    Good vs. Evil/”Conspiracy of the Bank”
    No loyal opposition really
    Martial Prowess
    Always talking about his sacrifices

c) Bank Veto Message:

"It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society-the farmers, mechanics, and laborers-who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing. In the act before me there seems to be a wide and unnecessary departure from these just principles."

d) However, very much relies on creating “the other”

    Blacks, Indians, Women as those protected by the forces of the market and the elites

e) The US seems to be able to only work on class when race is problematic?



2) Jackson's attack on capitalism doomed b/c southern slaveholders turned poor northern whites against them

a) Without any control of the government just simply worked around in culture and at state level

a) Capitalism is the most bendable, adaptable system. Will ally with its enemies easily. Looks for compromise.
    never interested in war with South except when forced.
    from the earliest, the market revolution absorbs everything-- including enemies

b) The Civil War was not over slavery. It was over its expansion into new territories.
    Louisiana Purchase-- split the difference in 1819
    Mexican War (southerners looking for slave states)-- Compromise of 1850. pro-slave in the end.
    Southerners re-opened the issue with Kansas-Nebraska excessiveness & Dred-Scott

c) So why the war? Because slaveholders forced it. Capitalists do not like war. Give them that.



3) Reconstruction shows how the Market Revolution will simply work right around its opponents.

a) The freedmen were never going to be safe. Guns, cotton, and the nature of capitalism

b) It was going to be okay to have the 15th amendment be dead-letter b/c went back to making money.

c) No accident that we date the Great Industrialization of America to 1877.