The Legacy of Tippecanoe: An American Timeline

The Election of 1840
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Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. Previously, Van Buren had served as both Secretary of State and Vice President under the administration of Andrew Jackson; both were key figures in the Democratic Party, and both were blamed for the Panic of 1837, an economic depression caused by President Jackson's refusal to renew the charter of the Second Bank of the United States. The Whigs - the main opponents of the Democrats - nicknamed the President "Martin Van Ruin" because of this, and it was looking like he would most assuredly lose his bid for reelection in 1840.

In December of 1839, the Whigs held a national convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Among the candidates for President were Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky, Major General Winfield Scott of New Jersey, and former Senator William Henry Harrison of Ohio.

Henry Clay was the was the main proponent of the American System, an economic policy that would increase tariffs to help the young republic develop industry, as well as keep afloat a strong federal bank. In the close election of 1824, Clay led the House of Representatives to vote John Quincy Adams into office as President; this earned the hatred of future President Andrew Jackson, who would go against Clay on numerous issues, including the construction of the Maysville Road (meant to assist in modernising Clay's home state of Kentucky, which Jackson vetoed as President) and the renewal of the Second Bank of the United States. Despite this impressive service record, Senator Clay was not given the nomination due to a series of Whig losses, which he - as the party's leader - could not separate himself from.

Major General Scott, who held a distinguished military service record, also did not secure the Whig nomination; and so it went to William Henry Harrison.

Harrison had served as Governor of the Indiana Territory, a Congressional Representative from Ohio, a Senator from Ohio, and, most recently, Minister to Colombia. Born in Virginia to a prominent family, Harrison was famous throughout the nation for his service during the Battle of Tippecanoe, earning him his nickname of "Old Tippecanoe".

The campaign went largely in Harrison's favor; despite the Democrats' attempts to make Harrison seem like an old man who had little in common with the average American, their insults were flipped around by the Whigs, who made Harrison out to be a "log-cabin man", similar to how Jackson had campaigned as a man of the people. In addition, the Whigs made Van Buren out to be an elitist.

"Old Tip he wore a homespun hat, he had no ruffled shirt; wirt-wirt,
But Matt he has the golden plate, and he's a little squirt; wirt-wirt!"
- Popular Whig chant from the 1840 election​

In the end, Van Buren was left with 46.8% of the popular vote, and 60 electoral votes; Harrison, on the other hand, had received 52.9% of the popular vote, and 234 electoral votes; a landslide victory for the Whigs.

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The inauguration of William H. Harrison, March 4, 1841​

It was a cold, wet day in the capital. Many Americans gathered outside of the Capitol, awaiting the arrival of the President-elect. Quiet murmurs turned into cheers as the galloping of horses approached. As the carriage rode up to the steps of Capitol Hill, Vice President John Tyler looked on solemnly. He had been sworn in earlier that day, giving a three-minute speech and swearing in several new Senators. He could not help but smile a bit as the carriage door opened and the old war hero emerged, clad in top hat and overcoat. Alongside Harrison was his wife, Anna Symmes, and they both made their way up the steps as the crowd cheered and applauded. Tyler did not plan to be involved in the administration whatsoever, and he was sure that Harrison was content with that.

Harrison was sworn in by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. Despite being 68-years-old, Old Tippecanoe shrugged off the cold as though it were nothing, with little assistance from his great coat.

"CALLED from a retirement which I had supposed was to continue for the residue of my life to fill the chief executive office of this great and free nation, I appear before you, fellow-citizens, to take the oaths which the Constitution prescribes as a necessary qualification for the performance of its duties; and in obedience to a custom coeval with our Government and what I believe to be your expectations I proceed to present to you a summary of the principles which will govern me in the discharge of the duties which I shall be called upon to perform."

Harrison's inaugural address had been shortened and edited by his good friend Daniel Webster, a fellow Whig and Northerner. Originally, Webster had edited the speech down to about two hours; however, he later revised it once more, so that it was only half-an-hour long. Harrison was peeved at this, though he made sure that the address made his motives clear and concise. In the end, all went well, and the future was looking bring for the United States of America.

"I have this day given to discharge all the high duties of my exalted station according to the best of my ability, and I shall enter upon their performance with entire confidence in the support of a just and generous people."

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President William Henry Harrison​
 
The Presidency of William Henry Harrison
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Map of the United States of America, 1840

After his inauguration, President Harrison quickly settled into the White House and began selecting the members of his Cabinet. Vice President Tyler had little to say on the matter; in fact, most of his time in office was spent at his home in Williamsburg, making him one of the most obscure Vice Presidents in United States history. Henry Clay, Harrison's former rival for presidential candidate, expected to be given a position in the Cabinet. However, upon trying to influence the President, Harrison rebuffed Clay; "Mr. Clay, you forget that I am the President." This led to Harrison appointing his friend, Daniel Webster, to the position of Secretary of State. Webster was Clay's rival in the Whigs, further separating Clay and Harrison. Webster would later going on to be a crucial part of Harrison's administration. Despite the rift between them, Harrison selected John J. Crittenden, Clay's protege, as the Attorney General.

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Daniel Webster, Secretary of State from 1841-1845

While President Harrison pledged to reverse the Jacksonian spoils system and use his veto power minimally, his main goal was to restore the Bank of the United States. With Congress dominated by the Whigs, Harrison's agenda was widely received; Clay's charter for the Third Bank of the United States was approved in early 1842, enraging Democrats and Southerners alike. However, the President's standing within the Whigs grew enormously, and his popularity was quite high. Harrison, however, did not favour the Whigs simply because they were Whigs; he appointed many Democrats to high positions, and his efforts during his time in office greatly beat the spoils system to a pulp (though it never disappeared entirely).

Around the time of the finalization of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty (which settled numerous border disputes between the US and Great Britain), in 1842, Clay increased his aggressive attempts to assume power in Harrison's Cabinet. Most vocal against Clay were Secretary Webster and Vice President Tyler. Though the two had temporarily allied in order to pass the BUS charter, their relationship was always shaky; the Whigs had become split between the two. Attempts by moderates to repair the fractured party were largely unsuccessful, allowing the Democrats to gain a stronger foothold in Congress. The Harrison-Clay conflict overshadowed efforts by Southerners to add the Republic of Texas to the Union as a slave state (among the supporters of annexation was Vice President Tyler, though his obscurity rendered him unable to gain much support or attention).

By his last year in office, Harrison had Daniel Webster begin negotiations with Great Britain for a finalized border in Oregon Country; he hoped that this would help mend the Whigs and give the nation something to focus on. Many Southern states cried out, saying that it was unfair and that the addition of Oregon as a possible state would give the Northern, free states more power in Congress. Senator John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, said that President Harrison was, "A fool too far past his prime, whose doctrine oppresses the South and unjustly expands with neither consent nor stance; here merely seeks to expand."

By this time, President Harrison was 70-years-old, and growing increasingly ill. He retreated from public life, largely remaining within the confines of the Executive Mansion. His popularity had begun to sink, though by the time he left office he would remain respected by his contemporaries for re-establishing the BUS and assisting with the growth of the economy.
 
Elections and Treaties and War - Oh My!

"A second term, at my age?"- President William Henry Harrison, in a letter to Vice President John Tyler

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Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky

As his health worsened, President Harrison made it clear that he would not run for reelection in 1844. Therefore, it was necessary for the Whigs to decide on a candidate for presidency. At the Whig National Convention, on May 1, 1844, the party was split into two factions; Henry Clay and his supporters stood in one corner, while pro-Harrison Whigs rallied around Secretary of State Daniel Webster. Clay spoke extensively at the Convention, while Webster made a short and concise speech, outlining his intentions to continue the successful policies of the current administration and keep the party from splintering.

At the Democratic Convention, the party was similarly split. Former President Martin Van Buren announced his intention to run, as well as his plans to "tear down that vile institution" - the Bank of the United States. Many saw Van Buren as attempting to copy the actions of his predecessor, Andrew Jackson; actions which had led to the economic crisis that overshadowed Van Buren's term in office. The frontrunner appeared to be Lewis Cass, former Secretary of War and Territorial Governor of Michigan. Former Governor James K. Polk of Tennessee gained popularity whilst arguing for expansion and support of Manifest Destiny.

In the end, Daniel Webster narrowly won his place on the Whig ticket. Webster, in keeping with his wishes to not destroy the party, selected Willie Person Mangum, a Senator from North Carolina and ally of Henry Clay, as his Vice President.

Meanwhile, the Democratic ticket saw the dark horse James K. Polk as the nominee for President; Levi Woodbury was his running mate.

The Webster-Aberdeen Debacle

President Harrison had tasked Webster with settling the dispute over the ownership of Oregon Country; British Foreign Secretary George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, exchanged numerous letters with Webster, before the two finally agreed to meet at Halifax, Nova Scotia. The furthest extent of America's claim was the 54 40', while the extent of Britain's claim was the 42 parallel. Harrison and Webster both agreed that a quick solution was necessary in order for Webster to win the presidency. A proposal was made to extend the current border - the 49 parallel - to the Pacific. There was an initial dispute over the southern tip of Vancouver Island, but eventually Webster agreed to leaving the island in British hands. As a treaty was being drafted, word of this development fell into the hands of Polk. An expansionist through-and-through, Polk immediately began to trash Webster, calling him an appeaser. The Democrats were quick to follow, and the Whigs found themselves at a disadvantage. Clay, in a desperate attempt to keep his party in power, temporarily allied with Webster, urging his supporters to vote for his rival.

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In the end, Polk won the election. Webster had been abused in the papers and by the Democrats. Many pro-Clay Whigs blamed him for the loss, and many of his supporters fled his camp. But Webster hoped to have the last laugh - he signed the Webster-Aberdeen Treaty mere days prior to Polk's inauguration.

On the final day of the Harrison Administration, Florida was granted statehood.

Stay tuned for...

The Presidency of James K. Polk

"Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" - Slogan of James K. Polk's campaign
 
Where is the War? Or is that coming up?

Will see if Texas comes into the Union under Polk or if it remains a Republic?

Will be interesting to see how sectionalism goes? Perhaps with Oregon first, and the feeling of being betrayed, more Manifest Destiny supporters will want an even bigger chunk of Mexico or perhaps Cuba as compensation. They will see these as balancing North and South.
 
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