The election of 1832 was the first election in the country’s history when candidates from all four parties were nominated by delegates of national party conventions rather than by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures. In the elections of 1832, the central and minor parties began to nominate and elect presidential candidates and pushed the former elitist congressional quorum.
Explanation:
The four years of the presidency until the election of 1832 were tough for Andrew Jackson and his administration, both politically and financially. Almost the only area of government activity in which there were no severe problems was foreign policy. The main credit for foreign policy actions belonged to a close associate of the President, Martin van Buren, who was the U.S. Secretary of State. Later, van Buren was chosen as Vice President by Jackson.
During Jackson’s presidency, the infamous Indian Removal Act was passed, resulting in tribes’ suffering and significant human losses. Jackson believed in the sacred mission of white Americans as the core of the national elite, as well as in the importance of protectionism for the local economy and the fight against the banking lobby. For Jackson’s supporters, America was a sacred land that had its native code laid down by the founding fathers of the U.S. Jackson wanted to strengthen the state through centralization of government led by an active President.
Andrew Jackson built his campaign for the re-election in 1832 on a complete contrast to the traditional elitist system.
A majority of voters supported his political line, a radical approach to solving socio-economic problems, and vision of American philosophy. Jackson defeated the national Republican candidate Henry Clay, primarily on the issue of the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson, who disliked banks and paper money, imposed veto on the extension of the Bank’s charter and removed federal deposits from the Bank. Henry Clay, his opponent, hoped to divide Jackson’s supporters and curry favor in Pennsylvania, the Second Bank’s headquarters, by attacking Jackson. His supporters criticized Jackson’s use of presidential veto power, portraying him as “King Andrew.” However, the attack on Jackson did not succeed and became a president in 1832.
Despite rumors spread by the political opposition about compromising details of van Buren’s personal life, the democratic tandem of Jackson and van Buren won again. Jackson received a total of 687,502 votes from ordinary voters and 76.5% of the electoral vote. Five hundred thirty thousand ordinary voters and 17.1% of the members of the Electoral College voted for his main rival, the National Republican party candidate Henry Clay.
In September 1833, the elected President withdrew federal government deposits from the Second Bank of the U.S., citing the fact that money and the bank could resort to unfair methods of interfering in the election process and influencing public opinion. The events of 1832-1833 indicated the formation of a dangerous political force in the USA that went to the opposition against the ruling Democratic party. The election of 1832 significance lay in the fact that with the abolition of voting in most states led to a significant change in the electorate. The introduction of the direct election of the Electoral College members, as well as local administrative, legislative, and judicial authorities, the role of ordinary white male voters in the outcome of elections increased.