Chapter 4, The Crisis of 1819 Summary and Analysis

The late 1810s brings a number of crises to a head in the still young United States. First, the Republican power structure is starting to collapse. People look towards Monroe's successor. The elites in the Republican Party find DeWitt Clinton, a child of the New York elite, to carry their banner. However, other figures will prevail against him in what will become an increasingly democratic party. First, Andrew Jackson is not yet to rise to power, but his intervention against Spanish Florida has led him to come under the threat of censure from Congress. Yet Old Hickory's popularity prevents them from censuring him. At this time, Martin Van Buren and the Bucktails revolt against the elitist structure of New York party politics. Employing new campaigning methods, they are able to overthrow elite control and establish...