Winfield Scott
-was virginian planter
-served in virginian militia, first bout of military service
-served as practicing lawyer first in virginia then in south carolina for a while
-also serves in virginian house of delegates for a stint, not very notable
-enlists in american army when expanded by monroe in 1819 over aroostook affair, even after defused he's still part of it
-gets disturbed at army lack of preparedness and army chief wilkinson's tremendousness, tenders resignation but revokes it when anglo-french war begins
-natural leadership qualities bring him up to lt colonel
-then luisiana war begins
-plays well-respected role at battle of st augustine where us wins there thx to him
-wins congressional gold medal, made major general
-gets selected as major general upon army demobilization in 1829
-leads forces in south carolina in this period
-studies and improves defenses, focuses on discipline
-plays role in indian removal, gets in seminole war which he wins, seminole forced to leave as part of treaty
-during second quasi war, involves himself in army preparation particularly in charleston, nothing needs to occur though
Thomas Wilson Dorr
-fan of Daniel Webster
-and identifies himself as a "Daniel Webster Unionist" until the end of his life
1834-1838: Member of the Rhode Island General Assembly
-rhode island reforms its makeup early, gives more representation to larger towns in 1831
-allows for more and further reform over time
-dorr helps bring up more general reforms in 1837 with new constitution reducing qualification due to powerful manufacturing interest
-sends him to congress as anti-populist
-and as figure opposed to the Fugitive Slave Act
1839-1845: Member of the United States House of Representatives
-opposes pike's enforcement of fugitive slave act
-advocates against jury packing
-and attempts to remove special jury reward, viewing it as going against the entire concept of a jury
-opposes US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) , views it as fought on behalf of slave power
-joins union party on that basis
-following Recessions > Panic of 1842 , supports adding new tariff and becomes influential leader on basis of his charisma
1845-1853; 1859-1865; 1869-1880: United States Senator for Rhode Island
-becomes elected senator (following retirement of predecessor) as unionist in great wave year
-firm daniel webster supporter as senator, and during second nullification crisis conveys webster spirit against nullificationists
-but association with webster results in defeat at hands of populist controlled general assembly in 1852
-returns in 1858 in anti-populist year
-opposes "burrism" of attempted invasion of cuba with great anti-slave power rhetoric
-opposes disqualification of irish in nebraska, and upon ratification of slave code calls it unconstitutional in famed speeches
-when union party splits in 1864, dorr is nominee of northern splinter, gives good performance but not enough to win
-declining to run in same year as pres campaign, he returns in 1868 a grey eminence and plays deep role in radical reconstruction till his death
-famously pushes through multiple civil rights bills through Congress
-including an impressively radical civil rights bill which bans segregation in public
John Quincy Adams
1794-1797: United States Minister to the Netherlands
1797-1801: United States Minister to Prussia
1802-1803: Massachusetts State Senator
1803-1821: United States Senator for Massachusetts
-without embargo act, sticks with federalists
-but anglophobic attitude over aroostook war scare results in defeat for reelection as federalists do him in
1821-1829: United States Minister to Russia
-appointed minister to russia by monroe, who respects him despite him being ex-federalist
-serves well, continues under lowndes and sanford, before clay recalls him for being assoc with his enemies
1833-1835: Governor of Massachusetts
-nominated by anti-catholics, accepts, wins election narrowly
-serves well but alienates anti-catholics when he refuses to play along as they thought
-wins 1834 election as national republican nominee linked with Clay government
-but ultimately defeated in 1835 election
1836-1839: United States Representative from Massachusetts
-kicks off Missouri Crisis by proposing ban on slavery
-and this in turn leads to him running for president after having been nominated by Anti-Missourians without his knowledge
-opposes Missouri Compromise but happens anyways
1839-1848: United States Senator for Massachusetts
-elected during chaos over missouri going back on compromise
-in office, serves as independent-minded representative if affliated with natreps and unionists
-supports antislavery efforts
William Henry Harrison
1798-1799: Secretary of the Northwest Territory
1814-1817: Member of the United States House of Representatives
1817-1825: Secretary of War of the United States
-acquires appointment based on popularity defeating tecumseh's alliance
-resigns after exploring presidential run yields failure, realizes will not be renewed
1825-1831: Senator for Ohio
1832-1837: United States Minister to Russia
-gets appointed by friend clay, as part of patronage system doesn't serve that well
-but does keep him out of the way during the Missouri Crisis
-and means that his proslavery attitudes are kept out during what is a highly critical time
-ran for president in 1840, lost but did quite well
DeWitt Clinton
1798-1798: Member of New York State Assembly
1798-1802; 1806-1811: New York State Senator
1801-1802: 1806-1807: New York Councillor of Appointment
1803-1807; 1808-1810; 1811-1813: Mayor of New York
1811-1813: Lieutenant-Governor of New York
1813-1817: Vice President of the United States
-instead of running for president, gets made vp
-acquires funding for erie canal
-serves quite well
1819-1820; 1823-1827; 1829-1831: Governor of New York
-runs after failed presidential run in 1816
-in 1825, opponents cut gov terms to 2 years
-doesn't run in 1820 and 1828 cuz running for pres those years
-also was defeated in 1827 by tompkins, before defeating him in 1829
-defeated by van buren in 1831 by close margin
-but maintains dreams of presidency, and badly failed 1832 presidential run is last act before dying
Daniel D. Tompkins
1802-1803: Assemblyman for the New York State Assembly
1804-1807: Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of New York
1807-1819: Governor of New York
1819-1825: Secretary of State of the United States
-runs for president in 1824, crushed because gets no votes in south, and in north clinton swallows his votes
1827-1829: Governor of New York
-loses in 1829 to clinton, crushing defeat and he retires from political office afterwards
1830-1834: Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Martin Van Buren
1808-1813: Surrogate of Columbia County, New York
1813-1819: New York State Senator
1819-1831: Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of New York
-retires after death of wife, gets appointed to supreme court
-un-retires to run for governor against clinton in 1830, wins
1831-1833: Governor of New York
-wins, builds up effective patronage network
-but distraught by clay's "federalism", runs for senate and resigns after winning
1833-1837: United States Senator for New York
1837-1845: Secretary of State of the United States
Henry Clay
Henry Clay
1803-1806: Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
1806-1807: United States Senator for Kentucky (3 months)
1807-1809: Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
1810-1811: United States Senator for Kentucky (3 months)
1811-1821; 1823-1825: Member of the United States House of Representatives (12 years)
-major part of pivot towards government willing to fund internal improvements
-in era of debt having been cleared and repeated budget surpluses
-leaves office in 1821 to make money
-after having lost it playing cards
-then returns when he has it again
1814-1817; 1823-1825: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
-turns this post into fulcrum of legislation
-in what is unprecedented accumulation of power into the post
-and when restrained by precedent on what he can say
-he turns the House into a Committee of the Whole which allows him to speak openly with softened rules
1825-1828: Secretary of State of the United States
-moving force behind the US's Wars > Luisiana War (1825-8)
-having long been part of the effort to secure better US rights over Mississippi trade
-is leading representative of government in peace talks
-and successfully secures peace treaty
1829-1837: President of the United States
may- mar
1837-1839: Member of the United States House of Representatives (1 year, 10 months)
-elected in april 1837, during accentuated missouri crisis
-because it is direct fallout from his presidency
-resolves crisis, declines to be re-elected
-in part because it's highly irregular in the context of the tradition of the president retiring after office
-in part because he has higher dreams than being a mere representative
-goes back to his plantation for some time
aug - jul
1840-1852: United States Senator for Kentucky (11 years, 11 months)
-wants to retire for a time
-but is involved in union party formation
-beginning of US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) means he wants to be in congress again, arranges it
-resignation occurs, clay gets elected senator, quickly become frontbencher
-anti-pike opposition crystallizes around him and his policies
-opposes war firmly in congress but pike initiates actions nevertheless
-promotes new financial laws in congress
-upon election of American Presidents > 1845-1852 Daniel Webster (Unionist) † , attempts to push cabinet appointment, refused
-relations frosty, but clay nevertheless moving force behind new laws
-during second nullification crisis, clay attempts to push compromise
-but webster preempts clay by pushing against nullification hard
-through lobbying Webster is able to scuttle Clay's compromise
-when nullifiers defeated, clay admits webster might be right
-but insists it might be the beginning of a later break between north and south
-dies on July 4, most patriotically
-on same day as Daniel Webster
-joint funerary oration by Edward Everett, hyper-influential in the shaping of their modern images
Clay Cabinet
Vice President
-1829-1837: John Sergeant
Secretary of State
-1829-1830: John C. Calhoun (resigned over nullification)
-1830-1837: James Barbour
Secretary of Domestic Affairs (created by bill)
-1831-1837: idk
Secretary of the Treasury
-1829-1832: Richard Rush (resigned to run for senator)
-1832-1837: Louis McLane
Secretary of War
-1829-1837: Peter B. Porter
Attorney General
-1829-1831: Richard M. Johnson (resigned over the tariff)
-1829-1832: John J. Crittenden (became Supreme Court Associate Justice)
-1832-1837: Francis T. Brook
Secretary of the Navy
-1829-1837: James Pleasants
Postmaster General
-1829-1937: Robert P. Letcher
Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Pike
1799-1799: Second Lieutenant in the Army of the United States
1799-1806: First Lieutenant in the Army of the United States
1806-1808: Captain in the Army of the United States
-is ordered to launch expedition in Spanish Luisiana to explore it
-which is dangerous since Lewis and Clark expedition mysteriously disappeared previously
-comes to an end when he is captured by Spanish troops
-he pretty brazenly pretends to be lost - "Is this not the Mississippi River?"
-Spanish aren't convinced and many of them fear he's part of the Burr Expedition (which he's never heard of) but it does save his life
-results in him captured and, after period in custody, released to the US through New Orleans
-but this makes him into an American icon
1808-1809: Major General in the Army of the United States
1809-1814: Lieutenant Colonel in the Army of the United States
1814-1825: Colonel in the Army of the United States
1825-1827: Brigadier-General of the Army of the United States
-with US's Wars > Luisiana War (1825-8) he is promoted
-leads successful campaigns
-and even takes New Orleans which makes him national war hero
1827-1837: Major-General of the Army of the United States
-in this era recurrent calls for him to run for president
-he refuses them in 1828 because views Henry Clay as unbeatable
-and 1832 confuses the shit out of him
-but eventually refusal of Clay to make him a territorial governor or otherwise satisfy his ambitions
-means he is finally attracted to run for the presidency
-and American Personalities > Martin Van Buren is able to attract him to that position
1837-1845: President of the United States
1837-1845: Zebulon Pike (Old Republican , then People's)
1836: (with Peter V. Daniel Louis McLane/Francis Granger (National Republican) , John Quincy Adams/John W. Taylor (Anti-Missouri) , George Troup/Abel P. Upshur (Nullifier)
1840: (with Peter V. Daniel William Henry Harrison/John M. Clayton (Unionist) , William Leggett/Thomas Morris (Equal Rights)
-(note: pike is kentuckian)
-party formed out of fractured opposition, in no small part thanks to martin van buren's skills
-nominated first by various states rights associations, then tennessee, then various other southern states
-only afterwards does new york legislature provide endorsement
-he deliberately pushes slave-sided ticket to make it seem like ticket of south
-pike keeps lips silent, as per tradition, gives him a broad appeal, and he wins
Pike Cabinet
Vice President
-1837-1845: Peter V. Daniel [1]
Nominated by the Old Republican caucus in 1836 and wins votes of (most) Pike electors. Is an extreme proslavery zealot who refuses to even step foot onto free stater soil and there's a failed attempt to depose him in the 1832 election
Secretary of State
-1837-1845: Martin Van Buren [2]
Is the chief organizer of the pro-Pike party movement and is a really effective Secretary of State. Successfully unifies northern and southern interests behind a moderately proslavery agenda. Is a leading party organizer, obtains the respect of the South, and attempts to succeed Pike.
Secretary of Domestic Affairs
-1837-1845: Levi Woodbury [3]
Leads the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1837. Gets excoriated in much of the North for his attempts to pack juries in fugitive slave cases, as well as his attempts to enforce this law as far as New England.
Secretary of the Treasury
-1837-1845: Langdon Cheves [4]
Oversees general cut-down of spending money on internal improvements. This process accelerates with the US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) , and even more with the diminishment of the tariff in 1841. With the Recessions > Panic of 1842 , he refuses to take any action whatsoever on the issue.
Attorney General
-1837-1843: Felix Grundy (died) [7]
-1840-1845: David Henshaw [8]
Secretary of the Navy
-1837-1843: John Branch [9]
Leads effort to revamp and expand the US Navy, with southern interests intent on expanding it to protect their plantations from "abolitionist" foreign powers. With the rise of the US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) , largely credited at the time for the generally effective US war effort.
-1843-1845: Robert F. Stockton [10]
Postmaster General
-1837-1845: Benjamin F. Butler [11]
(link
)) Van Buren ally, appointed for him to take full advantage of important post patronage.
-after kentucky brings forward date for election of representative (in otl it was pretty late), henry clay returns to congressional politics
-clay advises pike on calling early session of congress in may
-secures after 3 ballots the election of john m clayton as speaker with the assent of the lower north, upper south, and enough supporters elsewhere
-presents resolution from missouri convention banning further importation of slaves (which he convinced them to make)
-notes that slavery was already introduced by spanish, so it would be violation of norms to abolish slavery from above
-and argues it's among privileges of treaty of washington assuring continued privileges
-successfully secures missouri compromise
-missouri gets made a state in conformance with its own prev resolution, in return for slavery in arkansaw being assured, passage of new stronger fugitive slave law, and indian removal
-fsa of 1837 includes provisions allowing for jury trials in contrast to otl
-but it's really weird jury which gives commissioners, appointed across the north, wide latitude to select jurors without state supervision
-also jurors given special bribe of one dollar if they rule the accused a slave
-and this is deemed a civil, not a criminal, trial - which means res judicata, not double jeopardy applies
-and if jury gives hung verdict, considered a mistrial
-immediately fugitive slave cases see jury nullify ppl known to be slaves
-high-profile jury nullification in Boston commences, causing widespread disgruntlement
-over one case, commissioners try to arrange for a jury that will return guilty verdict
-results in state issuing law declaring this a mistrial, this is ignored, and slave is freed by mob which through vigilant committees shuffles slave to north
-results in it blowing up in the govt's faces, lets opposition unify in the name of the jury
-however, in "Lower North", slave cases generally rule accused being a slave
-spans from lower parts of Middle West, to New Jersey, to New York
-culminates in missouri convening new constitutional convention, legalizing importation of additional slaves
-as retaliation against northern jury nullification
-Indian removal goes under a truly federal process
-all but small branch of cherokee cross border into spanish texas, considering Great American Desert uninhabitable
-joining their tribesmen that already settled there
-Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek follow and prefer going to Texas too
-in part because they consider their allotted land bad for settlement
-and in part due to Cherokee refugees within their domains looking there
-Seminole refuse to move west
-Pike's attempts to force them leads to US's Wars > Second Seminole War (1839-51)
-tries to reform bank of United States, but fails to get it past congressional opposition, puts it aside for a while
-lets tariff decrease despite monetary issues
-when French Republic refuses to repay money for raids of goods during wars which it had previously accepted, sees tensions
-then after france forcibly stops american ships trading slaves from portuguese mozambique to portuguese brazil, tensions increase
-this having been done because after 1820s war, france forces portugal to give it right to stop ships
-american ships used to loop around it, proactive french captains seize them anyways
-despite this being illegal under american law, clay nor pike enforce it too much
-in 1839, this results in naval war, US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) , with support from both parties despite some opposition
-unionists nominate william henry harrison as compromise option, for "peace with honor"
-in 1840 liberia's fear of becoming raided by french results in sheriff, council results in it deciding to join british east africa
-doesn't include maryland in africa on edge, where virginia and delaware form their own colonies which eventually agglomerate
-despite him being well-respected and holding campaign with some effectiveness, pike's popularity wins the day decisively
-war brought to end in 1842 with agreement where us agrees to enforce slave trading ban more, but also restricts french ability to seize ships
-results in blooming slave trade from american south to portuguese brazil, technically not against treaty
-recession occurs due to cotton glut (helped by improved canal transportation), bad relations of govt with bank of united states worsen things
-investments in internal improvements depress price of cotton, resulting in a cascade effect
-bank overstretched due to existing loans used to fight against collapse of bank of england, can't do much more
-pike allows public lands to be purchased with ordinary non-certified bank money, fuels credit bubble which pops
-a number of states default on debts in this era
-including biggest of all Georgia and South Carolina, and Pennsylvania and New York come pretty close (but avoid it)
-causing brewing crisis
-which results in Barings and other British banks going after
-bank takes a great deal of land in the west from people who used it as collateral for loans
-resulting in resentment across the west
-auctions it off, common people left out in favor of corporations and the wealthy
-bank also takes control over slaves, used as collateral in south
-fights to constitute new board and overthrow existing one, but effort fails and pike gets backlash for challenging their efforts against downturn
-attempt at measure to sell govt stock in bank fails, as unionist congress declares it would result in him selling stock to his cronies
-causes a backlash against him despite reputation as great hero of discovery and war, on campaign trail unionists often deemphasize his personality
-low tariff results in crisis, also makes pike utterly unable to finance infrastructure projects
-leaves office in dust, but remains a very well respected man
-leaves presidency under a cloud of failure
-but still has a fairly impressive amount of popularity for his pre-presidential achievements
-retires to Kentucky with his family
-where he raised most of his family
-dies in 1849
-legacy is that he is remembered more for his pre-presidential achievements than his presidential ones
-but his presidency has somewhat tainted his reputation
-as he is remembered as an agent of the slave power in part
-also he's remembered as the great hero of the People's Party and that party being the losing force of the Liberty and Union War (1868-76) means that he has that cloud about him
Pike Cabinet
Vice President
-1837-1845: Peter V. Daniel [1]
Nominated by the Old Republican caucus in 1836 and wins votes of (most) Pike electors. Is an extreme proslavery zealot who refuses to even step foot onto free stater soil and there's a failed attempt to depose him in the 1832 election
Secretary of State
-1837-1845: Martin Van Buren [2]
Is the chief organizer of the pro-Pike party movement and is a really effective Secretary of State. Successfully unifies northern and southern interests behind a moderately proslavery agenda. Is a leading party organizer, obtains the respect of the South, and attempts to succeed Pike.
Secretary of Domestic Affairs
-1837-1845: Levi Woodbury [3]
Leads the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1837. Gets excoriated in much of the North for his attempts to pack juries in fugitive slave cases, as well as his attempts to enforce this law as far as New England.
Secretary of the Treasury
-1837-1845: Langdon Cheves [4]
Oversees general cut-down of spending money on internal improvements. This process accelerates with the US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) , and even more with the diminishment of the tariff in 1841. With the Recessions > Panic of 1842 , he refuses to take any action whatsoever on the issue.
Attorney General
-1837-1843: Felix Grundy (died) [7]
-1840-1845: David Henshaw [8]
Secretary of the Navy
-1837-1843: John Branch [9]
Leads effort to revamp and expand the US Navy, with southern interests intent on expanding it to protect their plantations from "abolitionist" foreign powers. With the rise of the US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) , largely credited at the time for the generally effective US war effort.
-1843-1845: Robert F. Stockton [10]
Postmaster General
-1837-1845: Benjamin F. Butler [11]
(link
)) Van Buren ally, appointed for him to take full advantage of important post patronage.
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
1814-1817: Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
-serves quite notable role as such
-moves to massachusetts following year without a summer, as sees that decline is imminent, builds new law career in boston
1821-1827: Member of the United States House of Representatives
-law career very successful, particularly after great defence of dartmouth at supreme court
-defeated in 1826 because pro-war in US's Wars > Luisiana War (1825-8)
1829-1835: United States Senator from Massachusetts
-debates nature of union in famous reply to Calhoun, makes him famous name
-like OTL Second Reply to Hayne
-in reaction Calhoun left very angry, and president of senate can do nothing but adjourn
-but in the end Calhoun recovers and acknowledges he has been beaten
-sort of breaks with clay over nullification, but jumps back when bank becomes major topic of controversy following 1834 panic
-after failed effort to become pres nominee pushes for appointment to plenipotentiary of british isles, gets it
1835-1837: United States Minister Plenipotentiary to the British Isles
-warm anglophilia, moderate spirit makes him popular in this position
-here, his charisma makes him known as the American version of Edmund Burke
-makes himself known to be controversial when he is derided by Daniel O'Connell
-leaves him out of the way during missouri crisis, though he does make his antislavery stance clear
1837-1845: United States Senator from Massachusetts
-secures resignation that opens the way for him to become senator
-subsequent anti-pike stance means he retains popularity in west and upper south
1845-1852: President of the United States
1845-1852: Daniel Webster (Unionist) †
1844: (with James L. Petigru Martin Van Buren/John Tyler (People's)
1848: (with James L. Petigru John C. Calhoun/David Henshaw (People's)
-son of federalist father
-served as hardcore and impressive lawyer
-elected to new hampshire house on that basis, shines in role but resigns, moves to boston after year without a summer, wins election to house afterwards
-during war scares with uk makes well-known antiwar speeches
-but has different stance with spain, desires to spread american commerce across mississippi and so when crisis begins endorses war in break with his allies
-note: in OTL webster was all for war with spain if they were to close mississippi in an essay he wrote in 1800
-makes him pseudo-republican, gets nominated by party as senator
-upon end of war he becomes allied with clay as British Wars > Popular Revolution (1827-9) ends uk issues
-as senator he's crucial clay ally
-makes famous reply to calhoun in senate, widely published speech for legendary eloquence and defence of the union
-equiv. to second reply to hayne
-makes him one of leaders of unionist party upon formation
-so dejected after clay's compromise tariff he contemplates joining anti-clay forces, decides not to as it's shown as anti-tariff decisively
-supports bank of us when it gets crit after panic of 1834
-tries to gain support from presidential run, but fails to get southern and much western support
-afterwards, sulks and get appointed to ambassador to british isles, notes that it's stepping stone
-serves role well, v. popular in this context
-when missouri compromise strikes, considers returning but avoids it because he thinks compromise imminent
-then when he realizes not, winter has come, webster cannot brave winter storms
-returns following pike's victory, successfully retains antislavery bonafides with some statements on the subject, and gets himself elected senator again
-in senate, furiously ripostes pike administration
-on gag issue, is very anti-gag, votes against all gags but clay's gag sending abolition petitions to packed committee goes through
-on jury nullification of fugitive slave act, webster defends the rights of juries in speeches, no doubt affected by british views on them
-when missouri decides to allow full importation of slaves, widespread panic and webster expresses he hoped it would not
-but nonetheless argues they are constitutional in doing so
-when south makes motions about jury nullification of fsa
-webster argues that, considering missouri permitted slave importation, south can hardly be picky about north going back on part of bargain about fsa
-"webster addendum" to missouri compromise, succeeds for most part in cooling tensions despite south carolina being miffed
-initially pro-war with france, but advocates peace with honour as it goes on too long
-doesn't run for pres though as general view is it's bound to be populist victory
-supports bank of us hardcore and his friend its president nathan appleton, secures leadership second only to clay
-name proposed in unionist convention, gets nominated, wins
-liberty party makes small breakout, surpassing 2% in popular vote
-fights against clay for a while over party leadership, clay eventually accepts smaller role as legislator
-makes nicholas biddle sos, in opposition to clay's preferred pick
-also in oppn to clay's preferred pick, makes friend james wilson sectreas
Webster Cabinet
President
-1845-1852: Daniel Webster
Vice President
-1845-1852: James L. Petigru [1]
One of the few South Carolinian supporters of the federal Union Party, selected to balance President Webster's firmly Northern status. Played conciliatory role during the Second Nullification Crisis. Following Webster's death on July 4 1852, served as president for eight months.
Secretary of State
-1845-1852: Nicholas Biddle [2]
A career diplomat with little political experience, appointed by President Webster to ensure dominance over the cabinet. Allowed Webster to sell Department of State positions to the highest bidder, and successfully negotiated an end to the Granadine War of Independence beneficial to American interests.
Secretary of Domestic Affairs
-1845-1852: Thomas Ewing [3]
Selected both to block Senator Clay from pushing desired appointments and as a linkage between Clay and Webster. Fully supported the Websterite approach to the Second Nullification Crisis, and deflected against Missourian claims on Juniper Territory.
Secretary of the Treasury
-1845-1851: James Wilson II [4]
(link
) Selected as important ally of President Webster, and allowed Webster to sell Treasury positions to the highest bidder. Resigned following revelations of widespread bribery within the Treasury Department.
-1851-1852: John C. Spencer [5]
Appointed as a New Yorker, and as an independent-minded Unionist. Sought to root out corruption within the Treasury Department.
Secretary of War
-1845-1852: Charles Wickliffe [6]
Selected for being a Unionist Kentucky rival of Senator Clay.
Attorney General
-1845-1852: Nathan Sargent [7]
The mandatory Clay dependent in Webster's cabinet, appointed to a weak advisory role.
Secretary of the Navy
-1845-1850: William A. Graham [8]
North Carolinian member of cabinet who built up navy against Spanish. Opposing the Nullification Proclamation and the Force Act, resigned from office.
-1850-1852: Jonathan Worth [9]
Anti-nullificationist from North Carolina, selected as replacement.
Postmaster General
-1845-1852: Samuel A. Eliot [10]
Close Webster ally, selected to distribute patronage. Saw the Post Office gain a monopoly over telegraphy.
President of the Bank of the United States
-1845-1851: Nathan Appleton [11]
Close Webster ally. Fought against the Panic of 1842, and due to the use of slaves as loan collateral saw the Bank become the largest slaveholder in the United States. Saw the renewal of the charter, and freed slaves and sent them to Liberia. Resigned following widespread corruption scandals.
-1851-1852: Reverdy Johnson [12]
Distant from Webster. Administered over corruption cleanup efforts in the Bank.
-restores clay’s economic policies to full extent
-establishes new tariff which causes disgruntlement in south because viewed as settled issue
-federal government takes on debts from states suffering from debt
-including from Georgia and South Carolina
-about half of the debt of the several states
-allows for new booming era of internal improvements brewing
-though some of them do still have issues
-but rising (slave-powered) industry funded by bank investment, unionist presence means more southerners are pro-tariff, also more northerners anti-tariff
-due to european warfare, trans-caribbean slave trade cut off, and slaves traded to brazil instead sold to home markets
-value of slaves collapses massively, and as south has a lot of "wealth" calculated in terms of slaves, results in "economic" crisis
-in upper south, many slaves sold southwards, in context where slaves are viewed as investment slaveholders want to get "full value"
-with economy of virginia dependent on slave breeding, ravages it, results in investment in (slave-powered) industry
-similarly across rest of south there is more use of slaves in urban area due to there being very many
-in kentucky, maryland, and delaware, where bringing in further slaves is banned, this instead causes panic and slaves being sold downstream
-out of fear of attempt to allow further slaves in, as well as lowering value of slave affecting things in general
-calhoun crushes neo-nullificationist talk in south carolina over tariff because wants to make presidential run
-with rising market for Canadian goods, Webster also gets reciprocity treaty with canada bc new england, other areas now tapping into canadian markets
-attempts to buy San Francisco, rebuffed by Spain
-south starts sabre rattling about Texas Cuba, webster says no and his party has to work to maintain southern support
-there is big northern push for acquiring columbia despite weak us claim
-Webster sees that he can't really make a claim
-after much negotiation, does get britain to agree to giving usa a perpetual lease over olympia triangle by substantial payment for it
-hopes to bring columbia under american influence as friendly state through immigration
-guarantees the us the right to make roads to olympia, with webster aiming at transcontinental railroad one day
-lays out trail to oregon as far as possible, in effort to settle it as friendly state america, results in large settlement of mostly young men
-despite many viewing this negatively as a waste of money/betrayal, american commerce immediately is boosted by this pacific port
-also, there is filibuster attempt in cuba with massive southern support, including american soldiers, in name of stopping race war, but it fails
-webster prosecutes hard those responsible, controversial in south where some support filibusters but others view spain as fellow slaver and ally
-thus in south many decide to support unionists in name of slavery international
-aligns unionists with the latter southern types more tightly, helps to ensure victory, even as worrying trends hit
-British Wars > New Granadine War of Independence (1848-52) breaks out, results in anxiety across south over it destroying slavery
-despite general support for new granadine independence
-webster anxious to avoid a british takeover of california
-british take monterey quickly, soon after war
-webster sends american ships to monterey to threaten intervention to drive them out
-after much negotiation, they leave in 1849
-ultimately, webster offers to mediate negotiations, accomplished in 1852 just before his death
-calhoun partially reverts to nationalism, builds up south west coalition in name of internal improvements and low tariff
-due in part to grand success of charleston-cincinnati railroad
-also mentions texas a lot, to bring up spectre of british controlled texas breathing down us's neck
-threatens to drive out british from monterey if necessary
-wins nomination, ticks off northeast, only barely able to conciliate burenites
-plan emerge filibuster to texas with many army members assoc with it, pending his election and suspension of neutrality act
-webster includes preemption act in platform, decisive and important despite break with traditional unionist view of land distribution
-and successfully ties this to the tariff
-election proves closer than expected, but webster wins important midwestern districts
-with calhoun southerner, webster's seeming acquiescence to slave power, liberty party surpasses 5% mark
-due to the US sending slaves to Portuguese Brazil following Bahia revolt, much of South's economy dependent on it
-and following France declaring war on Portugal and entirely cutting off slave trade during French Wars > Third French War (1847-54) , this causes a sudden crash of slave prices
-due to slaves being most valuable asset in South, causes giant crash
-due to slaves being collateral used by Bank of the United States , results in Bank quickly getting massive amounts of slaves as "assets", becoming the largest slaveholder in the US
-in general, this low price for slaves results in slaves becoming much more widespread across social classes in South
-including mass use of slaves in industry
-and also many states try to stem this by having Kentucky-style import prohibitions
-and a panic of slaves sold south
-in general, also wreaks havoc on Northern ties with slave economy as institutions which heavily invested in south, and with it the slave as commodity, wrecked badly and avoid it in the future
-which also means that slave-powered industry, and the whole slave system, is now counterpoised to compete with the north
-as part of renewal of Bank, Webster successfully achieves southern votes by promising to unofficially send slaves to Africa
-to increase price of slaves
-a lot of slaves sent there
-and crisis eventually brought under control
-additionally, also because of French Wars > Third French War (1847-54) , immigration cut off which results in labor issues in North
-to resolve this, industrialists look to poor white trash of South, recruit to bring them northwards to work in labor
-is pretty massive and South is fairly happy with this
-additionally poor whites have better lives in the North
-however, does worsen ratio between North and South
-without suspension of neutrality act, smaller filibuster attempt to texas occurs, fails
-preemption act gets passed with difficulty despite southern unhappiness
-and land-grant colleges established
-in wake of calhoun's defeat, south carolina legislature calls for organization of southern convention against tariff with calhoun support
-initial talk of forming nullification convention right away fails due to rising merchant, trader, industrial class (risen due to railroad, rising industry) which views south carolina as tied to its neighbors
-indeed, part of this class is, while not okay with rise of tariff, acquaintanced to it
-delegates sent by legislatures of missouri, mississippi, virginia, georgia, and south carolina to charleston in 1850 to organize united support
-in contrast to missouri crisis, is not united action and in all states except south carolina is done over sizeable minority
-massively controversial and webster threatens force, even getting force bill through
-issues nullification proclamation, not only condemning nullification but also secession as unconstitutional
-results in some disgruntlement by south, including pro-tariff unionists who agree with logic of secession because they think might be needed if north gets too powerful
-but ultimately only disgruntlement, and crisis is for the most part brought under control
-midway georgia and virginia depart after unionists take control of legislatures and pull delegates
-after passing some resolutions moderated by non-sc presence, charleston convention dissolves
-smaller more radical convention meets dominated by sc, threatens secession, but dissolves afterwards because lone action not possible
-though south carolina disgruntled, cowed by first nullification crisis and fact that most of south not with it
-in wake of second nullification crisis and southern disarray, Juniper (iowa) organized as territory with bill passing through congress with tight margins
-despite longstanding worry over illinois being almost surrounded by free soil
-some border southern senators reluctantly choose to abstain or vote for it, and some note it wouldn't mean total encirclement
-webster victorious, without compromise of clay
-Juniper formed as free territory in 1849, having already had a degree of settlement
-missouri congress, threatened by free territory, votes that its border reaches des moines,
-soon afterwards, missourian tax collectors come in
-federal government, intent on observing the law, declares few slaves coming in should leave or be free
-homestead act intensifies controversy, as settlers claim land both ways
-skirmishes between settlers breaks out near border
-this even includes bloodshed between Missouri militia and Juniper territorial settlers
-webster sends small military detachment, intent on enforcing the law in the territory and bringing in controversy to an end
-south being divided means it cannot support Missouri strong enough
-but Illinoians support it, bring slaves into Juniper to provoke constitutionality crisis, and though terr authorities free their slaves it provokes long court cases
-but in the end, missouri backs down and accepts a commission to demarcate boundary, votes Juniper side
-slaves brought in freed, but they find hostility in Juniper
-controversy comes to an end (not in the least because missouri divided on issue), but rising extremism in south
-talk of overturning missouri compromise, or even of federal slave code in the territories
-webster's national unity tour in south met with widespread applause, papering over this new issue
-revealed that directors of bank of us artificially inflated stock values for personal enrichment
-some claim he knew of this before renewing its charter, point to friend Samuel Appleton being president of bank
-webster initially denies this report, then when confirmed popular outrage forces him to push new appointments and replace them
-bank of us generally suffers as a result of less competent appointments, results in bank being overstretched
-crashes his popularity
-bank of us generally weakened by this, affects unionist policies
-webster revealed to be cartoonishly corrupt, including accepting massive "loans" and selling appointments to highest bidder
-accepts ludicrous gifts, sells appointments in cabinet
-unionists lose various elections in late 1851-2, due to a certain lack of confidence (but not all the way because v. personal)
-south sees some anger emerge over Juniper
-Great Shoemaker Strike of 1851 emerges, over introduction of sewing machine in 1840s
-thanks to rising industry, communication more generally
-earlier since rise of pneumatic, hydraulic tech results in these technologies getting combined earlier to use pnuematic, hydralic tech to make it better
-across Eastern Seaboard, spreading from Lynn Massachusetts across to Washington
-much of it even comes to President's Mansion
-Webster well known to be anti-strike, brings ire
-but in the end, strike comes to an end due to local opposition, police, despite some small opposition
-webster dies on july 4, 1852 of liver cirrhosis due to drinking and eating a lot
-by bizarre coincidence, dies on same day as clay on independence day
-remembered as icon of American nationalism
-during Liberty and Union War (1868-76) , Webster's name and speeches remembered forever
-specifically "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable" from his Reply to Calhoun (1830)
-and to another extent "our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country" in Bunker Hill address (1825)
-indeed, Daniel Webster's aphorisms remembered well, with a number of other ones added
Early life
-son of federalist father
-served as hardcore and impressive lawyer
-elected to new hampshire house on that basis, shines in role but resigns, moves to boston after year without a summer, wins election to house afterwards
-during war scares with uk makes well-known antiwar speeches
-but has different stance with spain, desires to spread american commerce across mississippi and so when crisis begins endorses war in break with his allies
-note: in OTL webster was all for war with spain if they were to close mississippi in an essay he wrote in 1800
-makes him pseudo-republican, gets nominated by party as senator
-upon end of war he becomes allied with clay as British Wars > Popular Revolution (1827-9) ends uk issues
-as senator he's crucial clay ally
-makes famous reply to calhoun in senate, widely published speech for legendary eloquence and defence of the union
-equiv. to second reply to hayne
-makes him one of leaders of unionist party upon formation
-so dejected after clay's compromise tariff he contemplates joining anti-clay forces, decides not to as it's shown as anti-tariff decisively
-supports bank of us when it gets crit after panic of 1834
-tries to gain support from presidential run, but fails to get southern and much western support
-afterwards, sulks and get appointed to ambassador to british isles, notes that it's stepping stone
-serves role well, v. popular in this context
-when missouri compromise strikes, considers returning but avoids it because he thinks compromise imminent
-then when he realizes not, winter has come, webster cannot brave winter storms
-returns following pike's victory, successfully retains antislavery bonafides with some statements on the subject, and gets himself elected senator again
-in senate, furiously ripostes pike administration
-on gag issue, is very anti-gag, votes against all gags but clay's gag sending abolition petitions to packed committee goes through
-on jury nullification of fugitive slave act, webster defends the rights of juries in speeches, no doubt affected by british views on them
-when missouri decides to allow full importation of slaves, widespread panic and webster expresses he hoped it would not
-but nonetheless argues they are constitutional in doing so
-when south makes motions about jury nullification of fsa
-webster argues that, considering missouri permitted slave importation, south can hardly be picky about north going back on part of bargain about fsa
-"webster addendum" to missouri compromise, succeeds for most part in cooling tensions despite south carolina being miffed
-initially pro-war with france, but advocates peace with honour as it goes on too long
-doesn't run for pres though as general view is it's bound to be populist victory
-supports bank of us hardcore and his friend its president nathan appleton, secures leadership second only to clay
Presidency
1845-1852: Daniel Webster (Unionist) †
1844: (with James L. Petigru Martin Van Buren/John Tyler (People's)
1848: (with James L. Petigru John C. Calhoun/David Henshaw (People's)
-son of federalist father
-served as hardcore and impressive lawyer
-elected to new hampshire house on that basis, shines in role but resigns, moves to boston after year without a summer, wins election to house afterwards
-during war scares with uk makes well-known antiwar speeches
-but has different stance with spain, desires to spread american commerce across mississippi and so when crisis begins endorses war in break with his allies
-note: in OTL webster was all for war with spain if they were to close mississippi in an essay he wrote in 1800
-makes him pseudo-republican, gets nominated by party as senator
-upon end of war he becomes allied with clay as British Wars > Popular Revolution (1827-9) ends uk issues
-as senator he's crucial clay ally
-makes famous reply to calhoun in senate, widely published speech for legendary eloquence and defence of the union
-equiv. to second reply to hayne
-makes him one of leaders of unionist party upon formation
-so dejected after clay's compromise tariff he contemplates joining anti-clay forces, decides not to as it's shown as anti-tariff decisively
-supports bank of us when it gets crit after panic of 1834
-tries to gain support from presidential run, but fails to get southern and much western support
-afterwards, sulks and get appointed to ambassador to british isles, notes that it's stepping stone
-serves role well, v. popular in this context
-when missouri compromise strikes, considers returning but avoids it because he thinks compromise imminent
-then when he realizes not, winter has come, webster cannot brave winter storms
-returns following pike's victory, successfully retains antislavery bonafides with some statements on the subject, and gets himself elected senator again
-in senate, furiously ripostes pike administration
-on gag issue, is very anti-gag, votes against all gags but clay's gag sending abolition petitions to packed committee goes through
-on jury nullification of fugitive slave act, webster defends the rights of juries in speeches, no doubt affected by british views on them
-when missouri decides to allow full importation of slaves, widespread panic and webster expresses he hoped it would not
-but nonetheless argues they are constitutional in doing so
-when south makes motions about jury nullification of fsa
-webster argues that, considering missouri permitted slave importation, south can hardly be picky about north going back on part of bargain about fsa
-"webster addendum" to missouri compromise, succeeds for most part in cooling tensions despite south carolina being miffed
-initially pro-war with france, but advocates peace with honour as it goes on too long
-doesn't run for pres though as general view is it's bound to be populist victory
-supports bank of us hardcore and his friend its president nathan appleton, secures leadership second only to clay
-name proposed in unionist convention, gets nominated, wins
-liberty party makes small breakout, surpassing 2% in popular vote
-fights against clay for a while over party leadership, clay eventually accepts smaller role as legislator
-makes nicholas biddle sos, in opposition to clay's preferred pick
-also in oppn to clay's preferred pick, makes friend james wilson sectreas
Webster Cabinet
President
-1845-1852: Daniel Webster
Vice President
-1845-1852: James L. Petigru [1]
One of the few South Carolinian supporters of the federal Union Party, selected to balance President Webster's firmly Northern status. Played conciliatory role during the Second Nullification Crisis. Following Webster's death on July 4 1852, served as president for eight months.
Secretary of State
-1845-1852: Nicholas Biddle [2]
A career diplomat with little political experience, appointed by President Webster to ensure dominance over the cabinet. Allowed Webster to sell Department of State positions to the highest bidder, and successfully negotiated an end to the Granadine War of Independence beneficial to American interests.
Secretary of Domestic Affairs
-1845-1852: Thomas Ewing [3]
Selected both to block Senator Clay from pushing desired appointments and as a linkage between Clay and Webster. Fully supported the Websterite approach to the Second Nullification Crisis, and deflected against Missourian claims on Juniper Territory.
Secretary of the Treasury
-1845-1851: James Wilson II [4]
(link
) Selected as important ally of President Webster, and allowed Webster to sell Treasury positions to the highest bidder. Resigned following revelations of widespread bribery within the Treasury Department.
-1851-1852: John C. Spencer [5]
Appointed as a New Yorker, and as an independent-minded Unionist. Sought to root out corruption within the Treasury Department.
Secretary of War
-1845-1852: Charles Wickliffe [6]
Selected for being a Unionist Kentucky rival of Senator Clay.
Attorney General
-1845-1852: Nathan Sargent [7]
The mandatory Clay dependent in Webster's cabinet, appointed to a weak advisory role.
Secretary of the Navy
-1845-1850: William A. Graham [8]
North Carolinian member of cabinet who built up navy against Spanish. Opposing the Nullification Proclamation and the Force Act, resigned from office.
-1850-1852: Jonathan Worth [9]
Anti-nullificationist from North Carolina, selected as replacement.
Postmaster General
-1845-1852: Samuel A. Eliot [10]
Close Webster ally, selected to distribute patronage. Saw the Post Office gain a monopoly over telegraphy.
President of the Bank of the United States
-1845-1851: Nathan Appleton [11]
Close Webster ally. Fought against the Panic of 1842, and due to the use of slaves as loan collateral saw the Bank become the largest slaveholder in the United States. Saw the renewal of the charter, and freed slaves and sent them to Liberia. Resigned following widespread corruption scandals.
-1851-1852: Reverdy Johnson [12]
Distant from Webster. Administered over corruption cleanup efforts in the Bank.
-restores clay’s economic policies to full extent
-establishes new tariff which causes disgruntlement in south because viewed as settled issue
-federal government takes on debts from states suffering from debt
-including from Georgia and South Carolina
-about half of the debt of the several states
-allows for new booming era of internal improvements brewing
-though some of them do still have issues
-but rising (slave-powered) industry funded by bank investment, unionist presence means more southerners are pro-tariff, also more northerners anti-tariff
-due to european warfare, trans-caribbean slave trade cut off, and slaves traded to brazil instead sold to home markets
-value of slaves collapses massively, and as south has a lot of "wealth" calculated in terms of slaves, results in "economic" crisis
-in upper south, many slaves sold southwards, in context where slaves are viewed as investment slaveholders want to get "full value"
-with economy of virginia dependent on slave breeding, ravages it, results in investment in (slave-powered) industry
-similarly across rest of south there is more use of slaves in urban area due to there being very many
-in kentucky, maryland, and delaware, where bringing in further slaves is banned, this instead causes panic and slaves being sold downstream
-out of fear of attempt to allow further slaves in, as well as lowering value of slave affecting things in general
-calhoun crushes neo-nullificationist talk in south carolina over tariff because wants to make presidential run
-with rising market for Canadian goods, Webster also gets reciprocity treaty with canada bc new england, other areas now tapping into canadian markets
-attempts to buy San Francisco, rebuffed by Spain
-south starts sabre rattling about Texas Cuba, webster says no and his party has to work to maintain southern support
-there is big northern push for acquiring columbia despite weak us claim
-Webster sees that he can't really make a claim
-after much negotiation, does get britain to agree to giving usa a perpetual lease over olympia triangle by substantial payment for it
-hopes to bring columbia under american influence as friendly state through immigration
-guarantees the us the right to make roads to olympia, with webster aiming at transcontinental railroad one day
-lays out trail to oregon as far as possible, in effort to settle it as friendly state america, results in large settlement of mostly young men
-despite many viewing this negatively as a waste of money/betrayal, american commerce immediately is boosted by this pacific port
-also, there is filibuster attempt in cuba with massive southern support, including american soldiers, in name of stopping race war, but it fails
-webster prosecutes hard those responsible, controversial in south where some support filibusters but others view spain as fellow slaver and ally
-thus in south many decide to support unionists in name of slavery international
-aligns unionists with the latter southern types more tightly, helps to ensure victory, even as worrying trends hit
-British Wars > New Granadine War of Independence (1848-52) breaks out, results in anxiety across south over it destroying slavery
-despite general support for new granadine independence
-webster anxious to avoid a british takeover of california
-british take monterey quickly, soon after war
-webster sends american ships to monterey to threaten intervention to drive them out
-after much negotiation, they leave in 1849
-ultimately, webster offers to mediate negotiations, accomplished in 1852 just before his death
-calhoun partially reverts to nationalism, builds up south west coalition in name of internal improvements and low tariff
-due in part to grand success of charleston-cincinnati railroad
-also mentions texas a lot, to bring up spectre of british controlled texas breathing down us's neck
-threatens to drive out british from monterey if necessary
-wins nomination, ticks off northeast, only barely able to conciliate burenites
-plan emerge filibuster to texas with many army members assoc with it, pending his election and suspension of neutrality act
-webster includes preemption act in platform, decisive and important despite break with traditional unionist view of land distribution
-and successfully ties this to the tariff
-election proves closer than expected, but webster wins important midwestern districts
-with calhoun southerner, webster's seeming acquiescence to slave power, liberty party surpasses 5% mark
-due to the US sending slaves to Portuguese Brazil following Bahia revolt, much of South's economy dependent on it
-and following France declaring war on Portugal and entirely cutting off slave trade during French Wars > Third French War (1847-54) , this causes a sudden crash of slave prices
-due to slaves being most valuable asset in South, causes giant crash
-due to slaves being collateral used by Bank of the United States , results in Bank quickly getting massive amounts of slaves as "assets", becoming the largest slaveholder in the US
-in general, this low price for slaves results in slaves becoming much more widespread across social classes in South
-including mass use of slaves in industry
-and also many states try to stem this by having Kentucky-style import prohibitions
-and a panic of slaves sold south
-in general, also wreaks havoc on Northern ties with slave economy as institutions which heavily invested in south, and with it the slave as commodity, wrecked badly and avoid it in the future
-which also means that slave-powered industry, and the whole slave system, is now counterpoised to compete with the north
-as part of renewal of Bank, Webster successfully achieves southern votes by promising to unofficially send slaves to Africa
-to increase price of slaves
-a lot of slaves sent there
-and crisis eventually brought under control
-additionally, also because of French Wars > Third French War (1847-54) , immigration cut off which results in labor issues in North
-to resolve this, industrialists look to poor white trash of South, recruit to bring them northwards to work in labor
-is pretty massive and South is fairly happy with this
-additionally poor whites have better lives in the North
-however, does worsen ratio between North and South
-without suspension of neutrality act, smaller filibuster attempt to texas occurs, fails
-preemption act gets passed with difficulty despite southern unhappiness
-and land-grant colleges established
-in wake of calhoun's defeat, south carolina legislature calls for organization of southern convention against tariff with calhoun support
-initial talk of forming nullification convention right away fails due to rising merchant, trader, industrial class (risen due to railroad, rising industry) which views south carolina as tied to its neighbors
-indeed, part of this class is, while not okay with rise of tariff, acquaintanced to it
-delegates sent by legislatures of missouri, mississippi, virginia, georgia, and south carolina to charleston in 1850 to organize united support
-in contrast to missouri crisis, is not united action and in all states except south carolina is done over sizeable minority
-massively controversial and webster threatens force, even getting force bill through
-issues nullification proclamation, not only condemning nullification but also secession as unconstitutional
-results in some disgruntlement by south, including pro-tariff unionists who agree with logic of secession because they think might be needed if north gets too powerful
-but ultimately only disgruntlement, and crisis is for the most part brought under control
-midway georgia and virginia depart after unionists take control of legislatures and pull delegates
-after passing some resolutions moderated by non-sc presence, charleston convention dissolves
-smaller more radical convention meets dominated by sc, threatens secession, but dissolves afterwards because lone action not possible
-though south carolina disgruntled, cowed by first nullification crisis and fact that most of south not with it
-in wake of second nullification crisis and southern disarray, Juniper (iowa) organized as territory with bill passing through congress with tight margins
-despite longstanding worry over illinois being almost surrounded by free soil
-some border southern senators reluctantly choose to abstain or vote for it, and some note it wouldn't mean total encirclement
-webster victorious, without compromise of clay
-Juniper formed as free territory in 1849, having already had a degree of settlement
-missouri congress, threatened by free territory, votes that its border reaches des moines,
-soon afterwards, missourian tax collectors come in
-federal government, intent on observing the law, declares few slaves coming in should leave or be free
-homestead act intensifies controversy, as settlers claim land both ways
-skirmishes between settlers breaks out near border
-this even includes bloodshed between Missouri militia and Juniper territorial settlers
-webster sends small military detachment, intent on enforcing the law in the territory and bringing in controversy to an end
-south being divided means it cannot support Missouri strong enough
-but Illinoians support it, bring slaves into Juniper to provoke constitutionality crisis, and though terr authorities free their slaves it provokes long court cases
-but in the end, missouri backs down and accepts a commission to demarcate boundary, votes Juniper side
-slaves brought in freed, but they find hostility in Juniper
-controversy comes to an end (not in the least because missouri divided on issue), but rising extremism in south
-talk of overturning missouri compromise, or even of federal slave code in the territories
-webster's national unity tour in south met with widespread applause, papering over this new issue
-revealed that directors of bank of us artificially inflated stock values for personal enrichment
-some claim he knew of this before renewing its charter, point to friend Samuel Appleton being president of bank
-webster initially denies this report, then when confirmed popular outrage forces him to push new appointments and replace them
-bank of us generally suffers as a result of less competent appointments, results in bank being overstretched
-crashes his popularity
-bank of us generally weakened by this, affects unionist policies
-webster revealed to be cartoonishly corrupt, including accepting massive "loans" and selling appointments to highest bidder
-accepts ludicrous gifts, sells appointments in cabinet
-unionists lose various elections in late 1851-2, due to a certain lack of confidence (but not all the way because v. personal)
-south sees some anger emerge over Juniper
-Great Shoemaker Strike of 1851 emerges, over introduction of sewing machine in 1840s
-thanks to rising industry, communication more generally
-earlier since rise of pneumatic, hydraulic tech results in these technologies getting combined earlier to use pnuematic, hydralic tech to make it better
-across Eastern Seaboard, spreading from Lynn Massachusetts across to Washington
-much of it even comes to President's Mansion
-Webster well known to be anti-strike, brings ire
-but in the end, strike comes to an end due to local opposition, police, despite some small opposition
-webster dies on july 4, 1852 of liver cirrhosis due to drinking and eating a lot
-by bizarre coincidence, dies on same day as clay on independence day
-remembered as icon of American nationalism
-during Liberty and Union War (1868-76) , Webster's name and speeches remembered forever
-specifically "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable" from his Reply to Calhoun (1830)
-and to another extent "our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country" in Bunker Hill address (1825)
-indeed, Daniel Webster's aphorisms remembered well, with a number of other ones added
Legacy
-remembered as icon of American nationalism
-during Liberty and Union War (1868-76) , Webster's name and speeches remembered forever
-specifically "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable" from his Reply to Calhoun (1830)
-and to another extent "our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country" in Bunker Hill address (1825)
-indeed, Daniel Webster's aphorisms remembered well, with a number of other ones added
Webster Cabinet
President
-1845-1852: Daniel Webster
Vice President
-1845-1852: James L. Petigru [1]
One of the few South Carolinian supporters of the federal Union Party, selected to balance President Webster's firmly Northern status. Played conciliatory role during the Second Nullification Crisis. Following Webster's death on July 4 1852, served as president for eight months.
Secretary of State
-1845-1852: Nicholas Biddle [2]
A career diplomat with little political experience, appointed by President Webster to ensure dominance over the cabinet. Allowed Webster to sell Department of State positions to the highest bidder, and successfully negotiated an end to the Granadine War of Independence beneficial to American interests.
Secretary of Domestic Affairs
-1845-1852: Thomas Ewing [3]
Selected both to block Senator Clay from pushing desired appointments and as a linkage between Clay and Webster. Fully supported the Websterite approach to the Second Nullification Crisis, and deflected against Missourian claims on Juniper Territory.
Secretary of the Treasury
-1845-1851: James Wilson II [4]
(link
) Selected as important ally of President Webster, and allowed Webster to sell Treasury positions to the highest bidder. Resigned following revelations of widespread bribery within the Treasury Department.
-1851-1852: John C. Spencer [5]
Appointed as a New Yorker, and as an independent-minded Unionist. Sought to root out corruption within the Treasury Department.
Secretary of War
-1845-1852: Charles Wickliffe [6]
Selected for being a Unionist Kentucky rival of Senator Clay.
Attorney General
-1845-1852: Nathan Sargent [7]
The mandatory Clay dependent in Webster's cabinet, appointed to a weak advisory role.
Secretary of the Navy
-1845-1850: William A. Graham [8]
North Carolinian member of cabinet who built up navy against Spanish. Opposing the Nullification Proclamation and the Force Act, resigned from office.
-1850-1852: Jonathan Worth [9]
Anti-nullificationist from North Carolina, selected as replacement.
Postmaster General
-1845-1852: Samuel A. Eliot [10]
Close Webster ally, selected to distribute patronage. Saw the Post Office gain a monopoly over telegraphy.
President of the Bank of the United States
-1845-1851: Nathan Appleton [11]
Close Webster ally. Fought against the Panic of 1842, and due to the use of slaves as loan collateral saw the Bank become the largest slaveholder in the United States. Saw the renewal of the charter, and freed slaves and sent them to Liberia. Resigned following widespread corruption scandals.
-1851-1852: Reverdy Johnson [12]
Distant from Webster. Administered over corruption cleanup efforts in the Bank.
George Washington Woodward
1858-1865: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America
1865-1868: President of the United States of America
A
1865-1868: George Washington Woodward (People's) [impeached, removed from office]
1864: hung electoral college: George Washington Woodward/Andrew Johnson (People's) Thomas Wilson Dorr/Salmon P. Chase ("Justice"/"Free Soil"/"Northern Unionist"/"Young America") James C. Jones/Robert C. Winthrop ("Southern Unionist"/"Moderate")
1865: (with James L. Orr Thomas Wilson Dorr/Salmon P. Chase ("Justice"/"Free Soil"/"Northern Unionist"/"Liberationist")
-served as chief justice before being elected
-kept his mouth shut during buenaventura controversy, and moderated slave case ruling in keeping with populist policy
-hung electoral college with woodward plurality
-in congress, woodward wins election on basis of southern unionists voting for him
-with divided north and united south, wins by lopsided margins
-politics very obscure and he's assumed to be moderate, but turns out to be ultra-doughface on verge of being calhounite
-declares neutrality in Buenaventura's Wars > Buenaventuran War of Independence (1864-7) , but many American volunteers still join up with comunero rebels but south helps give arms to spanish, results in shooting war involving americans over slavery
-enforces neutrality act over americans supporting buenaveturan rebels
-Buenaventura issue becomes explosive in the halls of Congress, south accuses it of being part of anti slavery conspiracy
-but ultimately through much effort recognition of Buenaventura is revoked by Congress, but now it gets accused of being part of slave power
-prosecutes american volunteers for violating neutrality act, juries often nullify it but causes much furor, especially since slaver volunteers not tried
-attempts to maintain slavery in texas by proposing purchase from spain, to revulsion and horror from north, while spain emphatically refuses this
-leaked from diplomatic department
-case on Kances slave code goes to the supreme court
-strikes down missouri compromise entirely, to allow slavery across the territories as a right of American citizens
-with bill of rights incorporated under due process, this also applies to states
-making slavery essentially legal everywhere (rather, transit and sojourn) which causes massive crisis in the north
-woodward recognizes this as valid, enforces this despite massive amounts of controversy to this
-northerners moving in (slower since railway through st. louis) end up fighting with missourians over this issue, resulting in bloodshed
-and slaveowners move northwards into Middle West and even beyond, with massive unpopularity despite state laws against it
-and despite juries fighting against it
-federal courts, dominated by southerners and doughfaces, enforce this
-Underground Railroad moves northwards to Canada
-in kansas elections, his men continually recognize electoral fraud by southerners as legit
-bank issue comes to him, takes up number of things for renewal
-requires appointing more directors with strong Populist leanings
-also reducing ratio of paper notes to gold, in sop to the South to prevent speculation in the North it views as damaging
-this sparks economic panic in 1867
-Order of United Workingmen responds, and strikes in 1867 against railroad companies turn massive
-after longstanding grievances, in part in response to competition with slave-powered labor of south
-spread across the North, and into Missouri and Washington
-militias formed are of only partial loyalty
-even including infighting between militias from diff cities, firing on one another
-massive disorder culminates in Woodward calling in regulars to suppress riots, strikebreakers called in
-only some of the troops end up disloyal, and for the most part strike broken
-but this also results in troops posted across the nation, militias armed, in time for the election
-and states having posted their troops everywhere
-following maryland issuing manumission law in 1867, there is major chaos over it, and "balance" at risk
-dough faces become heavily hated, lose in midterms, northern unionists and some northern populists increasingly ally with abolitionist lobby against slave power
-establishes east florida, cimarron as states despite questions over fradulent referenda including many non-resident voters
-uses statehood of superior as bribe to get them in
-is able to pull southern unionists to support this bill, destroying any attempts at cooperation with justicialists in the process
-congress blocks woodward's agenda, woodward vetoes all of congress's attempted legislation
-after Buenaventura wins independence, woodward refuses to recognize it, instead condemning it as a rebel regime, to anger of north
-after 1866 midterms House of Representatives sees massive deadlock on electing a speaker
-all congressional discussion has paused
-and has caused massive political chaos
-over two hundred ballots
-in 1867 Senator Joshua Giddings gives a vitriolic speech in favor of the Comuneros and praises them for stopping the Slave Power in their country and calls for the same in the US
-Senator Henry A. Edmundson replies by unbuttoning his jacket, pulling out a bowie knife, and stabbing Joshua Giddings
-when Northern senators try to intervene, another southern Senator pulls out a gun and threatens to shoot
-after they keep going fires a warning shot up, cracks the glass ceiling, though people shield themselves with their jackets successfully
-stops people from interfering
-Giddings successfully stabbed to death, bleeds out on the Senate floor
-Edmundson resigns from office, placed on trial, acquitted by Southron-dominated jury, and reelected
-complete with advisory popular vote seeing him win high-turnout landslide
-the Populist-dominated Senate decides not to eject him
-this in turn causes the secession of the Justicialist senators but not enough to deny quorum
-after Giddings' stabbing, sees division of Congress into two different bodies after election of Justicialist speaker
-Woodward decides to exclusively recognize the Populist body
-Justicialists ejected, they meet in temporary "Wigwam" structure nearby
-Justicialist Congress continues to meet, organizes the Committee of Vigilance from among its membership to keep a watch over government
-initially neither side willing to pull the trigger
-but then as 1867 turns to 1868, Justicialist Congress passes some laws banning slavery in territories
-in order to end Justicialist Congress's claimed quorum, Woodward conducts mass arrests of its members
-goes off badly, only eleven of them arrested and treated like hostages
-Justicialists flee to Philadelphia to take on aura of the original American Revolution
-declares the government of Woodward illegal and call for resistance against it
-convenes army under state-appointed officials, in clear preparation for war
-against this, Woodward sends army to overthrow the Philadelphia government
-before it can cause any more trouble in his eyes
-repulsed in part because not enough soldiers heed call, in part because local Comunero defences suffice
-sees declaration of war, end of the tenuous peace
-united states divided into two governments, the Constitutionalist Government, and the Richmond Government
-also impeaches and removes woodward from office
-along with his southern VP
-this makes the President Pro Tempore of the Senate the acting president, or more simply president ^af5f13
1868-1873: President of the United States of America (Richmondite)
1868-1873: George Washington Woodward (People's)
-after American Presidents > ^af5f13 , southern militias storm congress, destroys certification, invites congress to come, southerners do and expel northerners from it
-assembly formally declares election to be in doubt, activating contingency provisions, declares pendleton next president
-endorses decertification of election citing electoral violence, provides legitimacy to richmondite assembly
-gets impeached by proper congress of the united states, but stays on, gets declared a rebel but he declares them a rebel back
-results in Liberty and Union War (1868-76)
-in the end, flees to Cuba where he stays in plantation
-in Antillean War (1880-4) he is captured by US forces
-and taken to tribunal which executes him for treason
1873-1883: United States Senator for Pennsylvania (Richmondite)
1883-1884: Prisoner of the United States of America ‡
-placed on trial
-difficult to find jury and nobody willing to defend him for a while
-and jeered "King George IV" highly unpopular
-but put on trial for mass murder and treason in a massive spectacle
-ends with him being found guilty and publicly executed
George Bancroft
1842-1846: United States Minister to the British Isles
-to replace astonishingly bad predecessor Andrew Stevenson
1847-1849: Governor of Massachusetts
-Unionist defeat in 1846 really astonishes many
-because Populists associated with slavery
-helped by Recessions > Panic of 1842
-and that he wins in 1847 as well astonishes many
-but sunk by John C. Calhoun
1865-1869: United States Representative from Massachusetts
-supports declaration of independence of United Provinces of Buenaventura
-gets into Congress as independent-minded Populist but ultimately becomes a Justicialist
1869-1870: President of the United States of America †
-nominated precisely because he is not stereotypical abolitionist at all
Curran Emmet
Curran Emmet
-born in let's say 1824
-mother dies in childbirth
-son of famous Irish-American lawyer Thomas Addis Emmet
-a refugee from War of the French Revolution (1792-1804) > Great Irish Rebellion (1796-9)
-his uncle is no less than the famous Robert Emmet
-as a result from this regards himself as an Irish-American proudly, and remains till his death an Irish-American community leader
-goes into law from that in father's path
-successfully passes bar with golden colors
-inherits father's strong opposition to slavery which causes him to represent black applicants pro bono
-with the Missouri crisis under American Presidents > 1829-1837 Henry Clay (Republican, then National Republican) and the Fugitive Slave Act, in its wake he famously defends a slave escapee
-this is what really puts him on the page as a young lawyer even though escapee ultimately is resubmitted back to slavery
-thanks to racist southern-tinted all-white jury
-he then helps the slave escape to New England
-many are horrified at this, even if only at slaveowner influence among white people
1847-1853: New York State Senator
-on basis of record as antislavery lawyer is able to become leading member of Union Party
-which is antislavery-tinted in era of Daniel Webster
-and then is able to win election despite tough fight in New York seat to state senate
-shows he's able to gain pretty sizeable Protestant support based on his Protestantism
-and his United Irish bonafides appeals to a lot of Protestants
-excellent organizer for his party
-even if not super-charismatic, can give some pretty strong speeches
-makes himself well-known as prominent legislator in this regard
1855-1857; 1859-1867: United States Representative from New York
-from Manhattan
-every battle is hectic and puts him opposite to the Tammany machine
-but he's popular enough and able to win enough Protestants that he is able to win in non-wave years
-in office becomes progressively more popular in era of antislavery backlash to proslavery laws
-but loses in 1857 due to American Presidents > 1853-1861 Robert F. Stockton (People's) coattails and because it's an unpopular stance (at this point, anyways) but that aside he's able to win
-and become leading Unionist, especially in terms of being New York City Unionist
-supports Dorr during the split of the Union Party
-and vigorously stumps for him
-and becomes founding member of the Justice Party on that basis
1867-1877: United States Senator for New York
-wins on the basis of Upstate New York votes
-and also as move to get support from New York City legislators
-who might have otherwise voted for local candidate
-with outbreak of Liberty and Union War (1868-76) he is leading member of Extraordinary Congress in Philadelphia
-reacts in shock at the New York riots
-postwar he marches into the city in an effort to settle conditions
-to calm its state by being there as a fairly popular personality
-and to ensure Colored population of city remains settled there
-partially successful, though many do move to Brooklyn as a result of it
-leading member of the war effort and of very radical reconstruction efforts
-because he's an effective party manager and all
-leading member in providing funds towards the rebuilding of New York
1877-1879: Vice President of the United States of America
-selected as VP on basis of pretty strong legislative record
-and as part of the radical establishment of sorts
-and to balance governor who's also part of campaign
-in this role he does play a fairly minimal role
-but has impressive soft legislative power and serves as quasi-legislator
-and is important link between Wentworth government and Congress
-does support inflation bill, which does break his links with New York anti-inflation ranks to an extent
-and they have a lot of power within establishment
-with death of American Presidents > 1877-1879 John Wentworth (Justice) † becomes president
1879-1885: President of the United States of America
-sees a pretty massive corruption scandal emerge in his cabinet with his powerful Secretary of the Treasury
-over war profiteering vis a vis Antillean War (1880-4) which is only partially supported by evidence but is sufficiently scandalous
-he swiftly cleans it up but causes civil war of sorts in his party
-and means he drops plans for second elective term in favor of compromise candidate
1889-1893: United States Representative from New York
-previously attempted to run for Senator
-but got denied for this post by party establishment pissed at him
-this intensifies movement for Washington Convention because people feel he would have been elected senator
-does run for congressman though against establishment a little while later
-and based on popular anger at popular politician being denied he succeeds
-also because he does have a fair amount of establishment support
-since he was former president after all
-in this role he is a mixture of combative and conciliatory
-wins support of a fairly sizeable number of Unofficial candidates and serves as sort of semi-detached quasi-opposition within party
-but without breaking links with officials
-also he's an effective politician in his role and through it he's able to increase in stature
-supports plan of Washington Convention
-after having tried amendments still then
1893-1898: United States Senator For Life
-the Constitution of the United States (1885) authorizes ex-presidents to serve for life
-he is the last living ex-president at this time
-with provision made with him in mind
-and to prevent ex-presidents being dirtied by politicking
-he serves as well-respected but not fully successful senator
-but represents reform tendency within party
-and does not break with party altogether, instead being very independent-minded Official Justicialist
-gradually retires from this role over time
-because he grows old
-still comes for big votes but otherwise he's just a senator on paper
-buried in New York in grand funeral
-ultimately, in his honor is created State of Anacostia > Emmett Monument in distinctly Irish style
Salmon P. Chase
-successfully courts Elizabeth Wirt
1840-1841: Councillor of the City of Cincinnati
-as a normie Unionist
1858-1862: Governor of Ohio
-now radicalized greatly by slavery struggles over territories
-becomes Equal Rights Party supporter with many Populist stances
-runs for governor and forces a legislative vote
-which ends with Populist-Equal Rights alliance voting him in
-same alliance gets him reelected
-decides against running for third term in end
1863-1874: United States Senator for Ohio †
-afterwards runs for seat vacated by retirement (from old age) of Joshua Giddings
-wins on basis of same alliance
-is Dorr's running mate in 1864 on basis of Populist leanings
-tries to become Justicialist pres nominee in 1868 but considered too radical
-by a party trying very hard not to seem that way to get consolidated northern votes
-hopes real bad to be so in 1872 after stopgap Henry Winter Davis but fails again
-is really influential in crisis that opens Liberty and Union War (1868-76)
-as organizing the Extraordinary Congress and impeachments
Kate Chase Garfield
-daughter of Salmon Chase and Elizabeth Wirt
-born in well let's say 1842?
-marries James A. Garfield and they have a very affectionate relationship
-till Garfield dies of dysentery in 1882
1858-1862: Acting First Lady of Ohio
-serves for widow father in this role
-and very very effective and charming
1893-1899: United States Representative from Ohio
-having served for a very long time as a very effective Justicialist organizer
-becoming first congresswoman
1899-1905: United States Senator for Ohio
-becoming first female senator
James A. Garfield
1860-1863: Ohio State Senator
1863-1874: United States Representative from Ohio
1874-1882: United States Senator for Ohio
-elected to replace father-in-law
-opposes gold