What made Martin Van Buren the choice of the Democrats?
What in William Henry Harrison's background made him the choice of the Whig
Party in 1840?
How did the Whigs promote Harrison's image in 1840?
In what ways did Harrison's background correspond with and/or contradict
his image?
Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
Characterize William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren as candidates for
president.
Compare and contrast Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison.
Explain why the Whigs wanted to find a candidate in the mold of former president
Andrew Jackson.
Discuss the ways in which Harrison did and did not fit the mold.
Background
Many accounts portray Harrison's image as manufactured and Van Buren's image also
open to criticism and ridicule. This lesson offers students the opportunity to
reflect on the nature of the candidates in 1840. Though intended for the teacher,
all or part of the following background information may be useful for some students.
According to William Nisbet Chambers ("Election of 1840," History of American
Presidential Elections, Volume 1. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Ed. 5 vols.
New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1971.):
…the Harrison campaign plan of 1840 exhibits important parallels with
certain modern, highly professional campaigns… The Whig managers of 1840 were
the new professionals of their party, and they made resourceful use of the proliferating
mass media of the time. In the process, they created a political persona for
William Henry Harrison that had little to do with actuality. They called it
"Old Tip," surrounded it with various trappings such as log cabins and cider
barrels, offered it as packaged charisma, as the representative and savior of
the common man, and sold it to the masses (644).
…"Old Hickory" was an authentic Military hero. …By contrast, Harrison was a
minor military figure and a folk hero only as the result of the Whig campaign
imagery…
One option below allows students to look at some primary sources to decide for
themselves if Harrison was or was not a genuine hero.
Chambers adds, "The Whig publicists also successfully created a marvelously
ingenious negative image of Martin Van Buren" (644). If Van Buren were so easily
"tarnish-able," why did the Democrats nominate him?
… There was no doubt that the Democrats would nominate Martin Van
Buren again. Fifty-eight in 1840, nearly twenty years younger than Harrison,
he had served his party well. He had also labored to maintain his position among
the various blocs that constituted the party, and he could count on a national
cadre of patronage officeholders. Short, round, and a bit dapper with his reddish
side-whiskers, he was genial and urbane, a shrewd political manager who had
been called the "Red Fox" and the "Little Magician." Yet he lacked flair, drama,
the touch of charisma that makes for a strong popular image. It was all very
well to dub him "Old Kinderhook," but his political persona was less than "O.K."
for the times. In the face of depression and privation, the Whigs were nearer
to the mark when they declared that "Matty Van" was a used-up man" (Chambers,
666).
The contest between Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison marked the first
truly modern presidential campaign, with methods today's students are sure to
recognize. Lessons in this unit allow students to become familiar with the issues
and personalities and to review an assortment of primary documents. As students
analyze them, they reflect on the presidential campaign of 1840. How was it conducted?
What was the role of campaign advertising? How crucial were issues to the election
of William Henry Harrison? How crucial was image?
Time permitting, allow for discussion of any differences between the two sets
of secondary accounts.
In a class discussion, compare the two candidates:
How did the candidates compare as far as political experience? Leadership
experience?
How did the candidates compare on a personal level?
What were the relative strengths and weaknesses of each candidate?
In what ways was Harrison a good choice for a party seeking a candidate
for president in the Andrew Jackson mold? In what ways was he not a good choice?
What elements in Harrison's background would be most effective if highlighted
during the presidential campaign of 1840? Would those same elements be effective
if highlighted today?
Why did the Democrats not seek a candidate in the Jacksonian mold? Why
did the Democrats consider Van Buren a strong, desirable candidate despite
his lack of military record or frontier persona? Do students think Van Buren
would have been the choice of the Democrats if politics had not determined
that he would be the candidate?
Why was Harrison a particularly good foil to oppose Martin Van Buren?
Optional Activities with Primary Sources
Two Heroes?
According to William
Henry Harrison: Life Before the Presidency on the EDSITEment resource
The American President, "Observing
Andrew Jackson's war hero popularity and political success, the Whigs reasoned
that it would take another war hero to oppose Martin Van Buren, Jackson's
chosen successor in 1836…"
The Whigs looked for a candidate who would appeal to the same broad section
of the population that had voted for Jackson. In what ways, if any, was Harrison
a good choice? In what ways, if any, was he a poor choice? In what ways was
Harrison already in the mold of Andrew Jackson? In what ways was Harrison's
image changed for the campaign?
Share with the class the following accounts from The
American President on the lives of Jackson and Harrison before they became
president:
Harrison's Appeal
In what ways does a reading of the primary documents below tend to support
the idea that Harrison was a good candidate to appeal to those who admired
Jackson? In what ways does it support or refute the contention that Harrison
was a manufactured hero? Assign student groups one or more of the following
accounts from EDSITEment-reviewed websites:
General
(Mad) Anthony Wayne Praises Lieutenant Harrison (1794) Scan for the
name "Harrison" in the middle of the page. What particular qualities of
Harrison does Wayne cite? Wayne praises many officers. How does Harrison
compare?
Harrison's
Account of Negotiations (1805) / Conclusion of Harrison Account The
relevant portion is the last letter beginning on the page. It concludes
on the top of the next page. What are some examples Harrison cites as
accomplishments? Is there any indication of Harrison's attitude toward
his mission or toward the Native Americans?
Letter
to Negotiator and Treaty (1809) Harrison is now serving under President
James Madison. What are his instructions? What are the conditions for
the purchase of land? What does the treaty discuss other than the purchase
of land?
Harrison
and His Troops Praised By President Madison (December 18, 1811) President
Madison's letter is at the top of the page. What is the nature of Madison's
praise? What qualities of Harrison does he specify? Does the letter offer
any indication of any problems with the Tippecanoe Battle?
Index to Indian Affairs (NOTE: Page is slow loading.)
A group assigned this list of documents should use the Find tool in their
browser (usually under Edit) to search for "General Harrison." Simply
look at the titles of the documents listed that feature General Harrison.
Does the search indicate that he performed many services for the United
States? What kinds of documents are listed?
As an extension of this lesson, some or all students may read a modern analysis
of Harrison and the campaign of 1840 in A Manufactured Hero on the EDSITEment
resource The American President. Do students believe it is fair to label Harrison
a "manufactured hero"?
Assessment
Discuss or have students answer the following in writing: Was William Henry
Harrison a good choice for the Whig Party to run for president, if the Whigs
were seeking someone in the mold of Andrew Jackson? What events in Harrison's
life could be highlighted effectively in an election campaign? If desired, students
can answer these questions in the form of an editorial endorsing Harrison's
candidacy.
Burr,
S. J.
[1840 ], The Life and Times of William Henry Harrison
(New York: L.W. Ransom. Permission: University of Chicago, SJB:Harrison.)
[http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/cgi-bin/navigate?/lib35/artfl1/
databases/sources/IMAGE/.206]
A
POLITICAL MOVEMENT
[http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/IndexDisplayCartoonMedium.asp?
SourceIndex=People&IndexText=Harrison%2C+William+
Henry&UniqueID=6&Year=1840]
Untitled
Harrison letter sheet
[http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/IndexDisplayCartoonMedium.asp?
SourceIndex=People&IndexText=Harrison%2C+
William+Henry&UniqueID=2&Year=1840]
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