Harrison, William (Administration)

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON was born in Virginia in 1773. His father served in the Continental Congress and was governor of Virginia. Harrison fought as an officer in the Indian Wars of the Northwest Territories (present-day Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin). In 1800 President John Adams appointed him territorial governor. During the War of 1812, Harrison commanded U.S. forces in the Northwest Territories. Later Harrison served in the U.S. House and Senate from Ohio and as ambassador to Colombia under President John Quincy Adams.

Although Democrats had dominated the White House, a poor economy made the Whigs’ chances much more likely in 1840. President Andrew Jackson and the Democrats refused to renew the charter for the Second Bank of the United States, resulting in its termination in 1836. State banks filled the demand for credit and currency, but this was dependent on the financial soundness of whatever institution issued the notes. If people lost faith in a bank, there would be a “run” on the bank to cash in their notes for specie (gold or silver). Those left holding notes when a bank ran out and suspended specie payments were left with worthless notes.

During the westward expansion of the 1830s, speculators borrowed money to buy land that they hoped to resell to pioneers moving west. In 1836 the federal government began requiring gold or silver as payment. This caused the contraction of credit as people scrambled for gold and silver to make their land payments. Banks quickly ran out of specie and had to suspend payments. At the same time a collapse in the price of cotton crippled the south, where many farmers were unable to make mortgage payments. This led to a severe recession that lasted well into the 1840s, causing widespread poverty especially in rural areas.

The Whig Party expected to take advantage of this recession to regain the White House. Henry Clay was the favorite, but his Masonic membership caused opposition from the anti-Masonic wing of the party. Harrison was nominated because he was a man of the people and a war hero, two images that called to mind the popular [Page 463]former President Andrew Jackson. Harrison used the nickname “Tippecanoe,” a reference to his military victory against the Indians in 1811, and spoke of being born in a log cabin.

The main substantive issue, however, was the economy, although neither party saw any direct government role in the alleviation of poverty. The Whigs supported a higher tariff, which appealed to northern manufacturers. Democrats supported lower tariffs, which meant lower prices for consumers. The tariff and a stable financial system were key issues of the campaign.

Martin Van Buren was closely tied to Jackson's policies, which many blamed for the recession. Van Buren also lacked Jackson's charisma and personal appeal to the common man. While Harrison received only 53 percent of the popular vote, he carried 80 percent of all electoral votes, doing well in all regions of the country.

As was the tradition of the time, Harrison himself said little during the elections. He allowed others to speak for him and encourage his election. Once elected, he decided to spell out his views during his inaugural address, the longest on record at almost two hours. Harrison called for a limited presidency, saying he would serve only one term. He also vowed to defer to Congress in setting policy and would not veto any laws as long as they were constitutional.

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