LITMIR.BIZ

      Joseph Smith

      An interesting sidebar during this time in American history is the publication of the Book of Mormon and the story of Joseph Smith (1805–1844) and Brigham Young (1801–1877). Smith declared that in 1823 he had been visited by the angel Moroni, who revealed to Smith that a tribe of Israelites had escaped the Old World to settle in North America. Moroni then told Smith where to find golden plates that were buried near his home in Vermont and that revealed the history of these people and how they believed in Jesus centuries before the Savior’s birth. Smith also asserted that he had visions of Jesus and God and that they had commanded him to establish the Church of Christ (now the Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints). After publishing the Book of Mormon in 1830, Smith and his growing number of converts were soon persecuted for their beliefs (many of them controversial, such as allowing polygamy), and they fled to Ohio and then Illinois. When Smith destroyed a newspaper that had criticized him and his church, he was arrested and, in 1844, killed by an angry mob. A successor was found in Brigham Young, who led the Mormons to a new home in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they could live free of persecution.

      Who comprised Jackson’s unofficial “Kitchen Cabinet”?

      Jackson’s “Kitchen Cabinet” consisted of Martin Van Buren (1782–1862)—his former secretary of state who would become his vice president in his second term; Francis Preston Blair, the editor of the Washington Globe; Amos Kendall, editor of two newspapers and later Jackson’s postmaster general; William B. Lewis, who formerly served as quartermaster under General Jackson; Andrew Jackson Donelson, the president’s nephew; John Overton, his longtime friend and business partner; and Roger B. Taney, his attorney general whom he later nominated as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

      Who tried to assassinate President Jackson?

      An unemployed house painter named Richard Lawrence fired two guns at Jackson in Washington, D.C., in February 1835 as Jackson was leaving the funeral service of former U.S. Congressman Warren R. Davis. Jackson chased his assailant with his cane and made sure Lawrence was apprehended. Lawrence was a mentally ill man who sometimes believed he was the king of England. He had tried to kill his sister before and had threatened others. Lawrence was deemed insane and never brought to trial.

      What was Van Buren’s role in Jackson’s Cabinet?

      Van Buren played a key role in Jackson’s Cabinet, as he and Jackson were on good terms. Van Buren was the only member of Jackson’s Cabinet who was a member of Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet. Historians believe Van Buren helped convince Jackson to eliminate his entire Cabinet, including Vice President Calhoun. Van Buren resigned his position but worked behind the scenes to help Jackson’s successful reelection.

      Why was James K. Polk called the “dark horse” candidate?

      In 1844, President James K. Polk (1795–1849; eleventh president, 1845–1849) did not appear on the radar screen as the next president of the United States; he had just lost two consecutive bids for the governorship of Tennessee. No one thought a candidate who could not win his own state could win the presidency. Additionally, the frontrunner for the Democratic Party at the 1844 convention was former President Martin Van Buren.

      However, Van Buren made a serious blunder by publicly coming out against the annexation of Texas—adding the state to the Union—as did Whig candidate Henry Clay. Perhaps Van Buren and Clay wanted to avoid the thorny slavery question that was so divisive in the country. President Andrew Jackson saw an opportunity for his protégé and with the help of other key politicians managed to move Polk onto a later ballot at the Democratic convention.

      As Van Buren could not obtain the necessary majority votes, it became clear that someone else would have to emerge. It turned out to be Polk, who became the Democratic Party’s nominee.

      What measure led to Polk’s success in lowering the tariff?

      The Walker Tariff Act of 1846—named after Polk’s secretary of the treasury, Robert J. Walker—achieved the president’s objective in lowering the tariffs that had been passed by the Whigs in 1842. Polk faced significant opposition in Congress. Vice President George M. Dallas cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate that led to the law’s successful passage.

      What was Polk’s financial plan with regard to the Treasury?

      Polk wanted to avoid creating a national bank, placing the government’s money in private banks instead. Polk followed the example of Martin Van Buren, who had called for an independent treasury during his presidency. Unlike Van Buren, Polk managed to have his measure—which he called the Constitutional Treasury Act—passed into law. It lasted until 1913, when Congress created the Federal Reserve System.