void the issue of slavery, but when Texas asked for annexation it was brought to the center of attention. Texas was a slave holding state, and for that reason many politicians such as Van Buren didn’t want to allow Texas to enter the United States. Tyler, who ran with Van Buren as the Whig candidate for vice president was a strong supporter of annexation (though this went against the Whig’s ideology). Slavery was the key issue in the decision, and it decisively divided politicians into those who were pro-slavery, and those who were against it. Eventually, after Texas began negotiating with Great Britain, they were annexed by the United States. The times between 1820 – 1840 were times of economic turmoil to say the least. The issue that affected most Americans was that of the National Bank. Before the charter for the bank was supposed to expire, Henry Clay proposed a plan (re-chartering of the bank), which would provide economic stability for the nation. Jackson vetoed the bill on the grounds that the bank was still unconstitutional, and that it was a monopoly that favored the rich. The charter for the bank was supposed to expire in 1836, but instead, Jackson acted on his own accord, and withdrew all federal funds from the Bank of the United States, and placed them into “pet banks” across the nation. Nowhere in the constitution did it give the president the power to do this, but this didn’t stop Jackson from following through, and completing his plan. This action was the catalyst for the creation of the Whig party, who saw Jackson as more of a tyrant then a president. The protective tariff, specifically the “Tariff of Abominations” sparked harsh controversy over the government’s power to tax for the purpose of protecting New England industries (which didn’t affect the South in the least bit). All it did to the South was take money out of their pockets. This later led to the null...
