![]() ![]() Learn more about President Tyler’s first wife Letitia Christian Tyler, who died during her term. He died in 1862, a member of the Confederate House of Representatives. When the first southern states seceded in 1861, Tyler led a compromise movement failing, he worked to create the Southern Confederacy. Whigs became more representative of northern business and farming interests. Later these men returned to the Democratic Party, committed to the preservation of states’ rights, planter interests, and the institution of slavery. In 1844 Calhoun became Secretary of State. By the end of his term, Tyler had replaced the original Whig Cabinet with southern conservatives. But it also increased sectional cleavage that led toward civil war. The administration of this states’-righter strengthened the Presidency. The Webster-Ashburton treaty ended a Canadian boundary dispute in 1845 Texas was annexed. In 1842 Tyler did sign a tariff bill protecting northern manufacturers. The “Log-Cabin” bill enabled a settler to claim 160 acres of land before it was offered publicly for sale, and later pay $1.25 an acre for it. A committee headed by Representative John Quincy Adams reported that the President had misused the veto power, but the resolution failed.ĭespite their differences, President Tyler and the Whig Congress enacted much positive legislation. A year later when Tyler vetoed a tariff bill, the first impeachment resolution against a President was introduced in the House of Representatives. All the Cabinet resigned but Secretary of State Webster. In retaliation, the Whigs expelled Tyler from their party. But again, on states’ rights grounds, Tyler vetoed it. A similar bank bill was passed by Congress. ![]() He would not accept Tyler’s “exchequer system,” and Tyler vetoed Clay’s bill to establish a National Bank with branches in several states. Tyler was ready to compromise on the banking question, but Clay would not budge. Whigs, optimistic that Tyler would accept their program, soon were disillusioned. He even delivered an Inaugural Address, but it seemed full of good Whig doctrine. At first the Whigs were not too disturbed, although Tyler insisted upon assuming the full powers of a duly elected President. Suddenly President Harrison was dead, and “Tyler too” was in the White House. The slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” implied flag waving nationalism plus a dash of southern sectionalism.Ĭlay, intending to keep party leadership in his own hands, minimized his nationalist views temporarily Webster proclaimed himself “a Jeffersonian Democrat.” But after the election, both men tried to dominate “Old Tippecanoe.” The Whigs nominated Tyler for Vice President in 1840, hoping for support from southern states’-righters who could not stomach Jacksonian Democracy. Tyler soon joined the states’ rights Southerners in Congress who banded with Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and their newly formed Whig party opposing President Jackson. As a Senator he reluctantly supported Jackson for President as a choice of evils. After leaving the House he served as Governor of Virginia. Serving in the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1821, Tyler voted against most nationalist legislation and opposed the Missouri Compromise. He attended the College of William and Mary and studied law. He was the first Vice President to succeed to the Presidency after the death of his predecessor.ĭubbed “His Accidency” by his detractors, John Tyler was the first Vice President to be elevated to the office of President by the death of his predecessor.īorn in Virginia in 1790, he was raised believing that the Constitution must be strictly construed. John Tyler became the tenth President of the United States (1841-1845) when President William Henry Harrison died in April 1841. The biography for President Tyler and past presidents is courtesy of the White House Historical Association. Get Involved Show submenu for “Get Involved””.The White House Show submenu for “The White House””.Office of the United States Trade Representative.Office of Science and Technology Policy.Executive Offices Show submenu for “Executive Offices””.Administration Show submenu for “Administration””. ![]()
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