Martin Van Buren

Birth-Death: (1782 - 1862 ) Term: (1837-1841 )

After Andrew Jackson killed the bank in the 1830s, the country fell into a severe depression. Martin Van Buren did not provide government support for the poor, because in his mind this would hinder individualism. He was not reelected for a second term because of his apathy towards the economic problems of the country.

Domestic Events of Martin Van Buren

    The years during the presidency of Martin Van Buren were characterized by a depression. Similar to James Madison before him, Van Buren did little to assist the poor. He was criticized for this by Jackson who created the depression by killing the National Bank. In response to the depression and the crazy banking that had been going on, Van Buren created the Independent Treasury System for safe keeping of Federal funds. This system remained in effect until the passage of the Federal Reserve System in 1913.

    Sectionalism grew during Van Buren's presidency and he was forced to sign numerous Gag Resolutions, which prevented the House from printing any and "all petitions, memorials, resolutions, propositions and papers relating in any way or to any extent whatever to the subject of slavery or the abolition of slavery. . . ." This action did not prevent, but rather postponed, active sectionalism.