Roger B. Taney

Roger B. Taney, Jackson’s fourth Treasury Secretary, was born in 1777 in Calvert County, Maryland and died in 1864 in Frederick, Maryland, where he is buried. The second son of a tobacco planter, Taney graduated from Dickinson College with honors in 1795. Unlikely to inherit much land, Taney became a lawyer and politician who held nuanced positions on the most important subjects of the day, including slavery and states’ rights. A Federalist turned Democrat, Taney became a Jackson man during the 1824 presidential election. Jackson rewarded him for his loyalty with several important posts, including acting Secretary of War, Attorney General, acting Treasury Secretary and Chief Justice.

Taney is best known and most hated for his controversial pro-slavery decision in the Dred Scott case (1857) when serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a post he held from 1836 until his death. Jackson appointed him to the high court in recognition of his services as acting Treasury Secretary. Unlike his two immediate predecessors in that office, Louis McLane and William J. Duane, Taney gleefully removed the federal government’s deposits from the Second Bank of the US and distributed them to state banks throughout the country loyal to the Jackson administration. The Senate responded by rejecting his nomination – his was a recess appointment – by a vote of 28 to 18.

Materials

Objects and Images Related to Andrew Jackson

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Jackson Statue, New Orleans Statue of Andrew Jackson, the triumphant warrior, in Jackson Square, New Orleans.

Coffin Handbill Mudslinging 19th century style: The coffin handbills circulated by the J. Q. Adams camp during the 1828 presidential election campaign.

The Hermitage Elevation and plan of Jackson’s plantation mansion outside of Nashville during the final year of his presidency.

Samuel D. Ingham Samuel D. Ingham, Secretary of the Treasury (March 1829 to June 1831)

Louis McLane Louis McLane, Secretary of the Treasury (August 1831 to May 1833)

William J. Duane William J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury (May to September 1833)

Roger B. Taney Roger B. Taney, Secretary of the Treasury (September 1833 to June 1834)

Levi Woodbury Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury (July 1834 to March 1841)

Specie Circular The pitiful plight of an unemployed tradesman, his family and his creditors due to the policies of Jackson and Van Buren.

Second Bank of the US Shares Owned by Baring Brothers Certificate for shares in the Second Bank of the US owned by Baring Brothers of London, April 1830.

Unissued Second Bank of the US notes Unissued Second Bank of the US notes, Philadelphia.

<em>Boston Weekly Messenger</em> Editorial Second Bank of the United States editorial published in the Boston Weekly Messenger, April 18, 1816.

Speech on the Bank of the United States Speech on the Bank of the United States veto and its aftermath.

Report of a Committee of Directors Report of a Committee of Directors of the Second Bank of the United States, 1833 (first edition).

Political Cartoon Political cartoon: A potential Third Bank of the United States provides Jackson and Van Buren an awful affright.

Jackson Vetoes Re-Charter of the Second Bank of the US Jackson vetoes the re-charter of the Second Bank of the US, 1832.

Nicholas Biddle Nicholas Biddle, Philadelphia gentleman and banker.

First Bank of the United States Building Bank of the United States building on Third Street in Philadelphia.

Second Bank of the United States Building Postcard of the Second Bank of the United States building.