Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren

Early Life and Education

Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook, New York. His parents were Dutch farmers, and he grew up speaking Dutch before learning English. He attended a village schoolhouse until age 14 and began studying law at 16 under local attorneys. By 1803, at the age of 21, he was admitted to the New York State Bar.

Marriage and Family

In 1807, Van Buren married his first cousin once removed, Hannah Hoes. Raised in a Dutch-speaking household, Hannah had a strong accent when speaking English. They had five sons, four of whom survived into adulthood. Hannah died of tuberculosis in 1819, and Martin never remarried.

Political Rise in New York

Coming from a politically active family, Van Buren entered politics after becoming a lawyer. In 1815, he was elected Attorney General of New York while also serving in the state senate. He advocated for better soldier pay and militia expansion. Known as “the Little Magician,” Van Buren became influential for his use of the “spoils system,” rewarding loyal supporters with government jobs. His network eventually became the foundation of the Democratic Party.

National Politics and Vice Presidency

Van Buren served as U.S. Senator from New York from 1821 to 1829 and was briefly Governor of New York before being appointed Secretary of State by President Andrew Jackson. He resigned in 1831 during the Petticoat Affair but remained in Jackson’s favor. In 1832, Jackson chose Van Buren as his vice-presidential running mate. As vice president, he supported Jackson during major events such as the Nullification Crisis with South Carolina.

Presidency and Later Life

In 1837, Van Buren was elected the eighth president of the United States. His presidency was marked by the Panic of 1837, a major economic crisis. He supported Jackson’s policies, including the forced removal of Native Americans. Although he personally viewed slavery as immoral, he opposed efforts to abolish it. Blamed for the economic depression, he lost re-election in 1840 to William Henry Harrison. He made further attempts to return to the presidency but was unsuccessful. Van Buren died on July 24, 1862, at the age of 79.

Most Well-Known Quote

"It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't." – Martin Van Buren

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was Martin Van Buren called "the Little Magician"?
  2. What role did Van Buren play in the formation of the Democratic Party?
  3. How did the Panic of 1837 affect Van Buren’s presidency?
  4. What were Van Buren’s views on slavery and Native American removal?

Glossary

  • Spoils System: A political practice of giving government jobs to supporters and allies.
  • Petticoat Affair: A political scandal involving cabinet members' wives refusing to socialize with the wife of the Secretary of War.
  • Nullification Crisis: A confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government over a tariff law.
  • Panic of 1837: A severe financial crisis that led to a prolonged economic depression.
  • Vice President: The second-highest executive officer of the U.S. government, under the president.

Five Interesting Facts

  • Van Buren was the first president born after the United States declared independence.
  • He grew up speaking Dutch as his first language.
  • He never remarried after the death of his wife, Hannah Hoes.
  • His term as governor of New York was the shortest in the state's history.
  • He was a key architect of the modern Democratic Party.

Timeline of Martin Van Buren's Life

  1. 1782 – Born in Kinderhook, New York
  2. 1803 – Admitted to the New York State Bar
  3. 1807 – Married Hannah Hoes
  4. 1815 – Elected Attorney General of New York
  5. 1821 – Elected U.S. Senator from New York
  6. 1829 – Elected Governor of New York
  7. 1829 – Appointed Secretary of State by President Andrew Jackson
  8. 1831 – Resigned as Secretary of State during the Petticoat Affair
  9. 1832 – Elected Vice President of the United States
  10. 1837 – Became 8th President of the United States
  11. 1837 – Faced the Panic of 1837 economic crisis
  12. 1840 – Lost re-election to William Henry Harrison
  13. 1848 – Ran again for president as a Free Soil candidate
  14. 1862 – Died in Kinderhook, New York

Early Years

Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook, New York. He grew up speaking Dutch before learning English and started studying law at age 16. He became a licensed lawyer by 21.

Family Life

He married Hannah Hoes, a Dutch-speaking cousin, in 1807. They had five sons, and four lived to adulthood. Hannah died in 1819, and Van Buren never remarried.

Starting in Politics

Van Buren began his political career after becoming a lawyer. He was elected New York’s Attorney General in 1815 and helped improve soldier pay and the militia. He gained power using the “spoils system,” where he gave jobs to loyal supporters, and helped start the Democratic Party.

Senator, Governor, and Vice President

He was a U.S. Senator from 1821 to 1829 and briefly served as New York’s governor. President Andrew Jackson made him Secretary of State, then chose him as vice president in 1832. Van Buren supported Jackson during tough times like the Nullification Crisis.

President and Later Years

Van Buren became president in 1837 but faced a major financial crisis called the Panic of 1837. He also supported Native American removal and opposed ending slavery, even though he didn’t like it personally. He lost the 1840 election and never became president again. Van Buren died in 1862 at age 79.