Gibbons vs Ogden was an important case in the US Supreme Court. Aaron Ogden, having obtained by assignment the exclusive right of navigation of all waters within the jurisdiction of the State of New York, granted by that State to Livingston and Fulton for thirty years, beginning in 1808, filed a bill in the Court of Chancery of New York for an injunction against one Gibbons, of New Jersey, who possessed two steamboats running between New York and Elizabethtown, New Jersey. The injunction was granted. Gibbons appealed to the Supreme Court in 1824. The court gave judgment for the appellant, it being deemed that the granting of exclusive navigation of waters within the State of New York by that State's Legislature, extending to coastwise traffic with another State, was repugnant to the clause of the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to regulate commerce. Research Gibbons Vs Ogden
In the USA, the spoils system is the granting of offices and favours among the supporters of a party in office and of punishment for those who have not supported the party. The system was developed in New York and Pennsylvania more than elsewhere, largely because of the existence in those States of a large body of apathetic non-English voters. In New York the ill-devised council of appointment had much to do with the growth of the system, and so had Aaron Burr. In the Federal Government, Jefferson carried out the system to a considerable extent. The Act of 1820 prescribing a four-years' term for many officers favoured its growth. Finally, the politicians who surrounded Jackson brought it to its full development as an engine of party warfare. It has since been a regular feature of American politico in every administration, tempered of late by the provisions of the Civil Service Act of 1883. The phrase was derived from a statement of Senator W L Marcy, of New York, in a speech in the Senate in 1832. Speaking of the New York politicians, he said: 'They see nothing wrong in the rule that to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy'.
The spoils system, a type of patronage, was used by President Jackson in the 1830s in particular, and by Republican administrations after the American Civil War. The practice remained common in the 20th century in US local government. The system reached a peak under the presidency of Ulysses S Grant. In the 20th century, civil-service posts in large cities were often filled on the recommendation of newly elected political leaders. The system was epitomised by the Democratic Party 'machine' of Richard Daley, mayor of Chicago from 1955 to 1976. Research Spoils System
In 1789 William Mooney, an Irish-American politician, founded in New York City, the Columbian Order, a secret society, which in 1805 was incorporated as the Tammany Society, named after the Indian Tammany, and wearing Indian insignia, especially a buck's tail.
The Tammany Society was reputedly founded for the purpose of preserving democratic ideas against Alexander Hamilton's aristocratic doctrine.
In 1800, by careful work under Aaron Burr, the order controlled New York City politics. Next, under Daniel Tompkins, it became the administration wing of the Democratic party in New York City, upholding Madison and opposing the Clintons. The Bucktails and the Albany Regency controlled the State for a long period. In 1822 the power over the society had gone into the hands of its general committee. Stricter and stricter organization followed, and the Tammany Society developed into a machine for securing success in elections and power and plunder for its chieftains. Always indifferent to principles, it grew worse after the influx of foreigners into the city, until after the American Civil War its corruption culminated in the scandalous performances of the Tweed Ring. Since the defeat of the Tweed Ring in 1871, the Tammany Society, under the control of John Kelly, Richard Croker and others, was famous for strict control over a large body of voters, strict devotion to the spoils-system, looseness of allegiance to the Democratic party, and indifference to the welfare and interests of New York City which it had almost constantly ruled. Research Tammany Society
Aaron was a Jewish patriarch and the brother and assistant of Moses. Together with Moses he led the Israelites out of Egypt, and became the first Jewish high priest. Aaron was of the tribe of Levi. At Sinai, when the people became impatient at the long-continued absence of Moses, he complied with their request in making a golden calf, and thus became involved with them in the guilt of gross idolatry. The office of high-priest, which he first filled, was made hereditary in his family. He died at Mount Hor, allegedly at the age of 123, and was succeeded by his son Eleazar. Research Aaron
Aaron Arrowsmith was an English geographer and map maker. He was born in 1750 and died in 1823. He published major world maps in 1790 and 1794; maps of North America in 1796, the PacificOcean in 1798 and published an Atlas of South India in 1822. Research Aaron Arrowsmith
Aaron Burr was an American lawyer and politician. He was born in 1756 at Newark, New Jersey and died in 1836. After graduating from Princeton in 1772 he joined the army at the outbreak of the revolution and served in Arnold's expedition through Maine to Canada, afterwards rising to the rank of colonel. He was a Republican Senator for New York from 1791 until 1797 and later a member of the New York Assembly. He was Vice-President to Thomas Jefferson from 1801 to 1805, having achieved the same number of votes for President as Thomas Jefferson, but having not been chosen for President by the House of Representatives which preferred Thomas Jefferson. In 1804 he fought a duel with Hamilton which resulted in Hamilton being mortally wounded. After retiring from the position of Vice-President he allegedly plotted the formation of an independent state in the Southwest, and was arrested and charged with treason, but was acquitted and subsequently left the USA for Europe, returning some years later to obscurity and poverty. Research Aaron Burr
Aaron Copland was an American composer. He was born in 1900 and died in 1990. He composed Appalachian Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, Lincoln Portrait. Research Aaron Copland
Aaron A Sargent was an American politician. He was born in 1827 and died in 1887. He represented California in the US Congress as a Republican from 1861 to 1863, and from 1869 to 1873, and was a US Senator from 1873 to 1879. He was Minister to Germany from 1883 to 1884. Research Aaron Sargent
Abbreviations
Research Gibbons Vs Ogden
