Martin van Buren Biography and Timeline

Birth of Martin van Buren

Birth of Martin van Buren, Kinderhook, New York

Senate

Appointed Member of US Senate

Governor

Appointed Governor of New York

Secretary of State

Appointed Secretary of State

Role range: 1829-1837 – 1829-1831

Minister of Great Britain

Appointed Minister of Great Britain

Role range: 1829-1837 – 1831-1833

President of USA

Wins the Democrat Vice Presidential Nomination

Role range: 1829-1837 – 1831-1833

Election

Wins election to become Vice President of the USA

Role range: 1833-1837

Vice President

Appointed Vice President of the USA

Role range: 1829-1837 – 1833-1837

Little Magician

Known as the "little magician" for his political manipulation

Role range: 1837-1841

Rule of Michigan

Michigan becomes the 26th US State

Role range: 1837-1841

Unification

Michigan becomes the 26th US State

Role range: 1837-1841

Inauguration

Inaugurated President of the USA, 8th

Role range: 1837-1841

Economy of USA

Passes the Independent Treasury Act to help deal with a financial crisis

Role range: 1837-1841

Legislation

Passes the Independent Treasury Act to help deal with a financial crisis

Role range: 1837-1841

Reform of Government

Passes the Independent Treasury Act to help deal with a financial crisis

Role range: 1837-1841

Rule of Texas

The Government notifies Texas that it will not be admitted to the union

Role range: 1837-1841

Unification

The Government notifies Texas that it will not be admitted to the union

Role range: 1837-1841

Panic of 1837 Response

Proposes separating federal funds from unstable private banks.

Special Session of Congress

Convenes a special congressional session to address the financial crisis.

Financial Panic Disrupts Federal Deposits

The Panic of 1837 raised doubts about keeping public money in commercial banks and strengthened arguments for a separate Treasury.

Van Buren Convenes Special Congress

President Van Buren called an extraordinary congressional session to address the financial crisis and federal revenue management.

President Proposes Independent Treasury System

Van Buren advocated storing and disbursing federal funds through government officers rather than through private banks.

Treasury Proposal Faces Congressional Resistance

The first congressional efforts to create an independent Treasury met opposition from Whigs and other critics of the administration.

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

Role range: 1837-1841

Neutrality

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

Role range: 1837-1841

Proclamation of Neutrality

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

Role range: 1837-1841

Independent Treasury Campaign Continues

Van Buren renewed his efforts to separate the Treasury from banks after the first proposal failed to pass.

Van Buren Renews Treasury Appeal

The administration persisted in its campaign for an independent Treasury despite continued disputes over banking policy.

Independent Treasury Legislation Enacted

Congress enacted the first Independent Treasury Act in July 1840 under President Martin Van Buren.

Federal Money Removed From Bank Custody

The new law sought to end reliance on selected commercial banks for safeguarding federal deposits.

Public Funds Segregated From Bank Credit

The reform aimed to prevent federal money from being used as the basis for lending by private deposit banks.

Treasury Independence Becomes Election Issue

The subtreasury scheme became an important political dividing line in the presidential election campaign of 1840.