Andrew Jackson
In 1826 a former Mason and prominent critic of Freemasonry named William Morgan disappeared. Believing him to have been murdered for his outspoken criticism of Freemasonry, church groups and other prominent citizens launched an anti-Mason campaign, condemning the organization and leading to the formation of America’s first third political party, aptly named the Anti-Masons. This party stood in opposition to the National Republicans led by John Quincy Adams and the Democrats, led by war hero and populist Andrew Jackson.
Initially the only issue of concern to the Anti-Masons was the eradication of Freemasonry in the United States, and it was supported in this goal by several religious denominations. Andrew Jackson was a Mason, although lost records preclude establishing his date of initiation. He was elected as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee in 1822. As the Anti-Mason fervor swept across America many prominent business and political leaders moved to distance themselves from Freemasonry. Jackson did not.
Jackson, as a Mason of long and high standing, spoke often and forcibly in defense of the fraternal organization, and true to his combative nature attacked those who attacked Masonry, decrying their ignorance of its principles and activities. Anti-Masons fueled the speculation that influential positions such as judges and sheriffs which were held by Masons favored brother Masons over non-Masons in their decisions and activities, an accusation which outraged Jackson.
In 1832 the Anti-Masons held the first presidential nominating convention in American history. Their candidate for president, William Wirt, won less than 8% of the vote, but carried Vermont and its seven electoral votes. In 1836 the Pennsylvania branch of the party met in state convention and nominated William Henry Harrison for president, a nomination which was withdrawn when Harrison refused to confirm or deny whether he was a Mason.
It was anti-Jackson rancor which eventually crippled the Anti-Mason party. As the Whig party emerged as the most likely entity to unseat the Jacksonians, more and more anti-Masons left to join them. The Anti-Mason party led to innovations in American politics such as nominating conventions which were rapidly adopted by other parties then and since. Jackson’s staunch defense of Freemasonry and his appeal to the common man helped to quell the anti-Masonic fervor across the United States. The party had been founded under the belief that Freemasonry must be purged from American political life, but by the time of its demise Freemasonry was no longer the main issue with which it was concerned.