The Jacksonians

1. The Jacksonians 1828-1840

2. Characteristics of the Jacksonians Defender of the common man Forceful presidential leadership Importance placed on states rights, but union must be preserved Equality of economic opportunity Guardians of democracy and individual liberty Defenders of the Constitution

3. Election of 1824 Major players Andrew Jackson John Quincy Adams Henry Clay William Crawford Popular Jackson wins in the popular vote and the electoral vote, but doesn’t achieve a majority Election goes to House of Representatives Clay helps Adams win in the House Clay appointed Secretary of State Seen by many as the “corrupt bargain” Jackson becomes a bitter rival of Clay and Adams Splits Republican Party (National Rep. vs. Democrats)

7. Election of 1828 Jackson wins easily in a rematch of the previous election Factors influencing the election Nearly universal white male suffrage Most states had dismissed property qualifications Electors decided based upon popular vote in each state Jackson’s image Military hero Log cabin President Champion of the common man Jackson’s inauguration Seen as a triumph for the common man Spoils system (AKA Rotation in Office) Appointed many of his friends to office

8. Why would westward expansion lead many states to drop property qualifications for voting?

10. Indian Removal Southern Indian tribes stood in the way of Westward expansion Primary obstacle: Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes Many of the tribes mirrored white society 1820’s on Southern states intensified pressure on Indians to resettle further West Tribes were hesitant to abandon ancestral land States passed laws limiting tribal authority 1830 Jackson secured passage of Indian Removal Act Controversial measure barely passed Congress Authorized money and western lands to be used to “remove” the five Southern tribes Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes “signed” treaties and were removed

11. Indian Removal Several of the tribes resisted Second Creek War Seminole War Cherokee chose to take their case to court Cherokee v. Georgia (1831) Marshall court ruled Cherokee had a right to their land Worcester v. Georgia (1832) Court claimed the Cherokee were a “distinct” political entity and were entitled to federal protection Jackson responds “John Marshall has made his decision, let him enforce it” Trail of Tears (Van Buren 1838) Last and final removal of the Cherokee, 8k die (over 1/3)

13. Why would Indian Removal have helped to preserve the Union?

14. Nullification Crisis Beginning in 1816 Congress had passed a series of protective tariffs South eventually opposed protective tariffs Tariffs didn’t help Southern cotton (export only) Raised domestic prices for manufactured goods Raised again in 1828 Became known as “Tariff of Abominations” State of South Carolina published “SC Exposition and Protest” (1828) Based on Kent. and Virg. Resolutions Argument for nullifying the tariff in SC Not so secretly authored by Calhoun (current VP)

15. Nullification Crisis Calhoun vs. Jackson Calhoun had hoped Jackson would side with his state’s rights argument and eliminate tariff Signed tariff of 1832 lowering but not eliminating tariffs Peggy Eaton Affair Webster Hayne Debate Calhoun resigns as Vice President

18. Nullification Crisis 1832 SC legislature votes to nullify tariffs of 1828 & 1832 Jackson threatens military action Clay authors a compromise “the olive branch and the sword” Force Bill authorizing military force Compromise Tariff 1833 (gradually lowering tariffs) Compromise averts sectional disaster

19. Bank War Jackson vetoed much of Clay’s American system Maysville Road veto Early recharter of the 2nd Bank of the U.S. Jackson saw the bank as a tool of the rich Clay hoped to use the bank to beat Jackson in the election of 1832 Jackson decided to wipe out the bank before it was due to expire in 1836 Jackson order federal money withdrawn from the bank and deposited in “pet banks” “Pet banks”—State banks loyal to the democratic party Measure actually caused growth of paper money and speculation

22. Bank War Jackson vs. Biddle Bank President Biddle attempts to save the Bank by raising interest rates and calling in loans Disastrous effect on economy Galvanized opposition against Jackson Birth of the Whig Party Specie circular Fearing growth of paper money from state banks Jackson orders that all public land sales be paid in hard currency Results in a loss of faith in paper money and runs on state banks Bad economic policies result in the Panic of 1837 (plus international causes)

24. The Whigs labeled Jackson “King Andrew”. Why? The blame for the Panic of 1837 never falls on Jackson. Why? How is this same idea used by current politicians?

25. Jackson’s Legacy 1836 Election Jackson’s successor Martin Van Buren elected Fails to hold Jackson’s popularity Blamed for depression Lacked Jackson’s charisma Democrats linked to Jackson’s policies Antibank & Hard Money supporters 1840 Election William Henry Harrison defeats Van Buren Whig run a great campaign turning Democratic attacks against them “Log cabin and Hard Cider” “Tippecanoe and Tyler too”