The Age of Jackson

1. The Age of Jackson

2. Andrew Jackson • Born in 1767 in South Carolina. • After both his parents died he moved to North Carolina, where he would later become a lawyer. • General during the War of 1812 • Known for the battle of New Orleans • Also his establishment of Fort Jackson in Florida • Later found illegal and removed • Elected America’s 7th President in 1828

3. Adulterer? • Jackson meets Rachel as a boarder in their home • The two are married in 1788 • Problem!!! • Rachel was married to Lewis Robards • He left and no word • Thought she had obtained a divorce • It did not go through • Jackson and Rachel remarry in 1792 after she obtains an official divorce • Issue used in 1828 election • Rachel dies Dec. 1828, before Jackson enters office

4. The Two Party System • Martin Van Buren “The Little Magician” • Upset over the “Corrupt Bargain” of 1824 • Goes about forming the second party system • Birth of the Democrats and the National Convention

5. Jackson’s Presidency • Spoils System • Jackson rewarded his supporters with government jobs. • Kitchen Cabinet • An informal group of trusted advisers • Members sometimes met in the White House kitchen

6. The Eaton Affair • John Eaton is a close friend of AJ • Named Sec. of War • Problem!!! • Wife Peggy was snubbed by social elite of Washington…why? • Married Eaton shortly after her 1st husband’s death • Rumor of affair with Eaton prior to death • Eaton resigns • Jackson angry because of the treatment Rachel received during election

7. Two Sides of Jackson • Republican • For small gov’t • Against federal spending on expansion • Anti-tariff • Anti-BUS • Pro Gov’t • Willing to use military force • Wielded gov’t power when it fit his agenda

8. Tariff of Abominations (1828) Conflict • Northern States • Manufactures wanted high tariffs to protect their new industries from foreign competitors • British companies could drove smaller American firms out of business by selling goods more cheaply than Americans could afford to make them. • Southern States • Against tariffs because they imported most of their manufactured goods from Europe. • The Southern economy relied mostly on agriculture, particularly cotton exports

9. Nullification Crisis • John C Calhoun led opposition toward the tariff. • According to the Constitution the states had a right to nullify, or cancel any federal law they considered unconstitutional.

10. South Carolina test the Nullification theory. • Officials said they would withdraw form the Union if the federal gov’ttried to force them to pay the tariffs • Jackson threatened to send troops into S.C. • The two sides soon reached an agreement • The government lowered the tariffs little by little over the years

11. Jackson and the Bus • Jackson’s views of the Bus • It concentrated the nation's financial strength in a single institution. • It exposed the government to control by foreign interests. • It served mainly to make the rich richer. • It exercised too much control over members of Congress. • It favored northeastern states over southern and western states. • Banks are controlled by a few select families.

12. Recharting the BUS • Jackson veto’s recharter in 1832 • Withdraws all money to sends it to state banks • BUS will die • Pro’s • More money meant more lending • State and local improvements • Con’s • 1836 Jackson issues “Specie Circular” • Gov’t land must be bought with gold or silver • Banks did not have enough to cover demand • Banks failures and depression follows

13. Native American Removal • The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the removal of American Indians who lived east of the Mississippi River • Congress established Indian Territory in Oklahoma as a new Indian homeland • Indians forced to remove • Cherokee • Choctaw • Groups forced to move • Choctaw • Chickasaw • Cherokee • Sauk • Creek • Seminole

14. Cherokee Nation • Saw writing on the wall • Begin Assimilation • Written Constitution • Revert to farming, small land plots, and gov’t • Hope to use legal system to stop removal

15. Jackson vs. the Court • Cherokee refused to move from their land • The Georgians began attacking Cherokee towns. • The Cherokee decided to take legal action. • Worcester v. Georgia, • John Marshall ruled that, “The Cherokee nation is a distinct community, occupying its own territory, in which laws of Georgia can have no force”. • The Supreme Court decision declared Georgia’s action illegal

16. Jackson’s Response “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it” What’s wrong with this?

17. Indian Removal • Federal troops began to systematically remove several Native American tribes from their homes. • The Choctaw were the first to make the trip in the winter of 1831-32. • The trip was a disaster, federal troops did not provide enough food or supplies. The Choctaw began to die of cold, disease, and starvation. • When the Creek refused federal officials led 14,500 captured Creek, many in chains to Indian Territory.

18. Trail of Tears • The Cherokee were forced to make an 800 mile march, where 1/4 of the 18,000 Cherokee would die. What’s missing from this Picture

19. Second Seminole War • The Seminole’s of Florida used armed resistance to fight removal. • The second Seminole War began • Outcome • Cost-$30-$40 million • Unknown numbers killed • Gov’t gives up hostilities • Establishment of informal reservation