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Chapter 14. Andrew Jackson & the Growth of Democracy. I. Inauguration of Andrew Jackson. Inauguration Ceremony 1. 10,000 people flocked to DC, many of whom were 1 st time voters For the Common Man Voting laws changed to give “ common man ” right to vote
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Chapter 14 Andrew Jackson & the Growth of Democracy
I. Inauguration of Andrew Jackson • Inauguration Ceremony 1. 10,000 people flocked to DC, many of whom were 1st time voters • For the Common Man • Voting laws changed to give “common man” right to vote • Jackson promised to return the government “to the people” • Reflected a shift in power to the West, farmers, shopkeepers and small business owners
II. From the Frontier to the White House • Background • hot-tempered • During Revolution, joined militia at age 13 and was captured by British • Frontier Lawyer • Worked in law office in Salisbury, NC • 1788 – head to Nashville, TN and earned enough money to buy land and slaves • Never outgrew temper • Slave trader called Jackson a scoundrel and insulted his wife • Jackson challenged him to duel with pistols • Slave trader shot first, hitting Jackson in chest • Jackson fired a single shot, with trader falling dead to ground • Bullet was so close to Jackson’s heart, doctors were unable to remove it
II. From the Frontier to the White House • People’s Choice • Jackson served in both House and Senate • Became known as “Old Hickory” when defending New Orleans in War of 1812 • 1824 – ran against Henry Clay, William Crawford, John Quincy Adams for President • Won most popular and electoral votes, but not enough for majority (House then chooses from top 3) • Clay (4th place) urged supporters to back Adams. Clay then brought in as Secretary of State • Jackson’s supporters promised revenge and created Democratic Party (representing farmers, workers, and the poor) • Jacksonian Democracy – common people should control the government
III. Jackson’s Approach to Governing • Kitchen Cabinet 1. Did not rely on cabinet for advice, but on trusted friends who met in White House kitchen • Spoils System • Jackson replaced Republican officeholders with loyal Democrats • Said rotating people in office was more democratic than lifetime service as it gave more people a chance to serve their government • Opponents called this practice the spoils system • Only 10% were replaced
IV. Nullification Crisis • A New Tariff • 1828 – Congress passed a law to raise taxes on imported goods in order to encourage growth of manufacturing • Higher taxes = higher prices for imported factory goods • Northern states favored new law • Southern states opposed tariffs • Raised the prices paid for factory goods • Discouraged trade among nations • Worried would hurt cotton sales to other countries • Law favoring one region = unconstitutional • The Right to Nullify • 1832 – Jackson lowered tariff but not enough to satisfy SC • SC proclaimed their right to nullify the tariff laws and threatened to secede • Jackson had Congress pass the Force Bill which allowed him to use army to collect tariffs • Congress passed compromise bill that lowered tariffs more • SC backed down, still tense
V. Jackson Battles the Bank of the US • Feelings Against the Bank • Jackson thought the bank benefited rich Eastern investors at the expense of farmers and workers • Slaying the Bank • Bank’s charter was up for renewal in 1836 but Henry Clay pushed bill through Congress that would renew it 4 years early (hoping for Jackson to lose support) • Jackson vetoed the recharter bill calling the bank a monopoly • 1833 – ordered secretary of treasury to remove all federal deposits from the Bank and put in state banks
VI. Jackson’s Indian Policy • Conflicts with Native Americans • Treaties – drew boundaries between areas claimed for settlers and areas government promised to Indians a) Despite treaties, still pushed off land • Only 125,000 lived east of Mississippi • Most lived in South • Belonged to 5 groups: Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole • Had adopted many white ways and hoped to live in peace with white neighbors • Indian Removal Act • 1830 – allowed President to make treaties in which Indians in East traded their lands for new territory in Plains • Did not say Indians should be removed by force • 1831 – Supreme Court ruled Indians had right to their lands • Jackson disagreed – groups that refused to move west were met with military force
VI. Jackson’s Indian Policy • Trail of Tears • 1836 – thousands of Creeks who refused to leave Alabama were rounded up and marched west in handcuffs • 1838 – President Van Buren had 17,000+ Cherokee dragged from their homes in Georgia and herded west by federal troops a) 4,000 died during the walk to Indian Territory • Seminoles of Florida resisted removal for 10 years • Most costly Indian war in US • Some found refuge in Florida swamps • Jackson claimed to have solved Indian problem, but only moved the conflict across the Mississippi