Democracy in the Age of Jackson

1. Democracy in the Age of Jackson A New Era in Politics 1824-1840

2. Objectives for Today • -describe the unique situation of the election of 1824. • -list two reasons why John Quincy Adams was an unpopular president. • -describe the major concepts of “corrupt bargain” of 1824. • -judge the fairness of the voting system in America in the early 1800’s by modeling: the voting process and who was eligible to vote, the caucus system, and the nominating convention.

3. A New Era in Politics • Suffrage (voting) starts to become an issue • Only white males over the age of 21, who owned land, could vote • The land requirement was later dropped

4. A New Way to Choose • Caucus • Private meeting to choose candidates • Nominating Convention • Delegates from all the states choose the party’s candidate

5. A New Era in Politics • Disputed election of 1824 • John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay • No candidate won the Majority-more than ½ the electoral votes

6. Election of 1824

7. A New Era in Politics • The “corrupt bargain” • Clay urged house members to vote for Adams. • Jackson said there was “cheating, corruption, and bribery” involved • Jackson had won popular vote

8. Adams as President • Adams was unpopular as Pres. • He wanted Fed. Government to pay for roads and canals • Promoted the arts & sciences • Americans objected to the spending

9. New Political Parties Form • Whig party formed to support Adams • Wanted federal government to spur the economy • Democrats supported Jackson • Included frontier farmers & factory workers

10. Election of 1828 • Jackson wins because he is seen as the common people’s man • Jacksonian Democracy • Critics thought Jackson to be bad for the country

11. Who was Andrew Jackson?

12. Rachel Jackson