A New Era in Politics

1. A New Era in Politics Chapter 15

2. 15-1: Political Change • Government began as a republic • People had more influence in government over time • Government became more like a democracy

3. Suffrage Reform • Women, blacks, and poor whites could not vote • By the 1850s all of the states adopted universal (white) manhood suffrage

4. Interest in Politics • People became more interested and involved in politics because of political parties and the controversies they spurred on

5. Direct Election • More officials were being chosen by the people rather than assemblies and legislatures

6. Andrew Jackson • Champion of the Common Man • Humble beginnings • Served in government since 1796 • Military hero • Very popular

7. Election of 1824 • John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson • Jackson had most votes, but not majority • Election had to be decided in the House • Adams won • Corrupt bargain • Clay encouraged his supporters to vote for Adams • Adams won and made Clay his secretary of state

8. President Adams • Experienced and brilliant, but not a good president • Good ideas, but never passed in Congress • Jacksonians outmaneuvered him

9. New Politics • Jackson prepared for election of 1828 • Spent a million dollars on his campaign • Encouraged mudslinging and rough, dishonest campaigning

10. The Results of the Election • Jackson won 178 votes to 83 • Twice as many men turned out to vote • Two new parties were established • New Republican/Whig • Democratic-Republican/Democratic

11. 15-2: The Presidency of Andrew Jackson • Elected in 1828 • First president from the West • “Common man”

12. The Inauguration • His supporters followed him back to the White House and partied all night

13. Jackson’s Appointments • Jackson replaced many cabinet members with men of his choosing • He relied more on his “kitchen cabinet” (an informal group of his friends) for advice

14. Jacksonian Democrats • Most favored slavery • Preferred a small federal government • Wanted to give the common man a fairer chance in life • Government must not give artificial advantages to any person or group

15. The Spoils System • “To the victor go the spoils.” • Rewarding supporters with political offices • Jackson used his power to increase the strength of his party

16. The Bank War • The Bank of the U.S. was rechartered from 1816-1836 • It was a safe place for the government to keep its money • It sold bonds for the government • It loaned money to business people to help them get started • It gave the country a sound national currency • It helped keep state banks operating responsibly • It had tremendous economic power • It controlled the nation’s credit and its specie (gold and silver)

17. The Bank War Continued • There was very little government control over the bank • Opponents and many important politicians said it was corrupt • Jackson questioned the constitutionality and the usefulness of the bank • He preferred gold and silver over paper money

18. Nicholas Biddle • President of the Second Bank of the U.S. • Applied for a new charter four years before the old charter ran out • It passed in Congress • Jackson said “The bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it” and vetoed it

19. The Election of 1832 • Clay used the veto in his campaign against Jackson • The people supported Jackson’s decision about the bank • Jackson won the election

20. The Bank’s Last Stand • Jackson chose Roger Taney as Secretary of Treasury • Taney paid the government’s expenses out of the funds in the national bank but made deposits to state banks • Jackson’s enemies called these state banks Jackson’s “pet banks”

21. King Andrew I • National Republicans started calling Jackson “King Andrew I” • National Republicans adopted the name “Whig” Party after the English party that wanted to limit the power of the king

22. The Specie Circular • State banks issued so much paper money that it began to lose value • Government lands were being bought with the paper money that was declining in value • Jackson issued the Specie Circular which decreed that in the future government lands would have to be paid for with gold or silver

23. The Nullification Crisis • Jackson was a strong nationalist, deeply devoted to the U.S. as a nation • South Carolina’s economy was in trouble in the 1820s • In 1828 the “Tariff of Abominations” raised federal tariffs • Northern manufacturers were helped by this tariff, but the South was hurt

24. The Nullification Crisis Continued • John C. Calhoun (Jackson’s VP) wrote The South Carolina Exposition and Protest” • The essay developed the doctrine of nullification (the states’ right to cancel a federal law they did not support) • Read the first full paragraph on page 316

25. Calhoun’s Reasons • Calhoun proposed nullification because some people in South Carolina were proposing to secede (leave the Union) • He thought the threat of nullification would make Congress more careful and respectful and end the threat of secession

26. Jackson and Calhoun • Jackson and Calhoun had several disagreements over social issues and past political events • At a political dinner Jackson was called on to make a toast and said, “Our Union – it must be preserved.” • Calhoun responded with a toast saying, “The Union. Next to our liberties, most dear.”

27. The Crisis • 1832 – Jackson signed a new tariff bill • South Carolina declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 “null, void, and no law” • Jackson issued a proclamation against nullification

28. The Crisis Continued • Henry Clay designed a compromise tariff that gradually reduced duties • 1833 – Congress passed the Force Bill allowing the President to use the army and navy to enforce federal laws • South Carolina accepted the compromise tariff and withdrew nullification but nullified the Force Bill, which Jackson overlooked

29. Indian Removal • Jackson sought to move Native Americans further west and make them become settled farmers

30. The Cherokee Nation • Lived in Northwest Georgia • They had settled as farmers and lived like Europeans • The state of Georgia tried to take their lands, so they took the case to the Supreme Court • Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) • Worcester v. Georgia • Jackson said “Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.”

31. Trail of Tears • Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 • The Choctaw agreed to move in return for free land in the west, help moving and settling, and yearly payments • 1830-1833: 15,000 Choctaw headed west, many dying along the way

32. Trail of Tears Continued • The Creek in Alabama were forced west by the U.S. Army in 1836 • 1837: the Chickasaw were forced west • 1838: Cherokee forced out by U.S. Army on the Trail of Tears from Georgia to Oklahoma • About 4,000 out of 15,000 died on the way

33. The Indian Wars • Second Seminole War (1835-1842) • U.S. lost 1,500 soldiers and $20 million before giving up in Florida • Black Hawk War (1832)

34. Jackson’s Achievements • Jackson took charge as no one had before • He used the veto power more than any other president before him • He showed strength by standing up to South Carolina during the nullification crisis • Showed his strength in claiming the power as spokesman for all the people in the United States