President Andrew Jackson: “The Common Man’s President”

1. Presented himself as a common man—actually a wealthy plantation & slave owner • More common men were able to vote…fewer voting requirements (ex. Land ownership) President Andrew Jackson: “The Common Man’s President”

2. Interesting/Fun Facts: • Only President to that point to be involved in 2 wars (American Revolution at age 13 and the War of 1812) • He invited the common people to the White House to take part in his inauguration party…it is said that 20,000 people showed up • A 1,400lb. wheel of cheese was eaten in less than 2 hours and Jackson had to escape out the back door to avoid being suffocated at his own inauguration party • Jackson challenged a man to a duel for insulting his wife, Rachel. The man shot first and hit Jackson just 2 inches away from his heart; Jackson did not even fall, he simply cocked his gun and shot the man dead. • A mentally deranged individual jumped out at Jackson with two pistols in hand and tried to shot him from point-blank range. Both guns failed to fire; the odds of this happening are placed at 1:125,000 • Jackson owned cock-fighters and gambled on horse races • When Jackson died, his pet parrot Poll had to be removed from the room because of the profanity (swear words) that he was shouting at the mourners.

3. Spoils System • Giving government jobs to friends, family and political supporters in return for their aid and loyalty during their campaign • Jackson said this increased democracy…more people involved in government

4. Dealing with Native Americans • Jackson believed assimilation (blending in) could NOT work • Solution—move Natives off of ‘their’ land onto reservations (Indian Removal Act of 1830)—on the reservations, Natives could maintain their own culture

5. Trail of Tears—term for the forced removal of Natives • Members of the Cherokee tribe were forced to walk over 1,000 miles and 20% of their people died

6. Worchester vs. Georgia—the Supreme Court ruled that the removal of Natives off of their land was unconstitutional • Jackson continued with the removal anyway saying… “John Marshall made his decision, now let him enforce it”

7. Opposition to the Bank of the U.S. • Jackson said that the B.U.S. (Bank of the U.S.) was an agent of the wealthy and did nothing for the average American citizen • He withdrew government money from the B.U.S. in an effort to bankrupt it • He deposited the money in ‘pet banks’ (favorite banks) in the South and West • The B.U.S. failed soon afterwards

8. States’ Rights & Nullification • Southern states were mad at the favoritism that the National Government showed to the North (especially with the ‘Tariff of Abominations’) • The South saw the North getting rich at the South’s expense • Vice President John C. Calhoun developed the idea of nullification—he said that a state has the right to nullify (or reject) any law that they deem unconstitutional

9. South Carolina declared the tariffs “null and void” and refused to pay them—they even threatened to secede (break away) from the Union • Jackson was furious and threatened to send troops into South Carolina and to hang his own Vice President for such ideas…as President he needed to maintain the power of the National Government over state affairs • Jackson called upon the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article 6) that said the laws made by the National Government are the ‘supreme law of the land’ and no person or state can supersede (go above) them

10. The cartoon indicated that President Andrew Jackson is taking on so much power that he is acting much like a king would act. • He is shown trampling on the Constitution of the United States • Jackson takes on too much power when he: • Forces the removal of Indians off of their land…furthermore, when he ignores the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue • Kills the National Bank of the U.S. by withdrawing federal funds • Bullies the south (especially South Carolina) with the threat of federal troops if they do not comply with the National Government • Gives jobs to those who he likes rather than those who are qualified