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A New Spirit in the White House. Chapter 13/Section 2/pages (426-429). The S poils System:. Shortly after inauguration, Jackson fired many government employees and replaced them with his supporters
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A New Spirit in the White House Chapter 13/Section 2/pages (426-429)
The Spoils System: • Shortly after inauguration, Jackson fired many government employees and replaced them with his supporters • For Jackson, spoils of political victory meant taking jobs form the enemy and giving them to the victor • This became known as the Spoils System • Jackson argued that changing officeholders gave more people a chance to take part in governing
An Unofficial Cabinet: • Jackson relied heavily on a group of his own personnel nicknamed the Kitchen Cabinet • Although people criticized this, Jackson turned a deaf ear and proclaimed: • “I do precisely what I think is just and right”
War with the Bank? • The US government placed all its money in the Bank of the United States, giving them complete control over credit • It also decided how much money state banks would receive: • Farmers, merchants, and Jackson all hated the bank
Nicholas Biddle: • President on the bank • Where Jackson placed most of the blame • Biddle asked the government to renew the banks charter: • If Jackson agreed, he would lose votes in the west and the south • If he did not agree, he would loose votes in the north • When the bill came through, Jackson vetoed it
Shutting Down the Bank • Jacksons actions were so popular that in 1832 he was easily reelected as president • When this happened, he ordered federal funds to be Taken out of the Bank of the United States and placed into Pet Banks • The bank of the United States responded to this by freezing cash flow out of the bank almost causing an economic crisis • When the governments money was removed, the bank went out of business
Crisis and Conflict Chapter 13/section 3/pages 430-434
The Tariff of Abominations: • Tariff- tax on imported goods • Before Jackson came into office congress had passed a tariff that raised the price of foreign goods • Farmers and manufactures liked the tariff • Southern planters hated the Tariff • Unhappy southerners nicknamed it “the tariff of abominations”
The argument for states rights • Calhoun believed each state had the right to nullify or cancel any federal law that it considered unconstitutional • Calhoun favored states rights (the belief that an individual state may restrict federal authority) • However, this would give the states more power then the federal government
The Argument in Favor of the Union • Daniel Webster- Senator from Massachusetts, believed that states rights were a threat to the union • The argument surrounding nullification (the right of states to declare federal laws illegal) took place on the floor of the Senate
Jackson V. Calhoun • No one knew where Jackson stood on the issue of states rights • Supporters of states rights invited him to dinner assuming he would be in favor of nullification • However, he rose at the table and stated “our union, it must be preserved.” • Calhoun replied “the union – next to our liberty, it is the most dear” • Calhoun resigned a few months later and became a senator • Martin Van Buren became the next vice president
Nullification Crisis • Question of states rights continued to arise • Southerners became angry when congress placed another tariff on imported goods • South Carolina lashed out by passing the Nullification Act which null and voided the tariff • When Jackson heard the news he declared he would use any force necessary to uphold the union • They compromised and the Tariff was lowered but not removed • The state legislature repealed the Nullification Act
A Tragic Policy for Native Americans • When Jackson entered the white house the government had already established a policy of backing white settlers moving into Native American lands • Jackson strongly believed that Native Americans should give up their lands to settlers • He believed that Native Americans could live more freely in Indian Territory (Oklahoma)
Resistance • The Cherokee Nation proclaimed that federal treaties protected Native Americans as sovereign, self ruling nations • Most Cherokee adopted customs of the white settlers: • Developed a writen alphabet and learned to read and write • Published a news paper called the Cherokee Phoenix • Wrote a constitution • Set up a representative for of government
The Trail of Tears • Jackson convinces his supported to pass the Indian Removal Act of 1830 which provided funds to the government to remove Native Americans from the eastern lands • When Native Americans refused to recognize the law, Jackson used his power of president to send federal troops into Native American Lands
John Ross • The Cherokee Leader • Lead his people on a forced march to Indian Territory • The weather of the great plains took thousands of lives • by the time they arrived they had lost 1/8th of their people • Among these was Quatie Ross (Johns wife)