The Age of Jackson

1. The Age of Jackson

2. Age of Jackson 1824-1836 First president elected after expansion of voting rights allowed people to vote who didn’t own property Claimed to represent the “common man” Jacksonian Democracy – Idea of spreading political power to all the people and ensuring majority rule

3. Age of Jackson Introduced the spoils system – practice of giving government jobs to political backers Vetoed the National Bank Inflation – Banks issued too much paper money Jackson required that people pay in gold or silver for public lands Panic of 1837 – people took their paper money to the banks for gold or silver; banks ran out Depression – Severe economic slump followed

4. Jacksonian Democracy Majority Rules Rise of the common people Increased power of the president Modern Democratic Party – Jackson was the leader of the Democratic Party

5. Indian Policies Jackson supported removal policy of Indians from land desired by American citizens Indian Removal Act – 1830 Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v Georgia to stop the removal of Cherokee Indians from Georgia Government negotiated treaties that required Native Americans to relocate West

6. Trail of Tears Forced removal of Cherokee Indians from native lands to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi Whites invaded their homeland and they had to sign treaties exchanging their land for land in the West Were moved into what is now Oklahoma and parts of KS and NE Came to be called Indian Territory

7. Trail of Tears Fall 1831 – Choctaw and others removed and relocated to Indian Territory Fall and Winter 1838-1839 Trail of Tears 16,000 Cherokee Indians forced to move Could take nothing with them Cold, rain, snow ¼ died Known as the Trail of Tears

11. Tariffs and Sectionalism Southern states – Agriculturally based economy, generally opposed tariffs because of the rise in cost of imported goods they were forced to purchase using revenue from foreign cotton sales It was costing Southern plantation owners too much to get their tools and supplies from overseas Northern states – Economy was based on industry, generally supported high tariffs to protect their products For Northern merchants tariffs made their products cheaper than foreign goods

12. Tariff ofAbominations 1828 Congress passed bill that raised the tariffs on raw materials and manufactured goods South had to sell their cotton at low prices to be competitive Called it Tariff of Abominations Abomination is a hateful thing Hit South Carolina hard

13. Nullification Crisis S. Carolina began talking about leaving the Union John C. Calhoun (Jackson’s VP) passed the doctrine of nullification A state had the right to nullify, or reject, a federal law that it considered unconstitutional

14. Nullification Crisis Doctrine of nullification led to wide debate in the Senate Jackson opposed doctrine, but did not want SC to secede, so he asked Congress to reduce the tariff SC stayed in the Union

15. In conclusion… Major issues in Jackson’s Presidency: Policy toward Native Americans White settlers wanted Native American lands Jackson proposed Indian Removal Act of 1830 Thousands of Native Americans removed to Indian Territory

16. In conclusion… Major Issues of Jackson’s Presidency: Conflict over States’ Rights Sectional differences developed Jackson supported strong central government South Carolina threatened to secede over tariff issue, but compromise reached

17. In conclusion… Major issues of Jackson’s Presidency: War on the Bank of the United States Second Bank of the United States had economic and political power Jackson opposed bank and vetoed renewal of its charter Bank driven out of business, but Jackson’s policies eventually led to inflation and depression