Jacksonian Democracy

1. Jacksonian Democracy SSUSH7 Students will explain the process of economic growth, its regional and national impact in the first half of the 19th century, and the different responses to it. e. Explain Jacksonian Democracy, expanding suffrage, the rise of popular political culture, and the development of American nationalism.

2. Election of Andrew Jackson • The expansion of voting in 1828 meant that many first time voters cast the ballot – most of them for Jackson • Jackson was successful in appealing to the common man • Even though he was a wealthy plantation owner, “Old Hickory” characterized himself as a man of humble origins

3. The Spoils System • Shortly after taking office, Jackson announced that appointees to federal jobs would serve a maximum of four-year terms to ensure they didn’t become corrupt in office • Jackson’s administration used the spoils system – Jackson reserved a large number of jobs in his government for his political friends, firing those that previously held the jobs

4. The spoils system continued • Jackson’s friends also became his primary advisors, called his “kitchen cabinet” because they slipped into the White House through the kitchen • Jackson believed in a small central government, yet did more for the power of the president than any other President from Washington to Lincoln Champion of the “Common Man”? OR “King”Andrew?

5. Tariff raises states’ rights issue • After the War of 1812, the British flooded American markets with cheap goods in an effort to destroy American competitors • In 1816, Congress passed a tariff to protect American industry • The tariff was increased in 1824 and 1828

6. Tariff of Abominations • Jackson’s vice president, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, called the 1828 tariff a Tariff of Abominations • Because South Carolina was an agricultural region dependent on cotton, the high tariff made it difficult for them to compete on the world market • the high tariff of manufactured goods reduced British exports to the US and forced the south to buy the more expensive northern manufactured goods – the South saw the North getting rich at the expense of the South

7. Nullification Theory • Calhoun devised a nullification theory – this questioned the legality of applying federal laws to the states • Calhoun argues that the US Constitution was based on a compact between 13 sovereign states which had the right to nullify (reject) laws they felt to be unconstitutional and also withdraw from the union if it no longer served them • In 1832, Congress passed a tariff law that South Carolina legislators found unacceptable – they responded by declaring the tariff “null, void, and no law” • Jackson pronounced South Carolina’s actions treasonous and threatened to hang Calhoun and march federal troops into South Carolina to enforce the tariff • Before violence could occur, Henry Clay stepped in with a compromise tariff

8. Jackson attacks the National Bank • Jackson was opposed to the Bank of the United States • The bank’s 20-year charter didn’t expire until 1836, but Clay and Daniel Webster wanted to introduce it early to make it a campaign issue • They thought if Jackson vetoed it he’d lose support • Jackson and his allies worked to make the people think the bank was a privileged institution

9. Jackson attacks the National Bank continued • In the end, the bank’s charter expired and became just another bank – it was out of business within five years • This strengthened the new Whig Party, led by Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and Daniel Webster, all of whom opposed Jackson’s policies Political Cartoon: Jackson destroying the National Bank.