The Age of Jackson

1. The Age of Jackson

2. A. Becoming a Hero

3. Memorable Events • Battle of New Orleans • War of 1812 • The Native Americans • Success against the Seminoles in GA & FL

4. “Common Man” • Born into a poor family • Not well educated • Became wealthy later in life – but had “common” roots • Regular people identified with him

5. Rachel Jackson • His beloved wife • Scandal! • She was married before • Married Jackson while still legally married to her 1st husband • Her divorce was never finalized

6. B. Election of 1824

7. The Candidates John Quincy Adams[MA] Henry Clay[KY] William H. Crawford[GA] Andrew Jackson[TN] All are from the SAME political party: Democratic-Republicans

8. Who’s the Winner?

9. The Decision • No one had a majority of the Electoral College votes needed to win • Election sent to the House of Reps • Only the top 3 were eligible for contingent election • Henry Clay out, but he is the Speaker of the House • He HATES Jackson • Economic beliefs are similar to J.Q. Adams

10. Corrupt Bargain • Clay throws his support behind Adams • Adams wins the election • Even though Jackson beat him in the EC & popular election • As president, Adams appoints Henry Clay as Secretary of State • Position seen as the training ground for the next President • Jackson supporters claim that Clay & Adams had made a bargain • Seen as being “Corrupt” • Era of Good Feelings is OVER

11. C. Mr. Adams as President

12. Split of the Democratic-Republicans • Democratic Republicans split into 2 factions: • National Republicans (Adams) • Jacksonian Democrats (Jackson) • Same ideology so they ARE NOT 2 DIFFERENT PARTIES

13. The Beginning of the End • Spoils System: appointing supporters to government offices • Adams refused to do this • Appointed those that were qualified • Lost the support of National Republicans • Accomplished little while in office

14. Tariff of Abominations (1828)(aka Tariff of 1828) • Tariffs raised in 1824 to 37% • South angry • 1828 – Jackson supporters intentionally created a high tariff to reduce Adam’s support base • Did not intend for it to pass • It passes • Raises the rate to 45% • South hurt as consumers & exporters by tariffs

15. John C. Calhoun's Reaction • He is the Vice President • Also a Jackson supporter • Also the man who proposed the tariff • Angry that it passed • Writes "The Southern Carolina Exposition” anonymously • Calls for the South to revisit the idea of nullification • Called for SC to secede if the tariff was not repealed • No other states supported & the issue died

16. D. Election of 1828

17. The Candidates John Quincy Adams[National Republicans] Andrew Jackson[Jacksonian Democrat]

18. Dirty election tactics • Jackson started campaigning in 1825 • Jackson labeled Adams as “corrupt” • Adams attacked: • Jackson & his wife • his campaigns against the Indians • Killing of deserters in the Army

19. The Results • Highest % of voter turnout to date • Jackson wins

20. Jackson as President • He called his election “Revolution of 1828” • Two term president • Jackson believes in the supremacy of the Federal government over the states • Uses the Power of Veto 12 times • Had only been used 10 times before him • Believed the Executive Branch should be the strongest branch • 1st and only president to pay off the debt • Wife died before he took office • Blamed J.Q. Adams

21. E. Jacksonian Democracy

22. Age of the Common Man • Intense distrust of Eastern “establishment” & monopolies • Reforms made to American society • During Jackson’s tenure in office, suffrage will be extended to most white males

23. Voter Turnout: 1820 - 1860

24. Rise of the National Convention • Candidates are nominated based on the results of primary elections • Replaces “King Caucus” • Small elite group chose who would be nominated

25. Spoils System • “Rotation in Office” – wanted to replace the people that had held government offices for long periods of time • Used the spoils system to replace those he dismissed • Made government more ineffective • Cabinet positions not given to the best advisors, but party supporters • Kitchen Cabinet: 13 Jackson’s advisors not officially being part of the Cabinet • Angered Congress • Were not accountable to them

26. F. Major Issues for Jackson

27. The Peggy Eaton Affair (1831) • Secretary of War Eaton married Peggy O’Neal • Scandalous background • Other cabinet member’s wives refused to socialize with her • Jackson infuriated (b/c of Rachel) • Re-organization of his entire cabinet • Calhoun (VP) resigned over this incident

28. Tariff of 1832 • Jackson did not repeal the Tariff of Abominations • 1832 a new tariff is passed • Reduced the tariff to the levels of 1824 • Is everyone happy? • NO • THE SOUTH IS STILL INFURIATED

29. Nullification Crisis • Nov 1832 – convention held in SC • Decided that the U.S. tariffs were null and void in SC • Force Act (1833): • Jackson authorized by Congress to use force (military) to make SC collect the tariff • SC threatens to secede from the Union • War loomed

30. Compromise Tariff of 1833 • Written by Henry Clay • Would lead to a gradual reduction of the tariff back to 1816 levels • Crisis averted! • Lesson Learned? • South can get what they want, if they threaten to secede

31. The Trail of Tears • Jackson committed to Western expansion • Native Americans in the way • “Five Civilized Tribes” tried to embrace “White” culture • 1830: Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act to force Natives off the land • Worcester v. Georgia (1832): Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Native Americans

32. The Trail of Tears • “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it” • For the next decade, the tribes were forced to relocate to Oklahoma

33. G. The BUS (again)

34. Jackson’s view of the BUS • HATED it • View shared by the “common man” • Remember the Panic of 1819 • Believed too few controlled too much economically

35. Re-chartering the BUS (1831) • Charter set to expire in 1836 • Henry Clay wanted to re-charter the bank early • 1832 Election • Jackson vetoes the re-charter of the BUS • Believed they created a monopoly • Violated McCulloch v. Maryland

36. War with Nicholas Biddle • Head of the BUS • Loans money to anti-Jacksonites in 1832 election • To retaliate – Jackson moves money out of the BUS to state banks in 1833 • “Pet Banks”: state banks Jackson transferred money to • Were chosen based on political alliances with Jackson • Pet Banks began printing their own money & the money system became un-reliable

37. Specie Circular • Wildcat banks established in western states also led to instability • Land speculation in the West led to unsteady loans • In reaction, Jackson issued an Executive Order called “Specie Circular” • Called for all land to be purchased in “hard” money

38. Results of the Specie Circular • Banknotes lose their value • Land sales plummeted • Credit not available • Businesses began to fail • Unemployment rose The Panic of 1837!

39. H. The Return of the Two Party System

40. King Andrew and the Democrats • Opponents of Jackson denounce him as a dictator • Start referring to him as “King Andrew” • After the election of 1832, official break in the party • Two political parties established • Jackson’s supporters will form the Democrats

41. The WhigsThe Party of Misfits Henry Clay Daniel Webster John C. Calhoun

42. Whigs • Supported by northern industrialists and merchants (wealthiest Americans) • Supported Clay’s "American System" • Sought to reduce the spoils system • Southern states’ rights advocates angry at Jackson’s stand on nullification • Evangelicals from Anti-Masonic party joined • Later supported moral reforms: prohibition of alcohol and abolition of slavery • Sought to use national gov’t to solve societies problems (over states’ rights issues) Democrats • Supported by the common people and machine politicians in the East • States’ Rights – opposed to "American System" • Favored spoils system • Anti-monopoly—favored increased competition • Believed federal gov’t should not be involved in people’s personal lives

43. I. End of Jacksonian Democracy

44. Election of 1836 • 1st Election of the Whig Party • Decide to run 4 candidates to try to force the election to the HOR • Democrats will run Martin Van Buren • Jackson chose him to succeed himself • Seen as Jackson vicariously still running the nation

45. The Results • Whig plan fails • Van Buren wins

46. Van Buren as President • Inherits Jackson’s problems & enemies • Panic of 1837 • Treasury Bill of 1840 (a.k.a. “Divorce Bill”) • Established an Independent Treasury • Isolated government funds from Banks • Good system, but made banks & people angry • Will not be re-elected in 1840