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Andrew Jackson’s Presidency. 1829 - 1837. Clay and the American System A Man for the People Jackson’s Successors Manifest Destiny. Clay and the American System. President Madison recognized the two different economies booming in America In the North – Agriculture In the South – Cotton
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Andrew Jackson’s Presidency 1829 - 1837 Clay and the American System A Man for the People Jackson’s Successors Manifest Destiny
Clay and the American System • President Madison recognized the two different economies booming in America • In the North – Agriculture • In the South – Cotton • Madison wanted to unify the country to create a strong economy. His plan included… • Development of transportation systems • Creating a Protective Tariff • Creation of the 2nd National Bank
Republican Party Splits • National Republicans • Clay, Quincy Adams – rule by the elite • Later become the Whig Party • Democratic Republicans • Jackson – rule by the common man • Later known as simply Democrats • Country did not like John Quincy Adams as President • Felt he only favored the wealthy
Election of 1828 • Andrew Jackson vs. John Quincy Adams • John Quincy Adams was the Incumbent • Jackson wins overwhelmingly • Enter the Era of the Ordinary • John Quincy Adams is appalled • He lost to a man who couldn’t even spell
A Man for the People • Born into poverty in Carolina backcountry • Son of Scotch-Irish Immigrants • First President without a College Education • Had careers in law, politics, land speculation, cotton planting and soldiering prior to Presidency
Political Ideas • Believed he represented the nation as a whole • Disliked people who obtained power from wealth (aristocracy) • Manhood Suffrage: No longer needed to own land to vote • Relied on his “Kitchen Cabinet” • His unofficial group of advisors (buddies)
Political Ideas – Kitchen Cabinet • Personal friends who advised him in politics and government decisions • Many were western newspaper editors • Slipped through kitchen into the White House
Political Ideas – Spoils System • “To the victor go the spoils” • Fired and replaced 20% of the government with his supporters • In addition, Jackson vetoed more bills than did all previous Presidents Combined!
Treatment of Indians • Washington and Jefferson believed in assimilation • Native American adoption of “American ways” (beliefs and culture) • Henry Clay and others believed Indians should be eliminated • Jackson agreed with neither
Treatment of Indians • Indian Removal Act of 1830 • Forced Indians west of the Mississippi River • Inferior lands than what the Indians had left • Jackson thought this was a generous policy
Treatment of Indians • Black Hawk War of 1832 • Illinois • Indians who resisted Jackson’s plan were slaughtered by local militia
Treatment of Indians • Trail of Tears • Jackson’s removal of the Cherokees in Georgia • Ignored the Supreme Courts decision which permitted the Cherokees to set up their own nation in Georgia
Treatment of Indians • Trail of Tears • Georgia militiamen brutally rounded up 17,000 Indians and packed them off to Oklahoma • 800 mile journey • Walked, railroad and steamboat • 25% of the Indians died along the journey
Presidency of 1836 • Martin Van Buren • A Democrat, his Presidency was plagued with a serious depression • He was blamed for it but it was really caused by Jackson
Presidency of 1840 • Whig Party • Believed in stronger state’s rights • Main Concern was limiting the power of the Chief Executive • Elected William Henry Harrison • He dies one month later! • Succeeded by John Tyler – also a Whig
Manifest Destiny • In the 1840’s there was a feverish interest in expanding the country • Known as Manifest Destiny • Destiny implied that further expansion of the US was inevitable, nothing could stop it. • Manifest meant that the destiny was obvious
Manifest Destiny • Reasons for the Manifest Destiny Mindset… • Americans have always hungered for land • Merchants and Manufacturers believed expansion would bring markets for their goods and services • Millions of immigrants meant more living space was needed
Manifest Destiny • Reasons for the Manifest Destiny Mindset… • America wanted to expand trade with China • Taking Oregon would give the US excellent harbors • Panic of 1837 led many unemployed people to believe that moving west would allow them a fresh start • Americans wanted to spread the “virtues” of their government
Manifest Destiny • Movement Westward found settlers encountering Indians Again… • When settlers moved westward, Indians were naturally encountered again. • Some tried to assimilate • Others tried formal attacks and resistance