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Andrew Jackson: 1767 - 1845. Essential Question:. Champion of the “Common Man”?. “King” Andrew?. OR. Jacksonian Democracy.
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Andrew Jackson: 1767 - 1845
Essential Question: Champion of the “Common Man”? “King”Andrew? OR
Jacksonian Democracy • Andrew Jackson was a war hero who had defeated the Brits at New Orleans in 1814 and forced concessions from the Spanish that led to Florida becoming part of the US in 1819. • Jackson was a “common man.” He was not born into the rich, upper class like most presidents, but achieved his success despite growing up poor and uneducated. • Thus, he was very popular with western frontier settlers and “common folk.”
The “Corrupt Bargain” • More than any previous election, the election of 1824 was evidence of the growing sectionalism in the US. • New England backed secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, but many westerners supported Andrew Jackson & Henry Clay. • The election came down to Adams and Jackson and was so close that the House of Rep had to decide the winner. • When Clay gave his support to Adams, he won. • However, Jackson and his followers protested, when it was learned that Clay would be named secretary of state. • Jackson and his supporters denounced it as a “corrupt bargain” made to give Adams the presidency. • 4 years later, however, Jackson defeated Adams in the presidential race of 1828.
Jackson’s Opponents in 1824 Henry Clay[KY] John Quincy Adams[MA] John C. Calhoun[SC] William H. Crawford[GA]
Results of the 1824 Election A “Corrupt Bargain?”
Universal (White Male) Suffrage • Jackson’s political style and the changes he inspired came to be known as Jacksonian Democracy. • Jackson believed in western expansion and the rights of white frontier settlers. • Jackson favored “universal suffrage”- he believed that all white men should be free to vote, not just those who owned property. • With his support, all but a few states dropped the property requirements for voting. • Expanding suffrage made the nation more democratic and empowered the “common man.” • Who is still excluded in this scenario?
The Spoils System and More political funsies • Once in office, Jackson instituted a policy of rewarding his political supporters with government positions: the Spoils System. That is, hire your friends, fire your enemies. • Jackson believed the spoils system would encourage common folks to become politically involved, and would ensure that the wealthy elite wouldn’t dominate politics. However, this system led to corruption. • Jackson also favored laissez-faire economics- he did not think that the govt should regulate businesses. • Jackson also favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution, even though he often pushed the limits of presidential power and was often accused of being more like a king than a president. • He used all of his power to shut down the second national bank of the US. during his second term in office, b/c he believed it was unconstitutional.
Before Jackson’s first term had begun, Congress passed the Tariff of 1828, a heavy tax on imports designed to boost American manufacturing. The tariff greatly benefited the industrial North but forced southerners to pay high prices for manufactured goods. In response to the tariff, South Carolina claimed that states could nullify, or reject, federal laws they judged to be unconstitutional. It based this claim on a strict interpretation of states’ rights, the powers that the Constitution neither gives to the federal government nor denies to the states. South Carolina nullified the tariffs and threatened to secede, or withdraw, from the Union, if the federal government did not respect its nullification. A compromise engineered by Senator Henry Clay ended the crisis. However, the issue of states’ rights continued to influence the nation. The Tariff Crisis Chapter 8, Section 5
Indian Removal • Jackson believed in Manifest Destiny, and saw Native Americans that occupied western territories as an obstacle to be removed. • As a result, he supported the Indian Removal Act, a policy by which the US forced Native American off lands it wanted for white settlement. • Jackson defied the Supreme Court by supporting Georgia’s efforts to remove the Cherokee from their lands in the 1830s. • The forced march of Cherokees from Georgia to Oklahoma became known as the Trail of Tears, b/c many Cherokees suffered and died along the way.
Indian Removal • Jackson’s Goal? • 1830 Indian Removal Act • Cherokee Nation v. GA(1831)* “domestic dependent nation” • Worcester v. GA(1832) • Jackson:John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!
Return of the 2-Party System • Eventually, the differences between Jackson and men like Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun led to a break in the Democratic (Jeffersonian)Republican Party. Jackson’s wing took the name “Democrats,” and his opponents adopted the name “National Republicans.” • Many of the National Republican formed the new Whig Party- they accused Jackson of acting like a king (also opposed slavery).
Assessment • What was the Spoils system? • Who would have most likely supported Andrew Jackson? • A wealthy, eastern businessman • Henry Clay • A western farmer • John Quincy Adams
Assessment • Describe Jackson’ views regarding the government’s role in economic matters and interpretations of the Constitution. • What was Andrew Jackson’s view concerning suffrage? • He believed everyone living in the US should be allowed to vote. • He believed any white man should be allowed to vote. • He favored restricting suffrage to landowners. • He thought that whites and Native Americans should be allowed to vote, but not blacks.
Rachel Jackson Final Divorce Decree
An 1832 Cartoon: “KingAndrew”?
The 1836 Election Results Martin Van Buren “Old Kinderhook”[O. K.]
Photo of Andrew Jackson in 1844(one year before his death) 1767 - 1845
Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY • Pathways to the Present • Passing the Georgia EOCT
