President Jackson

1. President Jackson

2. President Jackson (1829-1837) Saw himself as the direct representative and protector of the common man. Spoils System- throws out old federal appointees; replaces them with friends.

3. Jackson vs. Bank of the United States (BUS) Jackson saw BUS as corrupt, only benefitting a rich few. Jackson vetoed bill to renew BUS; he moved federal funds from BUS to state banks. BUS eventually goes out of business.

4. Jackson vs. Secession Fed up with tariff-increases, South Carolina first argues it can “nullify” (refuse to follow) tariff law and later threatens to secede (leave U.S.). Jackson threatens to use army and navy to enforce law. Deal is reached and secession avoided.

5. Indian-Removal Act (1830) “5 Civilized Tribes”- 5 tribes in South that had begun to adopt European culture. Southern whites want their land to grow cotton. Act gives power to make treaties with tribes to move them west of Mississippi.

6. Trail of Tears Government pressures tribes to sign treaties; troops force natives to leave lands. 1830s: tens of thousands of Native Americans forced to travel hundreds of miles. Thousands die on way.

7. “Murder is murder, and somebody must answer. Somebody must explain the streams of blood that flowed in the Indian country in the summer of 1838. Somebody must explain the 4000 silent graves that mark the trail of the Cherokees to their exile. I wish I could forget it all, but the picture of 645 wagons lumbering over the frozen ground with their cargo of suffering humanity still lingers in my memory. Let the historian of a future day tell the sad story with its sighs, its tears and dying groans. Let the great Judge of all the earth weigh our actions and reward us according to our work.”- John Burnett

8. Page 228 Create a T-Chart listing the 3 main points of each side of the argument Beneath T-Chart: 5 sentences explaining your own opinion on Indian Removal and how the problem could have been solved.