Age of JacksonUnit 4.1

1828 Election• Remember the 1824 election and the Corrupt Bargain?• Jackson spent the next 4 years campaigning.• New Voters due to property qualifications being removed.• 3 times the number of voters in 1828 than in 1824.

• Universal Male Suffrage• Politics more about “common man”

• Jackson defeats John Q. Adams

Emergence of new Party• 2nd Party System• In 1828 election Democratic-Republicans split up.• John Q. Adams – National Republicans• Andrew Jackson – Democrat

• National Republicans become the Whig Party• Whigs are coalition with main glue holding them together is that

they are against Jackson.• Although never elected as President, Whigs would basically

follow the ideas of Henry Clay.

Drama in the Jackson White House• Peggy Eaton Affair• Wife of his Sec. of War• Not accepted socially• Jackson tried to force cabinet

wives to accept her.• (Jackson’s wife’s death plays

into his feelings)• Many in Cabinet resign as well

as VP John C. Calhoun

• Kitchen Cabinet• Jackson’s unofficial

cabinet in which he followed

“To the victor goes the spoils”• Spoils system – rewarding followers of the winner with gov’t

jobs (even as low as Postmaster)• Used before, but Jackson used it more extensively• Critics claimed it promoted corruption• Defenders claimed it made a system of rotation in office

• Jackson only allowed one term for democratic ideal that any one man was as good as another

• Side effect – Party Loyalty

King Jackson• “Old Hickory” would be seen as the protector of the common

man against the rich and privileged• Followed Jefferson’s ideas of less gov’t spending• Ironically Federal power would increase during his 8 years• Jackson would use the veto more than any President before

(12 times)

Indian Removal Acts• Jackson signs laws that would move Tribes in the east to

“Indian Territory” – Oklahoma• Worcester v. Georgia (1832) – John Marshall would rule

against movement. • Jackson’s response – “Marshall has made his decision, now let

him enforce it.”• Who did the people side with?

Civilized?• 5 Civilized Tribes• Cherokee• Chickasaw• Choctaw• Creek• Seminole

• Why named that?

• Sequoya• Cherokee leader• George Guess• Creates constitution

and written language.

Trail of Tears

• Army came to force Cherokees to move to the Indian territory• 4,000 of the 15,000 would die on the way.

How did it effect Florida?• 2nd Seminole War• Began outside of Fort King by Osceola• Dade Battle (108 of 110 soldiers killed)• Ft. Cooper • Why couldn’t the U.S. Army defeat the Seminoles?• How would they “win?”• Costliest Indian War in U.S. History• Seminoles never surrender (in all 3 wars)• Those not captured, escaped to South Florida

Age of Clay?• Henry Clay would promote his American System• Protective Tariffs• Bank of the U.S.• Internal Improvements

• Basis of the Whig ideals.

Nullification Crisis• 1828 Tariff – Tariff of Abomination• Most hated parts of it.• John C. Calhoun suggests nullification.

• Where does he get this idea?

• 1832 Tariff• Compromise by Henry Clay, but S.C. still did not like it• Southern Carolina Exposition – Nullifies law

• Force Act – Jackson will defend Federal law• South Carolina backs down on Tariff, but nullifies Force Act

Bank War• Jackson was against the B.U.S. Why?

• Felt it was against common man• Personal reasons from 1819 Panic and Wildcat Banks

• Henry Clay pushes the Bank to be Rechartered four years early to use in his 1832 campaign.• Jackson vetoes bill

• Bank War – Jackson moves money out of B.U.S. to his “pet banks”• Nicholas Biddle (President of B.U.S) – “Czar Nicholas”

Clay vs. Jackson• Maysville Road veto• Why – officially and

unofficially?

• 1832 Election• Dem – Jackson• Whig - Clay

State Rights or Federal Power• Webster – Hayne Debate in Senate• About B.U.S., Tariff, and Nullification

• Calhoun and Jackson opposing each other• Jackson actually increase Federal Power as President

More Financial issue• 2nd Coinage Act (1834) – ratio of gold to silver – 1 to 16.• Surplus 1835 to 1837• No National Debt for our only time in U.S. History in 1837

• Specie Circular (1836) – all lands must be purchased with gold or silver – not paper money.

• Panic of 1837 – Recession would last 5 years• Would Jackson be blamed for it? Who would?

Reflection Questions• How is could it be said that the Age of Jackson is actually the

Age of Clay?• Although Jackson wanted to decrease government power, how

did he actually increase it?• Although Jackson was a defender of the common man, what

groups of people was he not a defender of and how?• How did the issues of Tariff, BUS, and Internal Improvements

show the differences between the Whigs and Democrats?

Links• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGIx-OEadsg&list=UUZYs757tACChkS-vjS1m66Q&index=54&feature=plcp – review video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kJmw3nzuB4 – Jackson bio

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd12Wz6o_KI –Imperial President

• http://www.history.com/topics/trail-of-tears - Trail of Tears