what people said about him… “i feel much alarmed at the prospect of seeing general jackson...
TRANSCRIPT
ANDREW JACKSONMAN OF THE PEOPLE
EQ: How did the people gain more power during the Age of
Jackson?
What people said about him…
“I feel much alarmed at the prospect of seeing General Jackson president. He is the most unfit man I know for such a place…he is a dangerous man.”-Thomas Jefferson
“He is ignorant, passionate, hypocritical, corrupt, and easily swayed by the basest men who surround him. I cannot believe that the killing of two thousand Englishmen at New Orleans qualifies a person for the various difficult and complicated duties of the presidency.”
-Henry Clay
“A barbarian who cannot write a sentence of grammar and can hardly spell his own name. Incompetent both by his ignorance and by the fury of his passions.”
-John Q. Adams
OldHickory
Who won the election?
The Election of 1824
Jackson won the popular vote but not the majority, so the House of Representatives had to decide
Henry Clay, Speaker of House, influenced them to elect John Quincy Adams
Once in office, Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State
Jackson’s supporters claimed the two men had a “corrupt bargain
The Campaign of 1828
Lots of mudslinging
What made Jackson a “man of
the people?”
What are his beliefs
about government
?
Election of 1828
Lots of “mudslinging” during the campaign
Many states were expanding suffrage and the number of voters tripled
Many states no longer required owning property
Jackson was supported by thousands of first time voters
Love Him
Jackson’s status as a war hero made him popular
The fact that he did not come from a wealthy family helped people relate to him
This is decidedly erroneous!!
I didn’t think he’d invite the people “en masse!”
Hate Him Politicians and elite
feared he was unpredictable, stubborn, and too independent
Feared he would give too much power to the common man
People feared the “Reign of King Mob”
Jackson’s InauguralParty?
Power to the People
How did the people gain more power during the Age of Jackson?
The Spoils System
Any and all government jobs taken and given to friends/supporters
Jackson supported the spoils system by saying Any “intelligent” person could hold office
Used to keep a small group of politicians from controlling the government
In the words of one of his supporters “To the victor goes the spoils.”
To the VICTOR goes the SPOILS!!!
Egalitarian
Jackson feared the power of the government
Attacked (sometimes literally) any politician or law he thought was corrupt or dangerous to liberty
Did not believe in special privilege for the wealthy
Thought bank favored the rich
Vetoes
Jackson worked independently of Congress and politicians
Vetoed more acts of Congress than the six previous presidents
Earned himself the nickname “King Andrew I”