1. The Age of Jackson Pages:127-137

2. A Hero to The People Who was Jackson and why were people so excited about him? He came from a poor family. He had grown-up to be rich, which made him a hero. His mother and father died when he was 14. He was born in North Carolina. He was the first lawyer in the state of Tennessee.

3. The Spoils System Andrew Jackson practiced what was called the “Spoil System”. The “Spoil System” is when a winner with power does what he/she wants with what he has won. Andrew Jackson gave many of his friends government job. He didn’t care about the education and/ or experience of these people. He picked people who were loyal to him. Jackson believed that it was important to keep changing officeholders. He feared that if kept in office to long they would forget what they were to serve the public.

4. The Kitchen Cabinet Jackson didn’t always turn to his cabinet for advice. Instead, he turned to old friends for advice. These friends helped him make important decisions. These friends would walk through the kitchen of the White House to meet with Jackson informally. This is how they became known as the “Kitchen cabinet”.

5. The Nominating Convention Jackson believed that the common people should have a say in choosing political candidates. During Jackson’s term a new system of choosing presidential candidates was set-up. This new system would replace the old system that would replace the secret meetings they held for electing vice-president and presidential candidates. At these new conventions people from all over the country gathered to represent each party.

6. Growing Cities America was spreading westward. Both frontier men and workers in American cities were supporters of Jackson. Industry in the North was growing and more jobs were becoming available. This growth forced many people to move to large cities for jobs.

7. More People Come To America As America grew more people came to America. Immigrants came to escape terrible living conditions. In the early 1800’s many European farmers had problems growing enough crops for everyone. This caused what was called the “Great Hunger”. Immigrants were forced to work low paying jobs and to live in run-down buildings. In America people could work hard and improve their lives. They also had rights they didn’t have in other countries most important was the right to vote.

8. “They’ll Ruin Our Country” By 1828, when Jackson was elected president, almost ALL white men were permitted to vote. Americans feared this because they didn’t want the poor to vote. The poor saw things differently and by having a vote they were able to get leaders to pass laws that made life better for the poor. Horace Mann is called the “Father of America’s education.” Thanks to his efforts, free public schooling became a reality.

9. The Native Americans Lose More Lands Native Americans were forced to move west. Frontiersmen wanted their land and Jackson agreed. During the age of Jackson many Native Americans lost their eastern lands.

10. Review Why did many people move to cities during the Age of Jackson? Who had the right to vote in the 1828 election? How did education change when Jackson was president? Name two things that made John Quincy Adams unpopular? What does the Electoral College do? What kind of people liked Andrew Jackson? What was the Industrial Revolution? Why did immigrants come to America in the early 1800s?