The Age of Jackson

Election of 1824 John Quincy Adams (son of John Adams) ran against Andrew Jackson (now called Democrat not Democratic-Republican). Jackson won the popular vote but lacked a majority of the electoral votes. The House of Representatives had to decide the outcome and Clay used his influence to sway the vote to Adams. Adam then appointed Clay as Secretary of State and Jackson accused them of corruption. “the Corrupt Bargain.”

Election of 1828 By 1828, the distinctions between “aristocrat” and common man were disappearing as new states provided for universal manhood suffrage, while the older states were lowering property requirements for voting. Handout provided As a result of Jackson’s widespread support by the common man, Jackson won the presidency and John C. Calhoun became his Vice-President.

The Age of Jackson Andrew Jackson was credited with inventing the "spoils" system of giving the victors in an election the rewards of job appointments. (“To the victor goes the spoils.”) Provided incentive to support the party and strengthened party loyalty. Defeated party members lose jobs. Federal appointments were given without regard to skills or training to men who had helped Jackson win the presidency.

Nullification Crisis In 1828, Congress passed a tariff law with high duties. People who opposed it (southerners and westerners) called it the “Tariff of Abominations”. John C. Calhoun (V.P.) from S.C. opposed the tariff and insisted the States had the right to prevent an unconstitutional law from being enforced. State legislatures could nullify the federal law. The S.C. legislature passed such and act and Calhoun resigned as Vice-President. (Replaced by Martin Van Buren) Jackson threatened use of force against S.C. after state threatened to secede. Compromise Tariff of 1833 appeased South and ended crisis.

Age of Jackson-Bank War Distrusting the Second National Bank as an undemocratic tool of the Eastern elite, Jackson vetoed the re-chartering of the bank in 1832. Jackson’s bank veto became the central issue in the election of 1832, as Henry Clay, the National Republican candidate, supported the bank.

The Age of Jackson- Bank War To weaken the power of the National bank, Jackson supported removing federal funds from the Bank and placing them in 23 state banks, known as "pet banks" This helped to contribute to the fiscal problems that ended in a severe economic Panic in 1837, which led to bank failures and dissatisfaction with the use of state banks as depositories for public funds .

Indian Removal Act of 1830 All the major tribes in the South would be forced by Andrew Jackson and the American military to give up tribal lands. Began Indian removals that culminated in the " Trail of Tears" as tribes were moved to Oklahoma.

Indians Fight Back Black Hawk and Seminole tribes fought removal with bravery, however it proves futile. The Cherokee took their case to the Supreme Court. In Worcester vs. Georgia, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled the federal government could not seize Cherokee land Jackson refused to abide by the decision saying, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it”

The Age of Jackson At Andrew Jackson's inaugural in 1829, the White House was thrown open to men (and women) of all classes, and the crowd of 20,000 tracked mud onto the carpets, broke chairs by climbing on them to see the new president, and generally shocked genteel observers.

The Age of Jackson An 1836 cartoon, "General Jackson Slaying the Many Headed Monster." Jackson used the issue of the Second National Bank as his principal reelection theme in 1832 and in the election called on the common people to join him in fighting the privileged "monster" corporation, which had branches in 22 states. In this cartoon Jackson, aided by Martin Van Buren (center) his loyal vice president, wields his veto against the monster, whose heads represent the directors of the state branches.