Politics of the People Chapter 12 sec. 1 & 2

Election of 1824 Due to the sectionalism of the time this becomes one of the most heated and controversial elections The Dem.Reb. Party split apart – J.Q. Adams – N.E. – William Crawford – Georgia – Henry Clay – West – Andrew Jackson – Military hero from Tennessee

Jackson won the popular vote, but not a majority of the electoral votes The House of Reps. had to choose the President from the top three candidates – Clay was fourth so he gave his support to J.Q. who won the Presidency

J.Q. Adams made Henry Clay his Sec. of State. A.J.’s supporters were outraged accused Adams of making a “corrupt bargain”.

Jacksonian Democracy Democratic Republican Party split – Jackson’s supporters made up the Dem. Party – Adams’ supporters made up the Republican Party. Jackson campaigned for majority rule and spreading political power – Jacksonian Democracy

Expansion of Voting Rights Starting during the Jefferson Era, voting restrictions begun to be lifted – By 1828, you no long had to be a land owner and a tax payer – Voting was still limited to adult white males

Dirty Politics Political slander hurts both men Jackson is accused of being a murderer and an adulterer JQ Adams accused of being a pimp

Election of 1828 Jackson won by a landslide – He was know as the people’s pres. – Fought in Rev. War at the age of 13 POW – Hated the British and fought against them during the War of 1812 – Battle of N.O. Earned the nickname “Old Hickory”

Jackson’s wife died before the inauguration – A.J. blamed it on the campaign attacks on her reputation Andrew Jackson replaced many Gov. Officials with his supporters – spoils system

A.J.’s Policy Toward N.A.s Since the 1600’s – white settlers pushed N.A.s westward as they took more and more of their land By the 1820’s – only about 100,000 N.A.s remained east of the Mississippi River – Most were in the Southeast – Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek & Seminole

The Cherokee Nation The Cherokee had tried to assimilate into white culture – western dress, farmed, ranched 1827 – adopted a constitution 1828 – Gold was discovered on the Cherokee land in Georgia – Fed. Gov. planned to remove all N.A.s from the S.E.

Jackson’s Removal Policy Jackson saw the N.A.s as a conquered people living in the U.S. A.J. asked congress to pass a law that required N.A.s to either move west or submit to state law 1830 – Congress passed the Indian Removal Act

Trail of Tears Indians would be moved to the Indian Territory – Oklahoma and parts of Kansas and Nebraska The Cherokee appealed to the Supreme Court to protect their land in GA. – Court said GA couldn’t take N.A. land – Jackson and GA ignored the Supreme Court

1838 – federal troops rounded up 16,000 Cherokee & forced them into camps During the fall & winter of ‘38 & ‘39 they were forced to march west in the cold, rain, and snow – The Cherokee had inadequate clothing – ¼ died on the journey – Became known as the Trail of Tears