The Age of Jackson

Objectives Define: Andrew Jackson, Democratic-Republican Party, Spoils system, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears Explain how removing property restrictions for voting affected political campaigns Describe the Spoils system Analyze the reasons for Jackson moving Native Americans west of the Mississippi Describe how the Cherokee react to the Indian Removal Act.

Expanding Democracy Changes Politics When John Adams died, his son was in his second year of his single term as president. He was not as effective as other presidents and the main reason was his rival Andrew Jackson A. Tension Between Adams and Jackson In the election of 1824, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote but lacked the majority of electoral votes. The House of Representatives had to decide the outcome.

Because of his power in the House, Henry Clay could swing the election in either way – He disliked Jackson immensely and found him unfit to be President. – Adams agreed with Clay’s American System. In the end Adams won the election Jacksonians- people who followed Jackson- accused Adams of stealing the Election. Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State – Jackson ‘s followers claimed that they had struck a “corrupt bargain” Jacksonians left the Republican party to form the Democratic-Republican Party and did whatever they could to sabotage Adam’s policies

B. Democracy and Citizenship – During Adam’s presidency, most states eased the voting requirements which enlarged the voting population. Fewer states had property requirements to vote In 1824, only 356,000 white males voted. In ,155,350 white males voted. – Jackson won the election by having almost twice as many votes as voted in the 1824 election

II. Jackson’s New Presidential Style A. Jackson’s Appeal to the Common Citizen – During the 1828 campaign, Jackson characterized Adams as an Intellectual Elitist and portrayed him as a man of humble origins…even though he was a wealthy plantation owner. He accused Adams of being a Pimp for the Tsar of Russia He accused him of charging the US for a pool table. – He was so popular, scores of people came to Washington to see “Old Hickory” inaugurated.

Adams attacked Jackson back. Adams accused Jackson and his wife of adultery (at the time of their marriage the divorce wasn’t finalized) and painted him as a bloody, and violent person.

B. Jackson’s Spoils System – Jackson knew how to inspire loyalty during the campaign and also used it in the presidency. He would appoint his appointees for four years and then they would be turned out. He thought this would fix corruption in the system – Spoils system- Jackson practice in which he would throw out former appointees and appoint friends of his party into the system. He fired nearly 10% of the federal employees and gave their jobs to loyal Jacksonians.

III. Removal of Native Americans Since the 1600’s, white settlers had held one of the two attitudes towards Native Americans. Some whites favored displacement, others wanted to convert the Natives and absorb them into the culture. Since the war of 1812, some Southeastern tribes- the Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek and Chickasaw- had begun to adopt the European culture. These tribes lived in the South and people wanted their land.

A. Indian Removal Act of 1830 – Jackson thought they would not be able to assimilate the natives. So he decided to displace them out West. – Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in Under this law, the government funded negotiation of treaties that would force the Native Americans to move West. From Jackson forced Native Americans off their land throughout the US.

B. The Cherokee Fight Back – Meanwhile the Cherokee Nation tried to win just treatment through the US Legal System. – In Worcester v. Georgia (1832) the Cherokee nation won recognition as a distinct political community and that Georgia was not entitled to regulate the Cherokee or invade their lands. They Ordered Georgia to give the land back Jackson replied “Mr. Marshall has made his decision, not let him enforce it. The Cherokee fought the land issue until Martin Van Buren’s presidency pushed them out of Georgia.

C. Trail of Tears – Beginning in October and November of 1838, the Cherokee was sent off in groups about 1000 each on the long journey. – The 800 mile trek was mostly on foot. As winter came on, hundreds of Cherokee died on the road. – Along the way, the Cherokee’s money was stolen and outlaws took their live stock. – The Cherokee estimate ¼ of their tribe died alson the trail of tears. – When they finally reached their destination, the land was far inferior to what they were forced to leave.