The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson…the man! Born in March 1767 on NC/SC Border He was orphaned at 13 Self-educated with no formal education Emotional, Arrogant and Passionate man Involved in countless Duels Killed Charles Dickenson in a duel over a horse racing bet and an insult to his wife Could drink, smoke and fight with the best of them

Jackson’s Military Service Defeated the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in 1814 Defeated the British at New Orleans in 1815 Took Florida and Claimed it for the US in 1819 Loved by his soldiers who called him “Old Hickory”

The Election of 1824 Let the Battle Begin! Regional and personality differences led to a multi-candidate race The Participants John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Henry Clay William Crawford Sought to continue conservative course set by Monroe, supported strong national gov’t Emerged as rival of Clay for West vote; appealed to the “common man” due to his upbringing and war record Sought support from both North and West for his “American System” of tariffs and support for internal improvements Competed with Calhoun for the regional vote of the South; Supported Jefferson’s strict construction Let the Battle Begin!

The Election of 1824 Even though Jackson won the popular vote, he didn’t receive a majority of electoral votes. Sent to the House of Representatives to choose the President

Jackson -v- Quincy Adams The Corrupt Bargain Jackson -v- Quincy Adams Jackson appeals to West and South voters Henry Clay gives his support to Adams and the House chooses Adams as President Two weeks later, Adams appoints Henry Clay as his Secretary of State…. Jackson cries foul and calls it the Corrupt Bargain…or as Mr. Ewald calls it…Shennanigans

Quincy Adams Tangent One of the ablest, hardest working Presidents. Not popular failed to relate to the common man Often irritated those around him Supported protective tariffs and National Bank Passed the tariff of 1828 (tariff of abominations) Tariff upset those in the South Minority president, last of the Federalists, and last connection to Founding Fathers…..

Jackson -v- Quincy Adams II The Rematch of 1828 Jackson -v- Quincy Adams II Rise in the Common Man Property qualifications and education dropped as voting requirement Population shifts to West and South One of the worst elections for mudslinging Accusations of improper use of funds and prostitution from Anti-Adams people Accusations of murder and bigamy from Anti-Jackson People

Jackson Wins, Jackson Wins Election of 1824, 355,817 voted. Election 1828, 1,155,350 voted.

Jacksonian Democracy Whatever governing needed to be done, it should be done by the common man. “Government by the majority of people; instead of a gov’t governed by the upper class”

Man of the People Spoils System – Providing jobs and appointments to friends and supporters Eaton Affair – Wife of Jackson’s sec of defense, target of gossip by other cabinet wives Tried to force cabinet wives to accept her Led to resignation of most of his Cabinet Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet Group of unofficial advisors Often consulted instead of actual cabinet

Did you say Veto? Jackson vetoed more bills than the previous six presidents combined Maysville Road Veto (1830) Vetoed the use of federal money to construct the Maysville Road because it fell within one state (KY) Most of Jackson’s policy sought to balance sectional interests, but were clearly entrenched in Southern and Western motives

Nullification Crisis of 1832 Jackson supported states’ rights, especially in the South, but when pressed would defend the rights of the National Government “Tariff of Abominations” and Tariff of 1832 led to the South Carolina challenging federal law through interposition and nullification Conflict with John C. Calhoun (former Jackson VP) Appealed to South Carolina to obey federal law and obtained authority from Congress (Force Act) to enforce the laws any way necessary Clay negotiated a compromise (Tariff of 1833)

You can Bank on it! Jackson vetoed Congress’s attempt to re-charter the national bank Jackson distrusted Northern commercial interests Nicholas Biddle represented these interests South and West blamed the national bank for Panic of 1819 – preferred “soft money” & “easy credit” of state banks Pet Banks – Jackson removed government deposits and placed them in local (pet) banks loyal to the Democratic party

Panic of 1837 Easy lending of the Pet Banks led to speculative boom in the early 1830’s Jackson became concerned that the banks were issuing too much paper money Issued Specie Circular (1836) requiring gold and silver for land purchases These policies (combined with other issues) led to a rapid “bursting of the bubble”, that caused a nationwide depression Plagued Martin Van Buren’s time in office

And now for the Ugly Jackson’s Native American Policy Indian Removal Act of 1830 – Forced resettlement of Native Americans west of the Mississippi Bureau of Indian Affairs created to oversee resettlement Worcester -v- Georgia – Cherokee claimed the relocation was wrong and it went to the supreme court. Marshall ruled in favor of the Cherokee Tribe. Jackson’s response “Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it”

Trail of Tears Forced relocation of the Cherokee tribe. Before the journey was over ¼ of the tribe perished. Reflected Jackson’s personal apathy toward Native Americans

Jackson’s Legacy The Good The Bad The Ugly The Common Man involvement in Government Strong Executive Power Massive Voter Turnout Sparked Re-Creation of 2 Party System The Bad The Spoils System Banking Instability Excessive Check of the Supreme Court Greater Sectionalism –Result of Split with Calhoun The Ugly Native American Policy Trail of Tears