Andrew Jackson The Jacksonian era was marked by increased voting rights for common white men, social reform highlighted by the temperance and abolition movements, the re-emergence of the two-party system, and controversy on a variety of issues including states’ rights, the role of the national bank, and the coexistence of Native Americans in the USA.

The Growth of Democracy From 1800 to 1840, democracy increased in America: Before 1800, less than 50% of white men could vote because of property & tax restrictions By 1840, these restrictions were removed which allowed 90% of “common” white men to vote (“universal white male suffrage”)

Growth of Democracy Because more “common men” could vote, politicians used new techniques to get votes. Campaigns, parades, and slogans that appealed to the “common man”; Well organized political parties to rally voters. As a result of these changes, the 1830’s and 1840’s saw massive voter turn-out in elections.

Andrew Jackson – 7th President In 1828, Andrew Jackson was elected president: The first “common man” candidate (Old Hickory – tough as a piece of old hickory wood) He was a drinking, gambling, dueling, rough neck He split from Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party and helped form the Democratic Party (the 1st People’s Party) He greatly expanded presidential power. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYh7pato4uE Jackson’s Wild and Rowdy Inauguration

Changing Politics Under Jackson President Jackson changed American government: He rewarded loyal supporters with gov’t jobs (spoils system) He used the presidential veto more often than any president for the next 100 years Critics of Jackson’s Democrats formed the Whig Party (which maintained the two-party system) Ideas became known as Jacksonian Democracy

The 2nd Two-Party System Democrats Whigs Jefferson-Jackson supporters State’s Rights, Farming and Western Expansion Supported in South and West, by common farmers Jackson’s Opponents Strong Central Government, industry, trade, and national unity Supported in the North East, by merchants and bankers.

Key Events of Jackson’s Presidency Jackson’s 8 years as president were defined by 3 controversies: In 1830, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act to remove remaining Indians from the East Jackson faced a problem with Indians in the American South: Gold was discovered in north Georgia in 1828 in lands controlled by the Cherokee who refused to move from GA One reason the Cherokee still remained east of the Mississippi was because their land was mountainous & not ideal for cash-crop farming Jackson asked Congress for the Indian Removal Act of 1830 to relocate Indians across the Mississippi River The Cherokee did not go to war when Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, they sued in the Supreme Court…and won! But, the state of Georgia & President Jackson ignored the Supreme Court & took Indian lands anyway

Key Events of Jackson’s Presidency Jackson’s 8 years as president were defined by 3 controversies: In 1830, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act to remove remaining Indians from the East The Nullification Crisis (1832-1833) exposed sectionalism between the states & national government By the 1830’s, sectionalism (concern over one region) was becoming more obvious, especially over the issue of slavery: Southerners argued that tariffs helped northern industry but made taxes higher for farmers. When Congress passed a high tariff in 1832, Southerners claimed “states’ rights” and threatened to nullify the tariff. Nullification is the argument that states have the right to ignore federal laws that they think are unfair.

Key Events of Jackson’s Presidency Jackson’s 8 years as president were defined by 3 controversies: In 1830, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act to remove remaining Indians from the East The Nullification Crisis (1832-1833) exposed sectionalism between the states & national government Jackson’s decision to kill the 2nd Bank of the United States He thought it was unconstitutional and gave too much power to the wealthy. In 1832, he vetoed a law that would have extended the life of the BUS another 20 years. In 1833 he ordered all federal money to be removed from the BUS and put in 23 “pet” state banks. Without the BUS, the economy entered a 6-year recession.

Conclusions Andrew Jackson represented a new era in American democracy: Forming the Democratic Party, campaigning for the votes of the “common man,” & spoils system Jackson’s use of the veto strengthened presidential power Opposition to Jackson led to the permanent two-party system