The Age of Jackson

Learning Targets I can define “Jacksonian Democracy” as it relates to the “common man”. I can compare and contrast the relationship of Andrew Jackson and the Cherokee during the Creek War and the Indian Removal Act. I can assess the impacts of Andrew Jackson’s policies on Native American relations.

The Age of Jackson Problems between North and South continue People moved west and settled more land Native Americans were forced form their homelands “Jacksonian Democracy” becomes a common thread in American Culture

Andrew Jackson President for the common man. Born in a log cabin. Son of poor farmers Age 13 he fought in Revolutionary War Age 14 he was an orphan Later became a famous general that defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans

Andrew Jackson Lived on the Frontier in Tennessee Studied law and politics Jackson joined the Democratic- Republicans but later he split this political party in two Jackson’s side became known as the Democratic Party

Democratic Party Andrew Jackson (a southerner) created a party that stood for states rights and for taking government control away from the rich. He stood for the common people Jackson became president, even though by then he was rich and owned slaves, he was still a “man of the people”.

What does it mean to be a man of the people? What does it mean to a president for the common man? What does it mean to stand for the common people?

Problems between North and South The fight over tariffs Tariffs were good for the North and bad for the South. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods and raised the prices on goods from outside the United States

Tariffs in the South Tariffs were bad for people in the South In the South many plantation farmers sold their goods to European nations Cotton was in huge demand in Europe but because of the tariffs the United States had on imports, other European countries put tariffs on United States exports So people in Europe paid more for US cotton

Tariffs Southerners also liked to buy cheap European goods but because of tariffs they had to pay more for them. Everything cost more. Less cotton was sold to Europe so they did not make that much money. Why was this bad for the South?

The story of John Calhoun and Daniel Webster John C. Calhoun was a southerner and the Vice President under Jackson Daniel Webster was a northerner from Massachusetts Both had different opinions about what states should do because of tariffs

Calhoun and Webster Calhoun believed that since the states joined the US under their own free will then the state can decide if a federal law has to be obeyed. This was called nullification.

Calhoun and Webster Daniel Webster believed that it wasn’t the states that made up the Union but it was “made by the people, for the people, and answerable to the people” Meaning that the states had to follow the federal laws for the good of the people in the Union not just where you live. In 1832 the tariff was raised again

Webster and Calhoun After the tariff was raised again South Carolina threatened to secede or leave the Union Jackson not wanting this lowered the tariff to give the people of the south some relief and sent troops to South Carolina to make sure that they are following the rules and that they do not secede. This angered the people of the South

Jacksonian Democracy Majority rule and “pure democracy” Showed the best and worst of democracy Egalitarian or all inclusive (for men) Always benefitted white men at the cost of all others Egalitarianism, masculine privilege, and racial prejudice Do we see this in today’s world?

Settling the lands to the West During the Presidency of Jackson more people continued to move west That meant more and more Native Americans were pushed from their homelands. A new idea spread across the nation “Manifest Destiny” or Clear Destiny, the United States would settle all the land to the Pacific Ocean. One problem, the Native Americans they did not have the same idea and feared losing more of their land

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 Settlers and Indians were fighting over land rights. The land to the east of the Mississippi River was prime or excellent land. The white settlers wanted it and the Cherokee and other Indian tribes lived there In 1830 the US government forced all Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi to move west of the Mississippi to Indian Territory

Trail of Tears The Cherokee Nation refused to leave their land They were the largest Indian group in the east They lived like most other people in Georgia, they went to school, had farms and businesses, and had their own written language. Some even owned slaves

Trail of Tears The Cherokee sued the state government of Georgia to stay and the government said NO The United States Supreme Court sided with the Cherokee Jackson responded by saying, “let the court enforce their decision” and continued to remove the Cherokee from their land

Trail of Tears The Cherokee left behind their homes and land and entire towns to go to the new land to the west. All they had worked for was gone. Most Cherokee walked the trail to the new land others used horse and wagons to travel the 100s of mile More than 25% of the Cherokees died during this journey called the Trail of Tears