THE AGE OF JACKSON “OLD HICKORY”

ELECTION OF 1824 Jackson won popular vote No clear majority in electoral college-House to decide “Corrupt Bargain”-H. Clay swings votes towards JQ Adams JQ Adams wins

JACKSON ELECTED-1828 Election: National Republicans vs. Jacksonian Democrats 1 st non-traditional president 1 st president from a poor family background

JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY & POLITICS OF THE COMMON MAN Votes rose sevenfold from …why? (Under JQ)-religious and property qualifications were eliminated (for all white males) Improved education Increase in newspaper circulation 1830s-King Caucus (closed door political party leaders in Congress meeting) was replaced by party nominating conventions: party politicians and voters would gather to nominate the party’s candidate By 1832, all but S.C. allowed voters to choose their electors rather than the state legislature Popular participation=more democratic

JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY Support from the less-wealthy Feared power of the federal govt. Restricted federal activity as much as possible

SPOILS SYSTEM “TO THE VICTORS, GO THE SPOILS” Patronage-giving govt. jobs to friends and supporters Official when Jackson took office Defense: any intelligent person could be a competent public official Contributed to his image as the champion of the common man

TARIFF CRISIS Tariff of 1828/Tariff of Abominations (under JQ)-heavy tax on imports to encourage American manufacturing Benefitted industrial North; hurt the South (had to pay higher prices for manuf. goods) S.C. declared the state had the right to nullify the tariff as it was unconstitutional (nullification theory)…John C. Calhoun Issue festered and was debated at Senate 1832-another tariff was passed that cut rates, but was still high on cloth and iron; S.C. advised the tariff was void and threatened to secede The defiance enraged the President, he threatened to send troops in to enforce the law (Force Bill) H. Clay-Compromise Tariff: reduced the import duties and S.C. cancelled the nullification act

INDIAN RELOCATION Wealthy plantation owners were buying land for cotton/farming States began taking control of Indian lands after Jackson took office; Pres. Supported the states Encouraged the Indian Removal Act: land in parts of the LA. Purchase for lands in the East Forcibly relocated 5 “civilized” tribes-Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole Gold was found on Cherokee land (who had adopted white culture more than others) The state of GA. seized the land, Cherokee sued 1831-Cherokee v. GA: Cherokees are not a foreign nation and can’t sue in a federal court 1832-Worchester v. GA: recognized as a domestic nation: the laws of GA. have no force within the boundaries of the Cherokee territory Marshall ruled the state of GA. had no authority over the land; Jackson: “Marshall has made his ruling, now let him enforce it.” Trail of Tears: Cherokee actually not removed until a year after Jackson leaves office, but others were removed during his term Chief Osceola and Renegade=Seminole resistance

BANK WAR Bank was a “monster” institution controlled by a small group of the wealthy Nicholas Biddle-the bank’s president: arrogant, suspicion he abused powers and represented the wealthy 1832-vetoed the bill to re-charter the bank (would only operate to 1836) Withdrew federal funds from the bank and put in pet banks around the country Pet banks printed and lent money recklessly; later forced Jackson to only accept gold or silver for payment of federal lands Led to panic and depression, loss of jobs & poverty

FORMATION OF THE WHIG PARTY Bank’s supporters found Jackson to be a power- hungry tyrant Led by Clay and Webster, the Bank’s supporters formed a new political party, the Whigs Whigs: nationalists, broad interpretation of the Constitution, favored the American system of protective tariffs, internal improvements and a national bank Election of 1832-Whigs nominate Clay, but Jackson wins in a landslide

OTHER Dubbed “King Andrew I” by National Republicans based on his power Vetoes more bills (12) than all the vetoes by the prior 6 presidents added together Frail health-chose not to run for a 3 rd term Democratic donkey often attributed to what individuals referred to Jackson as