Andrew Jackson’s Presidency Clay and the American System A Man for the People Jackson’s Successors Manifest Destiny

Clay and the American System President Madison recognized the two different economies booming in America In the North – Agriculture In the South – Cotton Madison wanted to unify the country to create a strong economy. His plan included… Development of transportation systems Creating a Protective Tariff Creation of the 2 nd National Bank

Republican Party Splits National Republicans Clay, Quincy Adams – rule by the elite Later become the Whig Party Democratic Republicans Jackson – rule by the common man Later known as simply Democrats Country did not like John Quincy Adams as President Felt he only favored the wealthy

Election of 1828 Andrew Jackson vs. John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams was the Incumbent Jackson wins overwhelmingly Enter the Era of the Ordinary John Quincy Adams is appalled He lost to a man who couldn’t even spell

A Man for the People Born into poverty in Carolina backcountry Son of Scotch-Irish Immigrants First President without a College Education Had careers in law, politics, land speculation, cotton planting and soldiering prior to Presidency

Political Ideas Believed he represented the nation as a whole Disliked people who obtained power from wealth (aristocracy) Manhood Suffrage: No longer needed to own land to vote Relied on his “Kitchen Cabinet” His unofficial group of advisors (buddies)

Political Ideas – Kitchen Cabinet Personal friends who advised him in politics and government decisions Many were western newspaper editors Slipped through kitchen into the White House

Political Ideas – Spoils System “To the victor go the spoils” Fired and replaced 20% of the government with his supporters In addition, Jackson vetoed more bills than did all previous Presidents Combined!

Treatment of Indians Washington and Jefferson believed in assimilation Native American adoption of “American ways” (beliefs and culture) Henry Clay and others believed Indians should be eliminated Jackson agreed with neither

Treatment of Indians Indian Removal Act of 1830 Forced Indians west of the Mississippi River Inferior lands than what the Indians had left Jackson thought this was a generous policy

Treatment of Indians Black Hawk War of 1832 Illinois Indians who resisted Jackson’s plan were slaughtered by local militia

Treatment of Indians Trail of Tears Jackson’s removal of the Cherokees in Georgia Ignored the Supreme Courts decision which permitted the Cherokees to set up their own nation in Georgia

Treatment of Indians Trail of Tears Georgia militiamen brutally rounded up 17,000 Indians and packed them off to Oklahoma 800 mile journey Walked, railroad and steamboat 25% of the Indians died along the journey

Presidency of 1836 Martin Van Buren A Democrat, his Presidency was plagued with a serious depression He was blamed for it but it was really caused by Jackson

Presidency of 1840 Whig Party Believed in stronger state’s rights Main Concern was limiting the power of the Chief Executive Elected William Henry Harrison He dies one month later! Succeeded by John Tyler – also a Whig

Manifest Destiny In the 1840’s there was a feverish interest in expanding the country Known as Manifest Destiny Destiny implied that further expansion of the US was inevitable, nothing could stop it. Manifest meant that the destiny was obvious

Manifest Destiny Reasons for the Manifest Destiny Mindset… Americans have always hungered for land Merchants and Manufacturers believed expansion would bring markets for their goods and services Millions of immigrants meant more living space was needed

Manifest Destiny Reasons for the Manifest Destiny Mindset… America wanted to expand trade with China Taking Oregon would give the US excellent harbors Panic of 1837 led many unemployed people to believe that moving west would allow them a fresh start Americans wanted to spread the “virtues” of their government

Manifest Destiny Movement Westward found settlers encountering Indians Again… When settlers moved westward, Indians were naturally encountered again. Some tried to assimilate Others tried formal attacks and resistance