Democracy and the Age of Jackson 7.4

Objectives Analyze the movement toward greater democracy and its impact. Describe the personal and political qualities of Andrew Jackson. Summarize the causes and effects of the removal of Native Americans in the early 1800s.

Key Parts The Election of 1824 Jackson Emerges Native American Removal

Introduction Read Section 7.4 Complete the flowchart on pg.. 249

The Election of 1824 There was a four way race- John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay. Jackson won more popular votes than Adams, but they tied in the electoral votes. The House of Representatives had to determine the outcome of the election. Adams was appointed President.

Jackson Begins His Next Campaign Jackson prepared for the next election for Adams whole term, Jackson relied heavily on Martin Van Buren who worked behind the scenes to support Jackson. Jackson hoped to exploit the increasingly democratic character of national politics. During the 1820’s many states began to rewrite their constitutions to allow white males that paid taxes to vote. There goal was to increase the voting percentages.

Jackson Emerges During the mid 1820s Andrew Jackson became the symbol of American democracy. This was referred to as Jacksonian Democracy. By the election of 1828 Jackson’s supporters called themselves Democrats, no longer Democratic Republicans. Jackson defeated Adams by a 2/3 vote in the electoral college.

Cont. Jackson owed his victory to Martin Van Buren, who worked with promoting Jackson to the southern planters and the northern common people. The party promised to return to Jeffersonian principles: strong states and a weak federal government that would not interfere with slavery.

Cont.. The Democrats innovated a new party structure. They developed a disciplined system of local and state committees and conventions. Those loyal to the system were typically awarded government jobs. Martin Van Buren’s reward for his hard work was to be Secretary of State.

Native American Removal Jackson’s political base lay in the South, he captured 80 percent of the vote. Those voters expected Jackson to help them remove the 60,000 American Indians living in the region. These Indians belonged to five nations: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Choctaw, and Seminole. “five civilized tribes”

Cont. Between 1827 and 1830 the states of Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama dissolved the Indian governments and seized the land. John Marshall’s Supreme Court tried to help the Indians via Worcester v. Georgia, the court ruled that Georgia’s land seizure was unconstitutional. The federal government had treaty obligations to protect the Indians, the Court held, and federal law was superior to state law.

Cont.. Before the ruling could be complete Jackson had urged Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act sought to peacefully negotiate the exchange of American Indian lands in the South for new lands in the Indian Territory. In 1838 U.S. soldiers forced 16,000 Cherokees to walk from their lands to Oklahoma.

Cont… Some Indians in the South resisted removal. In Florida, the Seminoles fought the Second Seminole War between 1835, and 1842. (they lost) In Illinois the Sauk and Fox nations fought in Black Hawk’s War and were crushed in 1832. The rest of the Indians moved to the Indian Territory in present day Oklahoma.