1. Topic: Assessing the 1st Term of Andrew Jackson

2. 1828 Election

3. Andrew Jackson as President
Jackson: the “Common Man’s” President
“Old Hickory”
Reduction of “special privilege”
Symbol of popular democracy
“Will of the people”
Not ideology or Congress
Distrust of federal authority & power
Wide use of Vetoes (Maysville Road Bill Veto)
President powerful to protect the people

4. Jackson and the Spoils System
Political Patronage: party supporters get government jobs
“to the victor go the spoils”
Jackson brings spoils system to the national level
Jackson’s Claims:
A “social leveling” of bureaucracy
“anyone can be an official”
Problems of the Spoils System: Corruption and incompetence

5. The Nullification Crisis (1828-1833)
Tariff of 1828
“Tariff of Abominations”
Protected NE industry, hurt the South
Fear of Federal Regulation of Slavery
South Carolina’s Protest
The Exposition by John C. Calhoun (Jackson’s VP)
Nullification of Federal Laws
Refuses to pay Tariff duties
Jackson: “the Union must be preserved” – threatens the use of force
Compromise Tariff of 1833 (Clay) and the Force Bill

6. The Indian Removal Act 1830
“Five Civilized Tribes”- assimilation to white culture
Georgia whites want land
Jackson: remove Indians “for their own protection”
Worcester v. Georgia & Cherokee Nation v. Georgia  Marshall vs. Jackson
Jackson ignores the court
Trial of Tears (1838)
Indians relocated west of Missouri
4,000 die on the way (disease, exposure)

7. Conclusion
Do you regard Jackson as acting out the “will of the people”? What evidence can you give to support your opinion?