1. Section 3 – pg 223 The Age of Jackson
Chapter 6
Section 3 – pg 223
The Age of Jackson

2. Adams and Jackson in Conflict
Pg 223
Adams and Jackson in Conflict
Andrew Jackson served 2 terms as President, from 1829 to 1837
Born in a log cabin on the border of North and South Carolina
Orphan by the age of 14
Survived smallpox as a child and severe gunshot wounds as an adult
During a march with his troops in 1812, one soldier described him as “tough as hickory”, later became known as Old Hickory
Jackson believed ordinary ppl should participate in political life
As a general and a President Jackson was loved by millions
His influence was so great that the 20 yr period after he became President was known as the Age of Jackson

3. The Election of 1824 Pg 224 Jackson first ran for President in 1824
Opponents were John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Williams H. Crawford
Jackson got the most electoral votes, but not a majority
According to the Constitution, the House of Reps would have to decide the election (between Adams and Jackson)
As Speaker of the House, Clay has great influence and he told the House to vote for Adams
Adams won
Jackson’s supporters claimed the two men had made a “corrupt bargain”

4. The Presidency of John Quincy AdamsPg
The Presidency of John Quincy Adams
Adams accomplished little during his presidency
He wanted the fed gov’t to play a larger role in supporting the American economy
He proposed a program to build roads and canals and a high tariff to protect industry
Planned to set up a national university and a observatory for astronomers in Washington DC
He lacked political skill to push programs through Congress
Adams also never won the trust of the American ppl

5. Pg 225
A New Era in Politics
Back in the 1790s, states had begun extending suffrage – the right to vote
Many states dropped the requirement that voters had to own property
Voting requirements varied slightly from state to state
Almost all white males now could vote and hold office
States also changed how they chose presidential electors
Before state legislatures, in 1824 voters chose the presidential electors in 18 out of 24 states
Suffrage was still restricted for women and all African Americans

6. Democracy in the Age of Jackson
Pg 226
Democracy in the Age of Jackson
Extending the right to vote was part of a larger spread of democratic ideas
Supporters of Andrew Jackson believed that ordinary ppl should vote in elections and hold office
They also did not trust the gov’t believing it favored the rich over the poor
Also suspicious of banks

7. New Political Parties Pg 226
The Age of Jackson brought back the two-party system
During the 1824 election, the Republican Party split
Supporters of Adams called themselves National Republicans
Jackson’s supporters used the name Democrats
In 1831, the National Republicans nominated Henry Clay to run against Jackson
Jackson easily won but by 1836, the anti-Jackson forces had formed a new party, the Whigs
The new parties adopted a new way of choosing their presidential candidates
Previously party members of Congress held a caucus- a meeting of members of a political party
Beginning in 1831, political parties started holding national nominating conventions-large meetings of party delegations to choose candidates for office
This opened the nominating process to many more ppl and made it more democratic

8. Jackson Becomes President
Pg 227
Jackson Becomes President
Three times as many ppl voted in the election of 1828 as had voted in 1824
Most new voters supported Jackson, who easily won
The election revealed growing sectional and class divisions among American voters
Jackson did best in the West and South, where planters and small farmers supported him
Also did well among small business ppl, artisans, and workers

9. Jackson Inauguration Pg 227
Jackson’s supporters called the election a victory for the “common man”
Thousands of ordinary working ppl went to Washington for his inauguration
20,000 ppl crowded in and around the White house for a reception in Jackson’s honor
They broke furniture, spilled drinks, trampled rugs, and broke glassware and dishes
Officials lured them outside by moving the punch bowl onto the White House lawn
Jackson’s opponents complained about the “reign of King Mob”
Jackson’s supporters said it was the People’s day, and the People’s President, and the People would rule

10. Pg 228
The Spoils of Victory
Jackson began his term by replacing some gov’t officials with his supporters
Replaced 20% of federal officeholders
Jackson openly defended what he was doing by claiming that putting new ppl into gov’t jobs furthered democracy
One of his supporters put it more selfishly: “to the victors belong the spoils”
This applied the term spoil system to the practice of rewarding gov’t jobs to loyal supporters of the party that wins an election