1. Democrats and whigs
Unit 9

2. Issues facing Jackson’s presidency
New Federal Government Andrew Jackson: first president not from Massachusetts or Virginia; from a western state. Spoils System: established the precedent for bureaucrats (appointed, not elected, officials). Nullification Controversy Controversy between South Carolina and laws passed by the federal government. SC Ordinance of Nullification: declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 void in SC. Nullification Proclamation: declared Ordinance of Nullification to be an act of treason by Pres. Jackson. Force Bill: expands presidential powers to collect tariffs (by force if necessary).
Bank War
Jackson opposed the Bank of the US; vetoed its charter 1832; defunded it in 1833:
Not set forth in constitution.
Bank did not provide a uniform currency.
Bank was political.
Hesitant about all paper money.
Pet Banks: state banks chosen by Jackson to house federal funds.
Panic of 1837: financial crisis during the presidency of Martin Van Buren due to the political decision of the Jackson administration.

3. Issues facing Jackson’s presidency
Indian Removal Johnson v. M’Intosh (1823): Supreme Court ruled that Native Americans could occupy lands within the US, but could not hold title to those lands. Indian Removal Act: authorized the president to negotiate southern Natives removal to reservations west of the Mississippi River. Trail of Tears: series of forced removals of Native Americans from their homelands in the southeast; Natives suffered exposure, disease, and starvation during relocation; over 4,000 Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw people died.
Politics Anti-Masons: country’s first “third party;” held first national convention in Baltimore, MD, in National Republicans: held convention in 1831; nominated Henry Clay as presidential candidate. Democrats: held convention in 1832; nominated Andrew Jackson as presidential candidate. Whig Party: formed after the election of 1832 by remnants of the National Republican party and other opponents of Andrew Jackson; opposed excessive federal authority.

4. Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too
Van buren & the whigs
Martin Van Buren Served as Secretary of State and Vice President to Andrew Jackson. Won presidential race as a Democrat in Panic of 1837: lasted until 1843; blamed Van Buren, though resulted due to policies enacted during the Jackson administration; Van Buren’s policies did little to impact the financial crisis.
Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too
William Henry Harrison: nicknamed “Tippecanoe” for his military victory over Native Americans at the Battle of Tippecanoe during the War of 1812; chosen as Whig Party presidential nominee in 1840.
John Tyler: former Democrat; chosen as Whig Party vice presidential nominee in
Slogans used by the Whig Party included:
“Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too”
“Martin Van Ruin”
Van, Van, is a used-up man”

5. Moving westward
Expansion
Majority of nation lived west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Louisiana Purchase provided new opportunities for Americans moving west.
California Gold Rush (1840s-1850s).
Manifest Destiny
Belief in the US that its settlers were destined to expand across North America, from ocean (Atlantic) to ocean (Pacific). Three themes dominated this belief:
Special virtues of American people and institutions.
Mission to redeem and remake the west in the image of agrarian America.
Viewed as a duty as well as a destiny.
Oregon & California Oregon Territory: jointly administered by US and Britain. Oregon Trail: 2,170-mile east-west route from Missouri to Oregon. California: owned by Mexico; offered purchase by Andrew Jackson (declined); many nations sought control over California due to ports and trade opportunities with China and other Pacific Island nations.

6. Texas (the lone star republic)
Mexico: gained independence from Spain in 1821; owned Texas.
Stephen Austin: established colony with Mexican permission in Texas.
David Crockett: led several settlers from Tennessee to Mexico.
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna: Mexican dictator; refused American takeover of Texas.
Texians: American settlers in Texas; declared Texas an independent republic in (known as the Lone Star Republic).
The Alamo: Catholic mission held by the Texians; attacked by Santa Anna in retaliation for the declaration of independence; unsuccessfully defended by William Travis, David Crockett, and Jim Bowie; “Remember the Alamo” became a rallying cry of Texians to battle.
David Burnet: first president of the Lone Star Republic.
Sam Houston: commander of the Texian army; defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 (took 14 minutes); forced Santa Anna to sign over all rights to Texas and recognize the Lone Star Republic as an independent nation; served as the second president of Texas.

7. Mexican-American War
John Tyler: president of the US; annexed Texas in
James Polk: won presidential election of 1844 as a democrat; ran on a platform that sought to annex both Texas and Oregon.
49th parallel: extended by the US and Britain in (during Polk’s administration) all the way to the Pacific Ocean as boundary between the two nations.
Mexican-American War: referred to as “Mr. Polk’s War;” Mexico disputed the annexation of Texas as well as the boarder at the Rio Grande rather than the Nueces River.
California: American settlers attempted to create an independent republic (Bear Flag Republic); California declared a territory of the US and annexed in 1846.
Key Battles of the Mexican-American War:
Thornton Affair (April 25, 1846): Mexican forces defeated US soldiers north of the Rio Grande; used by Polk as justification for Congress to declare war.
Battle of Santa Fe (Aug. 8-14, 1846): Stephen Kearny defeated Mexican forces at Santa Fe without firing a single shot.
Battle of Mexico City (Sept , 1847): Winfield Scott defeated Santa Anna in the Mexican capital city.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848):
US gains Texas, California, and New Mexico territories in between ($15 million).
Rio Grande established as border.
US assumes all American war debts ($3 million).
Gadsden Purchase (1853): treaty between Mexico and the US that established present-day borders; extended slightly south of previous borders.