1. Chapter 14: Andrew Jackson and the Growth of American Democracy

2. The Presidential Race of 1828
John Quincy Adams(Republican) vs. Andrew Jackson(Democrat)
Lots of “mudslinging” between the two candidates
Adams was called a “Sabbath-breaker” for traveling on Sundays
Jackson was called crude and ignorant

3. Jackson Wins the Presidency
Andrew Jackson won the popular vote
Rich and “well-born” Americans didn’t like the idea of a man like Jackson running the country
Jackson was stereotyped as a frontiersman

4. Who was Andrew Jackson? Jackson was a very controversial figure
Made a name for himself as an “Indian Killer”
Also known for his heroics at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812

5. Who Was Andrew Jackson? Jackson was a “self made man”
A true Southerner
As a kid, Jackson loved sports
more than he liked school

6. Who Was Andrew Jackson? Known for having a temper
Joined the American militia during the Revolutionary War, he was only 13 years old
After the war, Jackson became a lawyer in North Carolina
Eventually he moved to Nashville and became rich enough to buy land and slaves

7. Andrew Jackson’s Temper
A slave trader named Charles Dickinson once called Jackson a “worthless scoundrel”
Andrew Jackson was not happy with this, and challenged Dickinson to a duel

8. Jackson’s Duel with Dickinson
Jackson was hit first in the chest
But Jackson stayed up and fired back at Dickinson, killing him instantly
The bullet fired by Dickinson missed Jackson’s heart by only about an inch

9. Jackson vs. Dickinson Duel
(Actual video footage of the duel)
andrew jackson duel - YouTube

10. Jackson Becomes a Legend
Events like this, as well as previous legendary incidents, made Jackson an American hero
Jackson was elected to both the House and Senate in Tennessee before he became President
Ran for President in 1824, won popular vote, but not a majority in the Electoral College, so JQA became President

11. The Democratic Party Emerges
Ends the Era of Good Feelings
Once again, there is political argument in America
The new Democratic Party would represent “ordinary farmers, workers, and the poor, not the rich and well-born who had taken control of the Republican Party”

12. “Jacksonian Democracy”
This was the idea that ordinary people could control their government
During the campaign of 1828, Jackson’s supporters said “Adams can write, but Jackson can fight”
Ordinary Americans saw Andrew Jackson as “one of them”

13. Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration
March 4th, 1829
For the first time, people traveled from all over the country to see the Presidential Inauguration

14. Common People Start to Vote
Westward expansion led to an expansion of voting rights
Along the frontier, “regular” men began to demand the right to vote
After voting rights were expanded, over 1 million people voted in the election of 1828, three times the number of people who voted in 1824

15. Democrats Give a Voice to the Common Man
The Democrats believed that they had saved the country from corrupt (greedy) rich people and returned it to “the people”
Andrew Jackson’s election represented a shift in power to Western states, as well as to farmers and small business owners