The Age of Jackson Part II

The Presidency of Jackson  Symbol of the emerging working and middle-class man  Opposed federal spending  Vetoed more bills (12) than all previous combined presidents  Formed unofficial advisory, known as the “Kitchen Cabinet”

The Spoils System  Out with the old officeholders, in with new loyal Democrats  Jackson also rotated office holders after a while, allowing many more to participate in government

Peggy Eaton Affair  Secretary of War’s wife was target of malicious gossip by cabinet members’ wives  Many of cabinet resign when Jackson supports Eaton  VP John C. Calhoun resigns, loyal Martin Van Buren replaces him

Indian Removal Act (1830)  Democracy didn’t extend to Native Americans  Jackson sympathized with land- hungry whites, signed act forcing resettlement of natives

Supreme Court Rules on Natives  Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) Cherokees not a foreign nation with right to sue in federal court  Worcester v. Georgia (1832) Laws of Georgia have no forces within Cherokee territory Jackson sides with the states “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.”

Trail of Tears (1838) – After Jackson’s Presidency  Army forces 15,000 Cherokees to leave Georgia  4,000 died

Nullification Crisis  1828 “Tariff of Abomination”  SC declared it null and void  Webster-Hayne Debate (1830) Webster attacks idea that any state can leave the Union  Jackson: “Our federal Union… it must be preserved.”  Calhoun (from SC): “The Union, next to our liberties, most dear!”

Nullification Crisis  SC held a convention to nullify tariffs  Jackson readied the military, declared to SC that nullification was treason  Congress lowers tariff, SC backs down

Bank Crisis

Bank Veto  Jackson believed BUS unconstitutional, favored wealthy over common man  Henry Clay and Bank President Nicholas Biddle fight Jackson  Jackson will destroy the “Monster”  People support Jackson  ¾ + electoral vote in 1832 election

Two Party System  Democrats: Jackson’s supporters  Whigs: Clay’s Supporters; challenge the established government

DemocratsWhigs Positions on issues Favor local rule, limited government, free trade, equal economic opportunity Favor Clay’s American System, opposed immorality, vice, and crime (some blamed on immigrants) Base of voter support  Southerners  Westerners  Small farmers  Urban workers  New Englanders  Mid-Atlantic and upper-Middle-western States  Protestants of English stock  Middle-class urban professionals

Jackson’s Second Term  Pet banks Jackson “killed” the BUS by vetoing recharter and withdrawing all federal funds  Specie Circular Presidential Order All future purchases of federal land must be made in specie Led to financial crisis Panic of 1837  Pushed Van Buren as successor

Election of 1836

President Van Buren  Banks fail during Panic of 1837  Whigs blame Democrats for “laissez-faire” economics Free market; government keeps out of the economy

Election of 1840  Whigs strong position to defeat Democrats Voters unhappy w/ “Martin van Ruin” Whigs better organized Whigs’ war hero William Henry “Tippecanoe” Harrison + John Tyler of Virginia = “Tippecanoe and Tyler too”

 “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” campaign

Election of 1840  Harrison died of pneumonia less than a month after inauguration  John Tyler becomes first VP to ascend Presidency mid-term He vetoes Whig national bank bills, favors southern and western Democrats