The Jackson Era Jacksonian Democracy Chapter 13 Lesson 1

Jacksonian Democracy New Parties Emerge What are the characteristics of a leader? ▪ From , the United States enjoyed what is known as the “Era of Good Feelings” ▪ During that period, there was only one political party in the United States – the Democratic-Republicans ▪ In 1824, four candidates competed for the presidency: ▪ William H. Crawford - Georgia ▪ Andrew Jackson - Tennessee ▪ Henry Clay - Kentucky ▪ John Quincy Adams - Massachusetts

Jacksonian Democracy The House Chooses the President What new ways of campaigning emerged during the elections of 1824 and 1828? ▪D▪During the election, Jackson received a plurality (the most votes) of the popular vote – however, no one received a majority of the electoral votes ▪A▪According to the Constitution, when no candidate receives a majority of the electoral college votes, the House of Representatives must choose the president ▪A▪As the House prepared to vote, Henry Clay met with Adams and agreed to influence Congress to support Adams over Jackson ▪T▪The House chose Adams as president who quickly appointed Clay Secretary of State ▪F▪Furious, Jackson accused Adams and Clay of making a “corrupt bargain” to steal the election from him (Spoils System?) (Required to win)

Jacksonian Democracy Adams as President What new ways of campaigning emerged during the elections of 1824 and 1828? ▪A▪Adams and Clay denied any wrongdoing and there was no evidence of a bargain – however Jackson supporters were determined to oppose Adams at every turn ▪D▪During his first address to Congress as president, Adams outlined his plans: ▪t▪to improve roads and waterways, ▪t▪to build a national university and support scientific research ▪J▪Jackson supporters in Congress opposed these measures arguing for a more limited role of government ▪T▪They believed it was wrong to spend federal funds on such improvements ▪I▪In the end, Congress approved far less than Adams was looking for

Jacksonian Democracy The Election of 1828 What new ways of campaigning emerged during the elections of 1824 and 1828? ▪B▪By 1828, the Democratic-Republican Party had split into two parties: ▪D▪Democrats – led by Jackson, ▪N▪National Republicans – led by Adams ▪M▪Most Democrats favored state’s rights and were wary of a strong national government ▪N▪National Republicans favored a strong national government and supported internal improvements and a national bank to support economic growth ▪D▪During the campaign, both sides resorted to mudslinging (insults and personal attacks)

What new ways of campaigning emerged during the elections of 1824 and 1828? ▪T▪These attacks on an opponent’s character together with campaign slogans, posters and political rallies changed American politics ▪J▪Jackson received 68% of the electoral votes and 56% of the popular votes to win the Election of 1828 ▪J▪John C. Calhoun of the South Carolina – and Adams vice-president – switched parties and became Jackson’s vice-president ▪S▪Shortly after the election, Jackson and his supporters officially formed the Democratic Party ▪J▪Jackson promised that as president he would represent the interests of the common man

Jacksonian Democracy Jackson as President How did Jackson make the American political system more democratic? ▪J▪Jackson was a man most Americans could identify with and admire: ▪h▪he was a patriot, ▪a▪a self-made man, ▪a▪a war hero ▪T▪Thousands of people would swarm the White House to attend his inauguration

Jacksonian Democracy Expanded Voting Rights How did Jackson make the American political system more democratic? ▪J▪Jackson promised “equal protection and equal benefits” for all Americans ▪P▪Prior to the 1820s, in order to vote a man had to own property ▪B▪By the 1820s, states began loosening these requirements – now male factory workers, sharecroppers and others could vote. ▪B▪By 1828, in nearly all the states, the voters chose electoral college members instead of the state legislatures ▪W▪Women however, still could not vote – African Americans and Native Americans had virtually no rights at all

Jacksonian Democracy Making Government More Democratic How did Jackson make the American political system more democratic? ▪J▪Jackson despised interest groups ▪H▪He also didn’t like people whose power came from privilege ▪J▪Jackson and other Democrats wanted to open the government to the people ▪J▪Jackson and fellow Democrats were concerned that the federal government had become a bureaucracy ▪S▪So, after taking office in 1829, Jackson began firing federal employees and replacing them with his own supporters ▪J▪Jackson also replaced the unpopular caucus system with the more democratic nominating conventions where state delegates chose their candidates (Organized groups of people who influence the government for their own interests) (Spoils System) (System in which nonelected officials carry out laws)

Jacksonian Democracy The Tariff Debate How did a fight over tariffs become a debate about state’s rights vs. federal rights? ▪I▪In 1828, Congress passed a protective tariff on manufactured goods from Europe ▪M▪Manufacturers in the Northeast welcomed the tariff – Southerners, however despised the tariff ▪V▪Vice-president Calhoun – who supported state’s rights – claimed states could nullify federal laws they believed were not in their best interests ▪C▪Calhoun believed the Constitution was an agreement between the states to establish a federal government and that if the federal government went beyond powers granted by the Constitution then states had the right to refuse obedience (Required them to pay more for imported goods)

How did a fight over tariffs become a debate about state’s rights vs. federal rights? ▪J▪Jackson disagreed. He believed that if a state could ignore any law it chose, then the power of the federal government was useless ▪I▪In 1830, at a state dinner honoring Thomas Jefferson, Jackson made a toast in which he declared: “Our Union! It must be preserved!” ▪V▪Vice-president Calhoun responded to Jackson’s challenge with a toast of his own: “The Union, next to our liberty, most dear. It can only be preserved by respecting the rights of the states!” ▪W▪With his toast, Calhoun made Jackson his political enemy in the struggle for state’s rights Required them to pay more for imported goods

How did a fight over tariffs become a debate about state’s rights vs. federal rights? ▪I▪In 1832, Congress passed a lower tariff to ease the tension – South Carolina responded by passing the “Nullification Act” declaring it would not pay the illegal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 ▪S▪South Carolina threatened to secede if the federal government tried to interfere ▪J▪Jackson then backed a bill that would gradually lower the tariff ▪H▪However, he also vowed to enforce federal laws through military force if necessary ▪I▪In 1833, Congress lowered the tariff and passed the “Force Bill” which allowed Jackson to use military force, if necessary, in enforcing federal laws (“1828 Tariff of Abominations”)