 In 1823, after the War of 1812, United states drafted the Monroe doctrine which stated: US should not be considered for future colonization by any European powers US was inherently different from European countries, a republic not a monarchy. US would view it a threat if Europeans tried to impose their system of government US would not interfere with European affairs.

 This was a belief that it was duty of the US to stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific and provide political support and territorial expansion.

 Americans moved west seeking economic opportunities. Once such area was Texas.  American migration into Texas led to an armed revolt against Mexican – Battle at the Alamo. Texans eventually beating the Mexicans and bringing Texas into the union.  Mexican War (1840) - American Victory led to the acquisition of Cali, Nevada, UT, AZ, and parts of CO and NM.

 Indian Removal Act of 1830  As settlers moved west and further south in search of land and riches forced Native Americans to either be moved out or fought to retain their lands. Jackson forced Congress to pass the Indian Removal act giving Native Americans lands in part of Lousiana Territory

 The Cherokee fought back and took their case to the Supreme Court with the help of a Christian Missionary. In Worcester vs. Georgia, John Marshall ruled the federal gov’t could not seize land but Jackson refused to abide by the decision saying, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.”

 In 1838 the Cherokees were forced to leave their lands mostly on foot for approxiametly a 116 day journey, headed up by the US army to Oklahoma. Nearly 1 out of 4 Cherokes died due to cold, diseases, and starvation.

 Andrew Jackson, “Old Hickory,” a hero in the War of 1812 due to his numerous wins over the British. Served in Congress Slaveholder from Nashville, Tennessee Defeated the Seminole Indians in Florida

 Opponents Views: Poorly Exucated Ill-tempered roughneck New democratic Spirit in American Politics Election of Jackson, 1828, came a time when a mass of men, not content to have the aristocrats vote for them, participated in the voting process.  This came at a time for universal manhood suffrage – distinction b/w the elite and common man was disappearing.

 Promised to remove corruption from the government  Americans began to see Americans as equals and eager to participate in government affairs  Once Elected, Jackson employed the “Spoil System,” rewarding those who supported him with gov’t jobs Spoil system = practice of using public offices to benefit members of the victorious party.

 Prior to Jackson’s election congress passed a tariff on imported goods.  Tariff designed to stimulate the economy, but only the northern states benefitted  Southerners had to pay a higher price for manufactured goods  Southerners and Westerners called it the “Tariff of Abominations.”

 South Carolina argued that when a state felt the federal government had exceeded their authority that the states had a right to “nullify”, reject such laws.  South Carolina threatens to leave the Union, secede. Stating they joined it freely and could then leave the same way they came, “state sovereignty.”

 Distrusting the Second National Bank as an undemocratic tool of the Eastern elite, Jackson vetoed the re-chartering of the bank in Jackson’s bank veto became the central issue in the election of 1832, as Henry Clay, the National Republican candidate supported the bank.

 Jackson’s veto of legislation to recharter the bank of the United States made the presidential veto part of the legislative process, as Congress, from then on was forced to consider a presidential veto when proposing legislation.

 The Jacksonians’ policy of removing federal funds from the Bank of the United States and placing them in “pet banks” helped to contribute to the fiscal problems that ended in a severe economic panic in 1837, which led to bank failures and dissatisfaction with the use of state banks as depositories for public funds.