Andrew Jackson’s Presidency

Increasing Suffrage in the early 1800’s Outline Early Life Election of 1824 Increasing Suffrage in the early 1800’s Election of 1828 Jackson’s Presidency

Early Life and Career Born: March 15, 1767 in Waxhaw, South Carolina. American Revolution comes to the Carolinas Studies Law Appointed Public Prosecutor of the “Western District” Delegate to Tennessee Constitutional Convention 1st Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee U.S. Senator, 1797-1798

Private Life In 1794 Jackson marries Rachel Donaldson Robards in Nashville Buys Family Estate at The Hermitage, Nashville Tennesse The couple never had children of their own but adopted or received guardianship over many children during their life at the Hermitage

The Hermitage

Military Career “Old Hickory” War of 1812 Ordered South to Natchez and eventually defender of New Orleans Creek Uprising and Treaty January 8, 1815: British defeat against Jackson’s forces at New Orleans Defeat of Spanish Florida 1821 becomes governor of Florida territory

Election of 1824 As voting membership increased to include all white males, participation in local, regional, and national politics increased. Political discussion rallies, and organized groups ushered in a new political climate in the country. “Corrupt Bargain” John Quincy Adams, (N) Democratic Republican Andrew Jackson, (W) Democratic Republican Henry Clay (W), Democratic Republican William H. Crawford (S) Democratic Republican

Increasing Suffrage In The Early 1800’s “The Rise of the Common Man” In the first half of the 19th Century voting requirements shifted from property to white manhood being the only qualification for voting. By 1840 90% of the nation’s white males could vote. This change strictly restricted the involvement of free African American voting. Despite a growing political women’s movement for suffrage, women were completely left out. (text: P. 266)

Voting Requirements in the Early 19c

Voter Turnout: 1820 - 1860

Jackson’s Presidency 1828-1836 Read Andrew Jackson’s First Inaugural Address to the country and outline his primary goals as president. Executive Control Veto Power “Kitchen Cabinet” Spoils System Bank War Nullification Indian Removal

1828 Election Results

The Reign of “King Mob”

Veto Power Jackson viewed his presidency as representing the interest of the common man and using his executive power he used the veto more that all the presidents combined prior to his tenure. Read the Veto of the Maysville Road Bill and discuss Jackson’s reasons for using the veto for this legislation.

Kitchen Cabinet Daniel Webster John C. Calhoun                                                               Jackson relied heavily on the advice and counsel of his friends from Tennessee and the West, rather than eliciting advice from his legally appointed Cabinet members

“The Bank is trying to kill me… but I will kill it!” Bank War “The Bank is trying to kill me… but I will kill it!” ~Andrew Jackson to Martin Van Buren

Opposition to the 2nd B.U.S. “Soft” (paper) $ “Hard” (specie) $ felt that coin was the only safe currency. didn’t like any bank that issued bank notes. suspicious of expansion & speculation. state bankers felt it restrained their banks from issuing bank notes freely. supported rapid economic growth & speculation.

The “Monster” Is Destroyed! “pet banks”? 1832  Jackson vetoed the extension of the 2nd National Bank of the United States. 1836  the charter expired. 1841  the bank went bankrupt!

Results of the Specie Circular Banknotes loose their value. Land sales plummeted. Credit not available. Businesses began to fail. Unemployment rose. The Panic of 1837!

Nullification Crisis Force Bill Tariff of 1828 Enacted by Jackson to authorize the federal government to collect by force if necessary the tariffs out of South Carolina Crucial Issue: Maintaining the Union VS. State’s Rights Tariff of 1828 “Tariff of Abominations” This ordinance declared by the power of the State that the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and therefore null and void within the sovereign boundaries of South Carolina

1830 Webster: Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable. Jackson: Our Federal Union—it must be preserved. Calhoun: The Union, next to our liberty, most dear.

Indian Removal Trail of Tears, 1830 "What good man would prefer a country covered with forest and ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive republic, studded with cities, towns and prosperous farms and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civilization and religion?“ ~Andrew Jackson

Indian Removal Jackson’s Goal? 1830  Indian Removal Act Cherokee Nation v. GA (1831) * “domestic dependent nation” Worcester v. GA (1832) Jackson: John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!