Chapter 9 The Age of Jackson

Section 1 Jacksonian Democracy Background: Election of 1824-John Q. Adams vs. Andrew Jackson Jackson won the popular vote but not enough electoral votes. House of Representatives chose Adams. Jackson supporters claimed Adams made a deal with Henry Clay who later became his Secretary of State. Adams lost supporters and many were upset with the outcome. The poor wanted to be represented in government.

Many people (small farmers, frontier settlers, slave owners) wanted change and got behind Jackson because they believed he would defend the rights of the common man. After the election of 1824 (Adams vs. Jackson), states changed their voting requirements, allowing more people to vote-later called Jacksonian Democracy Nominating Conventions: prior to the election of 1824, presidential candidates were chosen by party leaders; after, party members chose candidates. Led to more people becoming active in politics p. 284 P. 285

P. 285 Election of 1828-John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson *Jackson=war hero and candidate of the common man (Democratic Party) *Adams=Out of touch with the everyday people At Jackson’s inauguration a mob of supporters held a party on the white house lawn Spoils System-the practice of giving government jobs to political backers Kitchen Cabinet-Jackson’s informal group of trusted advisors who sometimes met in the White House kitchen

Section 2 Jackson’s Administration Views of Jackson’s polices depended on the region people lived: North South West Economy Industrial economy based on trade and manufacturing Economy based on farming, mostly cash crops (cotton and tobacco) Economy was just emerging but farmed many varieties of crops Political Views *Supported tariffs *Opposed the federal government’s sale of public land at cheap prices *Opposed tariffs because they increased the cost of imported goods *Relied on slavery *Supported internal improvements and the sale of public lands

Economic Background 1827 (Before Jackson’s presidency): *British companies were driving Americans out of business because they could manufacture goods more cheaply. *The North wanted tariffs placed on imported woolen goods to protect their industries. The south felt those tariffs were too high and would hurt their economy. Congress placed a high tariff on imports-southerners called it the Tariff of Abominations

When Jackson took office, he was forced to respond to the conflict over tariffs. Can an individual state have the right to disregard a law that had been passed by the U.S. Congress? States’ Rights Debate *John C. Calhoun-states formed the national government, so states power should be greater than the federal government-States’ Rights Doctrine -states should be able to nullify (or cancel) any federal law they judge to be unconstitutional.

Dispute became known as the Nullification Crisis Challenges to Calhoun Many Northerners benefitted from the tariffs American people, not the individual states, made up the union Dispute became known as the Nullification Crisis

Hayne-Webster Debate *Robert Y. Hayne=nullification gives states a way to lawfully protest against federal legislation *Daniel Webster=national welfare should override individual states **NATIONAL UNITY

Jackson opposes nullification, but is concerned about economic problems in the south *He proposes lower tariffs *Not enough for south, especially South Carolina *South Carolina decided to nullify tariffs *Even going to withdraw from union *Jackson threatened force-Force Bill *Compromise=lower tariffs over a period of time

Jackson vs. the Bank -2nd Bank of the US -Bank of the federal government -small farmers opposed it because they felt it would only help the wealthy -Jackson believed it was an unconstitutional extension of Congress -Maryland passed a tax to limit the Bank’s operations

McCulloch vs. Maryland James McCulloch refuses to pay Maryland’s tax Supreme court ruled in favor of McCulloch and said bank was constitutional and that states could not tax a federal institution Jackson vetoed 2nd Banks charter renewal Jackson moved most of banks funds to state banks which weakened its power *State banks offered easy credit to people buying land -led to expansion in the west, but also to inflation -He tried to slow inflation by ordering people to use only gold or silver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knf8KA5aAjw

Jackson decided not to run again in 1836 Democrats nominated VP, Martin Van Buren Whig Party-favored the idea of a weak president and a strong Congress. Panic of 1837-a severe economic depression 1840 Whigs win election with William Henry Harrison