Unit Ten: The Jacksonian Era Jacksonian Democracy

Indian Relations Another topic during Jackson’s first term was Indian relations in the lands East of the Mississippi, mostly in the South. In the South the last tribes still there were the Five Civilized Tribes (had assimilated white culture): Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Seminoles. The Southern states though wanted Indian lands to make fields to grow cotton, so they established Indian Removal laws to kick them off their Reservations.

Five Civilized Tribes

The Indians fight back In 1830 Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which allocated money for the President to use to “voluntarily” remove Indians west of the Mississippi to the “Great American Desert” (Oklahoma Territory) Some left willingly as the Choctaws with the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, others did not. This law led to conflict in Illinois with the Black Hawk War and in Florida with the Second Seminole War. The Cherokees of Georgia decided to use the court systems to fight back.

The Indians fight back The Cherokees were the most assimilated tribe with their own written language developed by Sequoyah. The Cherokees first sued Georgia in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, but the Supreme Court ruled that they could not sue because they were not U.S. citizens but rather Domestic Dependants of the Federal government. In the second case of Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court said Georgia did not have the right to remove, only Federal government through a treaty.

The Indians fight back In response to John Marshall’s decision Jackson said, “Marshall’s made his decision, now let him enforce it. In 1838 the remaining Cherokees about 15,000 were rounded up by General Winfield Scott and forced to move to the Oklahoma Territory in an event known as the Trail of Tears, due to 1/3 dying on the way. Jackson’s Indian policy disliked by missionaries like Jeremiah Evarts and Frontiersman like David Crockett, were agreed with by a majority of Americans, even some calling for the ethnic cleansing (genocide) of the entire savage race (Indians).

Trail of Tears

Bank War The last big issue of Jackson’s first term was the rechartering of the Second Bank of the United States (BUS). Jackson believed the BUS headed by Nicolas Biddle was a corrupt institution (the monster) using public funds to purchase Congressional votes and direct American policy and did not like the use of bank notes but rather wanted only specie. When the BUS applied for recharter in 1832 Jackson vetoed the bill, which many Americans agreed with due to general anger with the BUS.

Election of 1832 In the Election of 1832 Jackson ran for a second term for the Democrats against the National Republican candidate Henry Clay and won with a large margin. The election did have the first third party candidate William Wirt from the Anti- Masonic Party. To Jackson this was a mandate from the people that they liked him and his policies. Jackson wanted to end the bank, but did not want to wait until 1836 for its charter to end, so he came up with an idea to kill it.

Kill the BUS To kill the BUS Jackson came up with the plan to move all the Government’s (Public) money from the BUS, thus ending its ability to loan or do much of anything. Jackson moved all the Public’s money into different state banks (Pet Banks) with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury Roger Taney. (Jackson fired two previous Secretaries because they would not do it) To Force Jackson to recharter the BUS, Biddle cut credit and interest rates shot up causing an economic recession called Biddle’s Panic. (Biddle did finally give in to Jackson)

Economic Issues In 1835 Jackson completed paid off the National debt (only time in U.S. history it happened) and passed surplus money on to the states. This caused an economic boom, but it was growing to quickly and to slow it down Jackson issued the Specie Circular (stated that Public lands could only be purchased with silver or gold). The demand for specie, Jacksons fiscal policies, and the death of the BUS in 1836 caused a huge Panic in 1837 causing further division in the nation. Even though Jackson was right about many things about the BUS, it was a stabilizing force on the economy and should have been reformed not killed.

The Bank War Nicholas Biddle

Jacksonian Diplomacy Andrew Jackson believed in a strong arm type of diplomacy and that American interests should come before all other. In 1830 Jackson reopened trade with the West Indies which was a much needed trade region. In 1831 Jackson opened a quarrel with France over payments owed to American shippers during the Napoleonic Wars, which the French chose not pay.

Jacksonian Diplomacy Jackson then urged the seizure of French property in the U.S. to pay the shippers which led to the cutting off of trade relations and the fear of war. In 1835 France agreed to pay the money if Jackson was to apologize, which he did not because he was backed by the American people “Hurrah for Jackson, No apologizes”; Jackson only said he did not intend to insult the French which they took and paid the payments.

Election of 1836 Jackson was the first President to have an assassination attempt on his life, not once but twice; Robert B. Randolph (only hit Jackson) and Richard Lawrence (had two pistols misfire) In 1836 Jackson was tired (70yrs old) and refused to run again retiring to his home the Hermitage. Jackson left a lasting legacy of what was termed the rise of the common man in America.

Andrew Jackson Click to see a YouTube video on the Hermitage Richard Lawrence Attempt 1835 Jackson 1844 Jackson’s Tomb

Election of 1836 In the Election of 1836 Jackson’s hand picked predecessor Martin Van Buren was chosen to run on the Democratic ticket. Van Buren ran against three candidates from a new party called the Whig Party (National Republicans and Anti-Jacksons). The Whig Party formed from the thought that Jackson was trying to make himself an elected king in America, hence Whigs. (King Andrew I) Van Buren easily beat Daniel Webster, Hugh White, Willie Magnum, and William Henry Harrison to win the Presidency.

Election of 1836 Martin Van Buren “Little Magician” William Henry Harrison Daniel Webster Hugh White