Rise of Jacksonian Democracy

Jackson’s Big Day: Battle of New Orleans (1815)

Jackson During Seminole Wars (1818)

Jackson Demands Satisfaction… A lot.

Duel # 1: Waightstill Avery (1788)

Duel #2: John Sevier (1802)

Duel #3: Charles Dickinson (1806)

First Presidential Assassination Attempt

Andrew Jackson: A Life of Constant Suffering Andrew Jackson, circa 1844-1845

The Common’s Man’s Candidate (1824)

Jackson’s Opponents in 1824 Clay (KY) Crawford (GA) JQ Adams (MA) Calhoun (SC)

Results of 1824 Election

A “Corrupt Bargain”? Jackson gets ‘plurality’ but not ‘majority’ in Electoral College. House of Rep. must choose. Speaker of the House Clay throws support behind Adams: “I cannot believe that killing 2500 Englishmen at New Orleans prepares a man for the various, difficult, and complicated duties of the Chief Magistracy…” Adams elected on first ballot; Clay named Secretary of State. Jackson vows revenge.

President Adams’ Problems Tariff of 1828: Jacksonians rig the bill to hurt Adams Backfires when New England supports it Called the “Tariff of Abominations” Adams refused to play politics with ‘spoils system’ and policies. Jacksonians out to get him.

Election of 1828 Adams’ failures open door for Jackson. Adams and Jackson’s guys sling a ton of mud: “Jackson’s mother was a prostitute” “Jackson married an adulterer” “Jackson was a mulatto” “Adams had a gambling problem” “Adams was pimping out American girls to Russians” “Jefferson had called Jackson a psychopath” In the end, Jackson’s popularity won out.

1828 Election

The Jackson Coalition Planter Elite in South People on the Frontier State and “Machine” Politicians – spoils system Urban Immigrants

Andrew Jackson: “The Common Man’s President” Distrust of Eastern “establishment,” monopolies, & special privilege. Connected with ordinary Americans. Jeffersonian legacy.

The Reign of “King Mob” As many as 20,000 people came to Jackson’s inauguration in March 1825.

The New Democracy: Jacksonian Democracy Politicians have to appeal to common voters: Universal male suffrage. By 1821 most states lost property requirement. Voters demand that politicians REPRESENT their interests!

Voting Requirements in Early 19th Century

Why Increased Democracy? White male suffrage increased Party nominating committees Voters chose their state’s Presidential electors Spoils System Rise of Third Parties Popular campaigning (parades, rallies, “stump speech”, etc.) Two-party system returned in the 1832 (“Second Party System”): Dem-Reps  Natl. Reps.(1828)  Whigs (1832) Democrats (1828)