Andrew Jackson as President The Common Man’s Man Or The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Election of 1824 or “The Corrupt Bargain” Candidates Electoral Votes John Quincy Adams (MA) 84 Andrew Jackson (TN) 99 Henry Clay (KY) 37 William Crawford (GA) 41 All Republicans Nominated by State (favorite son) Election thrown into the House of Representatives Clay (Speaker of the House) supports Adams, Adams appoints Clay Sec. of State Jackson accuses Adams and Clay of a “corrupt bargain” and prepares for the election of 1828

Jackson as President 1829-1837 Old Hickory First Frontier President Little formal education War Hero – Battle of New Orleans Short tempered “King Mob” a party at the White House Spoils System “To the victor, goes the spoils” Rotation in Office Graft and corruption Veto Power – 12 times, only 7 vetoes from previous 6 presidents

Tariff of Abominations 1828 Tariff increased early tariffs Bitterly protested against in the Old South South opposed to Federal protection of industrial north at the expense of the south South fears Federal interference with slavery South Carolina Exposition written by V.P. John C. Calhoun argues nullification of tariff (Nullies) Tariff of 1832 eases rates, but SC still not satisfied SC nullifies Tariff and threatens succession if Federal government attempts to collect tariff in SC Jackson prepares for military action against SC – Force Bill Clay puts through a compromise tariff – ends crisis (for now)

Vice President John C. Calhoun

Indian Removal Policy Five Civilized Tribes – Cherokee, Creeks, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminoles Cherokees assimilated into white society Sequoyah – Cherokee alphabet Legal Code, Slavery, Newspaper Worcester v. Georgia (Marshall case) Jackson supports Indian removal (for their own good) and defies Marshall’s decision “Marshall has made his decision, now let’s see him enforce it.” Indian Removal Act – opposed by Davy Crocket, congressman from Tennessee Trail of Tears – 4000 Cherokees die enroute to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma and Kansas)

Trail of Tears

The Bank War Jackson opposed the National Bank as detrimental to westerners and small farmers, controlled by Eastern monopolists. Jackson was hurt financially by the 1819 Panic and many westerners blamed the National Bank for their tight money policies. National Bank president Nicholas Biddle Clay pushes a bank re-charter bill through Congress 4 years before it’s due, which Jackson vetoes. Jackson defeats Clay in the 1832 election Jackson removes federal funds from the BUS and deposits them in “pet banks” Wildcat banks create a land boom and over-speculation in western land Specie Circular – required public lands to be purchased with “hard” money (specie) leading to a bust in the speculative land boom and contributing to the PANIC of 1837

King Andrew I The Whig party emerged during the Bank War from a coalition of anti-Jackson interests. Clay, Webster and Calhoun became the party leaders. Southern States’ rightists, upset with Jackson’s tariff stand and northern industrialists form a political alliance to challenge Jackson’s Democratic Party in the 1832 election. The term Whig was in reference to the Revolution Era party in Britain that opposed George III and monarchies.

Tippecanoe and Tyler Too Jackson’s VP, Martin Van Buren won the 1836 presidential election against Whig Henry Clay (poor guy can’t catch a break) Panic of 1837 – over-speculation on canals, land, roads, slaves and railroads – dooms Van Buren Whigs nominate W. H. Harrison (war hero) in 1840 Log Cabin and Hard Cider campaign Harrison wins and dies 30 days after inauguration Return of the Two-party system – Democrats and Whigs John Tyler first VP to ascend to the Presidency (“the accidental president”), policies more in line with Democrats than Whigs

Log Cabin Campaign

Democracy on the March or Era of Jacksonian Democracy Suffrage rights expanded due to dropping of property qualifications Western states granted more suffrage rights to white males By 1820 older states were following lead of the west by granting more suffrage Competition for votes drove reforms in voting By 1840, 80% of white males could vote Anti-Masonic – 1st minor party and 1st to use nominating convention Candidates had to appeal to a broader base of voters Free blacks were denied vote and political office and jury duty Commonwealth (Massachusetts) vs. Hunt – unions are legal Party loyalty and strait ticket voting became common Wider suffrage broke the political monopoly of the elite Voters identified with a national party Seneca Falls Convention – Declaration of Sentiments (women’s rights)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton addressing the members At the Seneca Falls Convention