Politics of the People Chapter 12 Section 1

The Election of 1824 Democratic-Republican party has four presidential candidates: John Quincy Adams has New England’s support William Crawford has South’s support Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson both have the West’s support Jackson wins popular votes, fails to get majority of electoral votes House of Representatives chooses Adams

Jacksonian Democracy Andrew Jackson feels 1824 election has been stolen from him Aims to win next election, helps to split Democratic-Republican party Split eventually creates 2 parties: Democrats grow out of Jackson’s supporters National Republicans grow from Adams’s supporters

Jacksonian Democracy Jackson backs interests of common people, supports majority rule Jacksonian democracy— political power for all people, majority rule Voting rights partially expanded under Thomas Jefferson’s presidency Helps Jackson win election, hailed as triumph for common people

The People’s President • Andrew Jackson, first president not from aristocratic background • Grows up on frontier farm, fights in Revolutionary War, taken prisoner • After war, becomes lawyer, hero in War of 1812

Jackson Takes Office Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel, dies soon after he wins presidency Jackson blames death on campaign attacks on wife’s reputation Inauguration ceremony attracts people from all levels of society Crowd grows rowdy, forces Jackson to flee White House

A New Political Era Begins Andrew Jackson replaces many government officials with his supporters Giving government jobs to political backers— spoils system Opponents charge that spoils system corrupt Jackson defends system, breaks up one group’s hold on government