Jackson and the Politics of Democracy The Age of Jackson The period from the 1820s to the 1840s is with some justice called “the age of Jackson”. In this section I will explain why

The Election of 1824 and J.Q. Adam’s Administration Furthered Jackson’s career even though he lost Started as a scramble of five men John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Henry Clay, John Calhoun, & Andrew Jackson No one received a majority of the vote House of Representatives were now left to decide Now between Adams and Jackson Clay gave support to Adams Clay was appointed secy of state Adams began his career under a cloud of suspicion Thought that Adams bought the presidency

Adams as President Difficult and frustrating presidency New Congress of 1826 Tariff issue was the main business on their agenda Pressure for greater protection came from manufacturers, farmers, who would supply critical votes in the upcoming presidential election The cotton growing South –where tariffs of all kinds were unpopular was assumed to be safely in Jackson’s camp for the upcoming election The substantial across-the board increase in duties angered southern free traders however, and came to be known as the Tariff of Abominations Difficult and frustrating presidency Country was just recovering from a depression Refused to bow to public opinion and called for expansion of federal activity Opposition developed in Congress Congress turned the domestic program into a pipe dream Many thought the depression had been caused or exacerbated by federal banking and tariff policies.

Tariff of Abominations

Jackson comes to power The tariff showed how special interest groups can achieve their goals through congressional “give and take” (trading votes in the legislative bargaining process) The election of 1828 saw the birth of a new era of mass democracy Public rallies, torchlight parades, lavish barbeques paid by the candidates support Influential state or regional leaders rallied behind Jackson These leaders laid the foundations for the first modern American political system—the Democrats What gave Jacksonians the edge was their success in portraying their candidate as an authentic man of the people

Jackson in office Jackson won by a popular vote margin of 150,000 and by 2 to 1 in the electoral college His character: Removal of Indians from the Gulf States (key to his popularity in that region) Indomitable will Intolerance to opposition Prickly pride Violent in temper Got what he wanted He fought a number of duels and served in wars against the British, the Spanish and the Indians. His experience made him tough and resourceful but deprived him of the flexibility you would normally see in a politician. Yet he generally got what he wanted. For the next slide: The first major policy question facing the Jackson administration concerned the fate of the Native Americans. Jackson had long favored removing eastern Indians to lands beyond the Mississippi. The only difference between how he did it and other presidents were how he demanded a much speedier and thorough removal of all eastern tribes to reservations.

Indian Removal The first major policy question facing the Jackson administration concerned the fate of the Native Americans. Jackson had long favored removing eastern Indians to lands beyond the Mississippi. The only difference between how he did it and other presidents were how he demanded a much speedier and thorough removal of all eastern tribes to reservations. The greatest obstacle to voluntary relocation was the Cherokee nation, which held lands in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennesee. Next slide (8): A stubbornly resisting majority faction of the Cherokees held out until 1838 when military pressure forced them to march to Oklahoma. This trek known as the Trail of Tears was made under such harsh conditions that almost 4000 died (out of 13000)

Trail of Tears