13.1 The People’s President pp. 422-425

Objectives: Explain why Americans wanted a greater voice in government. Explain the importance of the Election of 1828.

A. Western Values (pp. 422-423) People on the western frontier respected self-made leaders—people who succeeded on their own rather than on inherited wealth or family name. New Western states were the first to give suffrage, or the right to vote, to all white men. In time, all states eliminated voting restriction based on property, payment of taxes, or religion.

B. Limits on the Vote (p. 423) While large numbers of free white men won the right to vote, many free African Americans lost that right during the 1820s and 1830s. Other groups in the U.S. also had no voice in politics. Women, Native Americans, and enslaved African Americans were still denied the right to vote.

C. An End to “King Caucus” (p. 423) Traditionally, a Presidential candidate was chosen in a private political meeting called a caucus. In the 1830s, party officials bowed to public pressure and began holding nomination conventions, meetings where delegates from each state cast their votes for political candidates. Expansion of the vote and the death of “King Caucus” caused voter turnout to increase sharply.

D. New Political Parties (p. 424) Following the 1824 election, the Democratic-Republicans began calling themselves the National Republicans. These supporters of John Quincy Adams included Eastern business owners, Southern planters, and former Federalists. Jackson’s supporters, who began calling themselves the Democratic Party, branded their opponents as enemies of the people.

E. Scandals Throughout his life, Andrew Jackson had been involved in several pistol duels. He had insubordinate soldiers under his command executed. When he “married” Rachel Donelson, neither was aware that her divorce from her first husband had never been finalized. They later remarried in order to make it official and legal.

F. The Election of 1828 (p. 425) The Election of 1828 once again pitted John Quincy Adams against Andrew Jackson. After a bitter campaign, Andrew Jackson (“Old Hickory”) won by a landslide (sadly, his wife died shortly thereafter). Jackson’s supporters believed that he represented the “common man.” The expansion of suffrage and an emphasis on the common man were characteristics of Jacksonian Democracy.

Review: 1. What did it mean to be a “self-made man”? 2. Define suffrage— 3. List three groups that were still denied the vote in the early 1800s. 4. Define caucus— 5. Define nominating convention— 6. Jackson’s supporters claimed that the selection of John Quincy Adams as President in 1824 was the result of a “_______________ _______________.” 7. Supporters of Jackson became known as the _______________ Party. 8. Jackson’s nickname was “_________ _______________.” 9. The expansion of suffrage and an emphasis on the common man were characteristics of _____________ ______________.