Andrew Jackson in the White House “The Self-Made Man”

A. Andrew Jackson 1. One friend noted, “I could thrown him three times out of four, but he would never stay throwed.” (He kept getting back up for more). 2. He once again showed his resolve early on when he joined The American Revolution against the British at age 13. a. Remember the British Officer who tried to force him into shining his boots? b. Jackson was a Revolutionary War Veteran, War of 1812 Veteran, and Creek Indian War Veteran. c. While other political leaders stayed behind while the common man fought, Jackson was fighting with them in every war. This, more than anything, endeared him to the electorate. A Self-Made Man

Creek Leader William Weatherford Surrenders to Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812

B. Jackson was a complex person who is not easily understood. 1 B. Jackson was a complex person who is not easily understood. 1. His opponents called him, “King Andrew” as he moved to expand the powers of the presidency. a. He had a bad temper and he dealt with his opponents harshly. 2. His admirers were struck by his ability to inspire others. a. They considered him a man of his word, and a champion for common people. 3. The Creek Indians called him, “Sharp Knife” because of the heavy-handed way that he treated them during the War of 1812. a. Jackson threatened to kill their leaders if they did not give up lands guaranteed to them in earlier treaties after defeating them. A Man of Many Qualities

“King” Andrew Jackson holding the power of the veto in his hand, while stepping on the Constitution.

C. Reward for Victory 1. Jackson fires over 200 presidential appointees from the previous administration. a. His critics say that this action is “cronyism” or rewarding loyal Democrats who helped him to get elected. b. According to Jackson, he was preventing a small group of wealthy men from controlling the government. c. Andrew Jackson’s supporter put it another way, “To the victor belong the spoils.” The Spoils System

“The Devil” Andrew Jackson conducting his “puppet show.”

D. Jackson appoints a number of his supporters with Cabinet Jobs. 1 D. Jackson appoints a number of his supporters with Cabinet Jobs. 1. Most of his Cabinet advisors were not ready for their positions, except for the future President, Martin Van Buren who was the Secretary of State. a. As a result, Jackson hardly ever met with his official Cabinet, but with “Kitchen Cabinet,” who were unofficial advisors. b. The “Kitchen Cabinet” included newspaper editors and Democratic Advisors. The “Kitchen Cabinet”

E. Mr. Biddle’s Bank 1. Central Banks control the issuance of currency and credit. 2. The Central Bank has been an issue of disagreement amongst the country’s leadership since Hamilton and Jefferson, and exists to this day. 3. The Bank of the United States had great power because it controlled loans made by State Banks. a. When the National Bank thought that the State Banks were making too many loans, it limited the amounts that these banks could lend. b. These cutbacks affected farmers and merchants who borrowed money to buy land or finance new businesses. c. The National Bank was created with the authority of Congress, but it was run by private bankers. d. Mr. Biddle was the Chairman of the National Bank, many thought he was vain and arrogant. e. Jackson thought he was using the power of the National Bank to benefit the rich. The Bank War

The Nation Bank Building, which is now an art gallery.

Mr. Biddle and the Whigs were worried that Jackson would shut the National Bank down. 1. Henry Clay of the West and Daniel Webster of the North(who we know from the previous chapter as big government people), wanted to join forces to save the National Bank and defeat Jackson at the same time. 2. The Bank’s charter was not due for renewal until 1836, but Webster and Clay persuaded Mr. Biddle to apply for the charter in 1832 in order to make it a campaign issue. a. Whigs falsely believed that most Americans supported the National Bank. b. Jackson, who was sick in bed at the time, famously said, “The Bank…is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!” The Bank War Begins

Uncle Sam approving of Jackson vetoing the Bank Bill

G. Jackson gave two reasons for the veto of the Bank Bill. a G. Jackson gave two reasons for the veto of the Bank Bill. a. He declared the National Bank was unconstitutional (the Supreme Court already ruled that the government could charter banks). b. Jackson felt that the National Bank helped “aristocrats” at the expense of common people. c. Jackson said in address to Congress, “When the laws undertake…to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of the society— the farmers, mechanics, and laborers, who have neither the time nor the means of [getting] like favors for themselves…have a right to complain of the injustice of their government.” d. The Whigs chose Clay from the West to run against Jackson while using the National Bank charter as a campaign issue. e. Americans chose Jackson, and the bank eventually closed in 1836. Jackson’s Veto

Jackson refused to wait for the charter to expire in 1836. 1. Jackson ordered the Secretary of the Treasury, Robert Taney, to stop all deposits in the National Bank. a. Instead, deposits were made directly to the State Banks which Taney and his friends largely controlled. b. Without the deposits, the National Bank closed with a whimper in 1836. 2. The economic correction that occurred after the National Bank closed were due to two main things: a. State banks were popping up everywhere now, and they were making loans without enough gold to back these loans. b. British speculators figured this out quickly, and made calls on their gold, which caused many of these banks to go under because they did not have enough gold in reserve. c. The book makes the claim that the closure of the National Bank contributed to this coming crisis, but it is more accurate to say that a lack of regulation by the Treasury Department led to the coming crisis that took place during the Van Buren Presidency. d. In the next chapter the book does not specify who these speculators are, but they were British. The Bank Closes