Jacksonian Democracy Mr. Calella American Studies I/U.S. History I (H)

Popular Politics Jacksonian Democracy All white men (no property requirement) More egalitarian Common Man not limited in ability Rise of political parties Educate masses (newspapers, rallies, speeches) Organize structure of campaigns The Spoils System Democrats and Whigs

The Election of 1828 Campaign began right after “Corrupt Bargain” Jackson-military career, Adams’ enemies Adams-intelligence and diplomacy “Smear Politics”-character, not issues Adams is an elitist, spoke over heads, corrupt bargain, sold US sex slave to Czar Jackson is tyrant, bastard son of prostitute, drunk, gambler, violent, seducer/adulterer (this kills wife) Jackson wins and Calhoun becomes VP

Jackson’s Agenda Revenge for Rachel’s death Jackson’s appeal Appealed to the common man, b/c he was one Tough guy-military and duels Big inauguration party at White House He was both AVERAGE and IDEAL Spoils System “To the victors, go the spoils” “Kitchen Cabinet” Limit federal gov’t to save $

Tariff of Abominations What is a tariff? Purpose? Gov’t imposed high tariffs on iron and textile imports-WHY? What do you think Europeans did in response when Southerners exported cotton to them? How else did the South get hurt by tariffs? So, based on these findings, how do you think the South felt about tariffs?

Nullification 1828, SC politicians led by Calhoun The Theory States retained some of their sovereignty under the Constitution States could NULLIFY acts of Congress when Congress overstepped its bounds Calhoun felt that Congress overstepped its bounds when it came to the tariff 1829, Jackson became president and ignored Calhoun

Nullification (continued) 1832, Calhoun resigns as VP and becomes SC state senator He then uses nullification to declare tariff null and void Jackson wants to hang Calhoun and supporters for treason Jackson send navy to Charleston Harbor Clay saves day again by getting Congress to lower tariff (SC withdraws nullification) War avoided

The 2 nd Bank of the United States (BUS) Becomes the main issue of the 1832 Election Nicholas Biddle manager of BUS BUS not created by Constitution, but it started to control the lending policies of state banks BUS was acting like the government’s central bank because it dictated whether state and local banks made loans BUS checked small, local banks and thus stabilized the entire national economy-small banks did not take risks and make “bad” loans

BUS (continued) Many distrusted BUS because run by elites Jackson and the hated it because it limited loans to common man (limit American dream) BUS only protected interests of rich at expense of common man; corrupt National Republicans (Whigs) wanted to use BUS issue to beat Jackson in 1832 Whigs got Congress to renew BUS charter in 1832 instead of 1836 when it was set to expire Whigs wanted to force Jackson’s hand

BUS (continued) Congress passes BUS charter and Jackson vetoes it; he then wins 1832 election over Clay Jackson then stops making federal deposits in BUS; instead makes deposits to “pet banks” Biddle starts calling in loans from small, local banks and money supply dwindled-he wanted people to blame Jackson Panic starts and people blame Biddle! Biddle breaks and starts lending money but damage done; 1836 charter expires and BUS dies 5 years later

Indian Policy Made his mark fighting Creeks and Seminoles 1829, 1 st message to Congress-Indians must be moved west of Mississippi River to save them from white civilization Indian Removal Act of 1830: relocate Indians west of Miss. R.; make room for whites Black Hawk’s War & Second Seminole War

The Cherokees & Trail of Tears Cherokees very assimilated GA wanted to seize their lands Worcester v. GA (1831) Jackson did not support Marshall’s holding and refuses to uphold it 1838, Van Buren orders Cherokees moved 1200 miles to Indian Territory (Ok) Almost ¼ died on the trip (on foot)