Sasso US I

 The United States is changing pretty rapidly during Jackson’s administration- socially, politically, economically  The Spoils System becomes a big part of Jackson’s government- “to the victor goes the spoils”  Spoils System- appointing people to government positions on the basis of party loyalty  Not a new development, but Jackson is the first president to remove officials and replace them with his own  Jackson figures that the president should have more power than anyone else in the government, so he just planned on doing whatever he wanted  Also develops his “Kitchen Cabinet” of advisors

 One method of doing whatever he pleased was by exercising his veto power  Used more vetoes (12) than the first six presidents COMBINED  Many of his vetoes are used on bills proposed by Henry Clay  This is one way for Jackson to get back at his political enemies

 One example would be his veto on the Maysville Road Bill  Since Jackson is a nationalist, many felt this would be approved  This Bill would extend the Cumberland National Road inside the state of Kentucky  Jackson vetoed this because the Constitution does not allow the federal government to spend $ on local transportation  Since this improvement would only help Kentucky, the federal government would not pay for it  Where is Henry Clay from? Kentucky  What does Jackson do next? Approves a bill that will build a new National Road to and through Tennessee  Where is Jackson from? Tennessee

 An unlikely pairing  Had a bit of a troubled history together  Calhoun had been a nationalist  Helped create the American system with Clay  However, by the 1820’s, South Carolina is struggling economically  Part of it’s struggles come from the high tariffs that Calhoun helped create (Tariff of 1816)  A new tax- the Tariff of 1828  Many people in South Carolina begin to talk of secession  Calhoun starts to think more along sectional lines

 Calhoun’s political future truly depends on how he can help fix things for SC  He is well aware that secession is very dangerous  Tariff of 1828 becomes known in the South as the “Tariff of Abominations”  Calhoun decides to propose the concept of Nullification  Anonymously writes the South Carolina Exposition and Protest  Has to keep it anonymous because he is still VP and he knows that this will go against Jackson’s beliefs  Not completely his idea- had been developed by TJ and Madison  The idea says that states have a final decision on federal law  If a state does not agree with a federal law, they can decide to make it null and void in their borders  This could potentially lead to the break up of the United States

 Proposed Tariffs in 1832 will decrease taxes on certain products, but increase them on others  Jackson: “Our federal Union it must be preserved”  Calhoun: “The Union: Next to our liberties most dear”  South Carolina will nullify the tariff

 “Compromise Tariff” of 1833  Will reduce taxes over the next several years  Should keep both sides happy  Jackson will pass a “Force Bill” right behind it  That will be nullified by SC