Age of Jackson,

Rise of a Democratic Society 1830s America American Plan Men & women from all classes sitting at common tables, stagecoaches, steamboats, etc. Alexis de Tocqueville & other foreign visitors were amazed at informal manners & democratic attitudes

Political changes & reforms , lower & middle class white males began voting in large numbers Universal male suffrage Begun by new western states, eastern states followed Party nominating conventions Replaced “King Caucus” Popular election of the president State voters choosing electors instead of legislature

Political Changes & reforms Two-party system More elected offices Popular campaigning Spoils system & rotation of officeholders Affirmed democratic idea that one man was as good as another Helped build a strong 2-party system

Election of 1824 Breakdown of caucus system resulted in 4 Republican candidates John Q. Adams, Henry Clay, William Crawford, & Andrew Jackson Jackson won popular vote, but lacked enough electoral votes House of Representatives had to choose Corrupt Bargain Henry Clay backed John Q. Adams, he won & appointed Clay as Sec. of State

John Quincy Adams Alienated Jacksonians Corrupt Bargain Asking Congress for internal improvements money & other things considered unconstitutional by Jacksonians Tariff of 1828 “Tariff of Abominations” by southerners

Revolution of 1828 Election of 1828 Jackson vs. John Q. Adams Mudslinging from both sides Jackson carried every state west of the Appalachian Mountains

President Andrew Jackson “Common Man” Born in a frontier cabin Hero—Battle of New Orleans Wealthy planter & slave owner Chewed tobacco Fought several duels First president since Washington w/o a college degree

President Andrew Jackson Defender of the common man against abuses of power by the rich Opposed federal spending & a national debt Narrowly interpreted Congressional powers/vetoed more than predecessors Maysville Road “Kitchen Cabinet”

Peggy Eaton Affair Wife of Jackson’s Sec. of War Target of gossip from other cabinet members’ wives Accused of being an adulterer; not invited to parties Jackson attempted to force cabinet wives to accept her Most of his cabinet resigned Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned a year later

Indian Removal Act, 1830 Forced the resettlement of thousands of Indians By 1835, most eastern tribes had complied

Cherokee Indians Georgia ordered Cherokees to move west Cherokees challenged Georgia in court Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) Cherokees not a foreign nation & could not sue Worcester v. Georgia (1832) Laws of GA no force within boundaries of Cherokee territory Jackson: “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.” Trail of Tears 1838, army forced 15,000 Cherokees out of GA 4000 died along the way

Nullification Crisis S.C. voted to nullify “Tariff of Abominations” John C. Calhoun: Nullification Theory State had a right to decide to obey a federal law or declare it null & void Webster-Hayne Debate, 1830 Daniel Webster (MA) & Robert Hayne (SC) debated nature of federal union Webster attacked idea that states could defy or leave the Union Andrew Jackson’s toast “Our federal union, must it be preserved.” John C. Calhoun’s response “The Union, next to our liberties, most dear!”

Nullification Crisis South Carolina convention voted to nullify Tariff of 1828 & Tariff of 1832 Resolution banning the collection of tariffs in South Carolina Jackson’s reaction Told sec. of war to prepare military Persuaded Congress to pass Force Bill giving him authority to take military action Issued Proclamation to the People of South Carolina stating nullification and disunion were treason

Nullification Crisis Jackson recommended that Congress lower the tariff Congress passed a new tariff which was lower South Carolina backed down

National Bank Nicholas Biddle, president Arrogant, many thought he abused power & served the wealthy, incl. Jackson Jackson believed it unconstitutional 1832, election year, Henry Clay forced the bank issue Congress passed a bank-recharter bill Jackson vetoed the bill Clay’s plan backfired Voters approved; Jackson won 3/4s of electoral vote

Two-Party System Democrats supported Jackson Resembled Republican party of Jefferson Favored: local rule, limited government, free trade, equal economic opportunity (white males) Opposed: monopolies, a national bank, high tariffs, high land prices Southerners, westerners, small farmers, urban workers

Two-Party System Whigs Whigs supported Henry Clay Resembled the Federalist party Favored: Clay’s American System (a national bank, federal funding of internal improvements, protective tariff) Opposed: Immorality, vice, & crime, which some blamed on immigrants New England & mid-Atlantic & upper-Middle- Western states; protestants of old English stock; middle-class urban professionals

Jackson’s Second Term Pet Banks After killing national bank, Jackson & Sec. of Treasury Roger Taney transferred the funds to state banks Specie Circular Required all purchases of federal lands be made in gold or silver Attempt to stop inflation of land prices Bank notes lost value & land prices fell Panic of 1837 & a depression ensued

Election of 1836 Jackson chose not to run Persuaded Democrats to nominate Martin Van Buren Whigs nominated 3 different candidates hoping to throw the election into the House of Representatives Martin Van Buren 58% of electoral vote

Log Cabin & Hard Cider Campaign 1840 Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison & John Tyler “Tippecanoe & Tyler too” Made a big deal about Harrison’s humble origins Log cabin buttons, hats, etc. Hard cider to voters Name calling: Martin Van Ruin Whigs carried North, South, & West Harrison died of pneumonia 1 month later