The Age of Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson, Indian Fighter In 1813 Forces led by Jackson defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend In the Treaty of Ft. Jackson, he forced the Indians to give up 23 million acres. More than half of the land had belonged to Jackson’s Indian allies who helped him defeat the Creeks. Jackson felt that Indians should be moved west of the Mississippi

Jackson bought part of the land taken from the Creeks at public auction. No one was brave enough to bid against him. He bought the land for the lowest possible price. Jackson built a fortune on land stolen from Indians. Andrew Jackson, Land Speculator

The descendants of escaped slaves and Black Seminoles occupied a fort in Florida. Without government authorization, Jackson blew up the fort in Blacks, Seminoles, and Spaniards were killed. The African Americans who survived were turned over to plantation owners in Georgia to work as slaves. Andrew Jackson, Slave Catcher

As the hero of New Orleans was a tremendously popular figure. He was seen as the defender of the common man who would champion the cause of small farmers and pioneers. Andrew Jackson, Candidate

Election of 1824…A Mess! Four Republicans ran for president. Andrew Jackson had the most popular votes, but no majority over J. Q. Adams, Clay, or Crawford…Time for a run-off again, as in 1800! Clay gave his support in House of Representatives to Adams in exchange for job as Secretary of State. This was called the “Corrupt Bargain” by Jackson’s followers.

The nation was split by the election and Adams had a difficult presidency. In 1828, Jackson got another chance, created the Democratic Party, and won easily. “Common” folks of the farming west & south, along with factory workers of the north and east, felt unity under “Old Hickory”. Considered a “man of the people”, Jackson was the first to rise to the presidency from humble beginnings.

Andrew Jackson, President Jackson replaced government officials with his supporters in a practice known as the Spoils System. Jackson took advice from friends and newspaper editors known as his Kitchen Cabinet.

Andrew Jackson, Bank Buster Jackson did not like the National Bank or its director Nicholas Biddle. In 1832 Jackson vetoed the bank’s charter and “killed” it. He deposited the government’s money in pet banks owned by Western Jackson Supporters. The liberal lending policies of these banks helped bust the nations economy in Jackson saw the national bank as a private club for Eastern elites.

Andrew Jackson, Preserver of the Union When John C. Calhoun threatened to ignore the Tariff of Abominations and flout federal authority during the Nullification Crisis, Jackson kept South Carolina in check with a threat of military force. John C. Calhoun believed in the doctrine of states’ rights, but he wasn’t willing to be hanged defending them.

Andrew Jackson, Oppressor Jackson supported the Indian Removal Act of Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Cherokee Indians were forced to march to Oklahoma at the cost of thousands of lives. Jackson ignored a Supreme court ruling in the case of Worcester vs. Georgia which barred the removal of the Cherokee. The Trail of Tears.