What people said about him…  “I feel much alarmed at the prospect of seeing General Jackson president. He is the most unfit man I know for such a place…he is a dangerous man.” -Thomas Jefferson

 “He is ignorant, passionate, hypocritical, corrupt, and easily swayed by the basest men who surround him. I cannot believe that the killing of two thousand Englishmen at New Orleans qualifies a person for the various difficult and complicated duties of the presidency.” -Henry Clay -Henry Clay

 “A barbarian who cannot write a sentence of grammar and can hardly spell his own name. Incompetent both by his ignorance and by the fury of his passions.” -John Q. Adams -John Q. Adams

The Election of 1824  Jackson won the popular vote but not the majority, so the House of Representatives had to decide  Henry Clay, Speaker of House, influenced them to elect John Quincy Adams  Once in office, Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State  Jackson’s supporters claimed the two men had a “corrupt bargain

Election of 1828  Lots of “mudslinging” during the campaign  Many states were expanding suffrage and the number of voters tripled  Many states no longer required owning property  Jackson was supported by thousands of first time voters

Love Him  Jackson’s status as a war hero made him popular  The fact that he did not come from a wealthy family helped people relate to him

This is decidedly erroneous!! I didn’t think he’d invite the people “en masse!” Hate Him  Politicians and elite feared he was unpredictable, stubborn, and too independent  Feared he would give too much power to the common man  People feared the “Reign of King Mob”

Power to the People  How did the people gain more power during the Age of Jackson?

The Spoils System  Any and all government jobs taken and given to friends/supporters  Jackson supported the spoils system by saying Any “intelligent” person could hold office

 Used to keep a small group of politicians from controlling the government  In the words of one of his supporters “To the victor goes the spoils.” To the VICTOR goes the SPOILS!!!

Egalitarian  Jackson feared the power of the government  Attacked (sometimes literally) any politician or law he thought was corrupt or dangerous to liberty

 Did not believe in special privilege for the wealthy  Thought bank favored the rich

Vetoes  Jackson worked independently of Congress and politicians  Vetoed more acts of Congress than the six previous presidents  Earned himself the nickname “King Andrew I”