Andrew Jackson: 1767 - 1845

Champion of the “Common Man”? Essential Question: Champion of the “Common Man”? “King” Andrew? OR

What were the democratic trends in the 19c?

Voting Requirements in the Early 19c

Voter Turnout: 1820 - 1860

Why Increased Democratization? White male suffrage increased Party nominating committees. Voters chose their state’s slate of Presidential electors. Spoils system. Rise of Third Parties. Popular campaigning (parades, rallies, floats, etc.) Two-party system returned in the 1832 election: Dem-Reps  Natl. Reps.(1828)  Whigs (1832)  Republicans (1854) Democrats (1828)

Jackson's Early Life

Jackson’s First Hermitage Residence

First Known Painting of Jackson, 1815

General Jackson During the Seminole Wars

Jackson's First Presidential Run

The “Common Man’s” Presidential Candidate

William H. Crawford [GA] Jackson’s Opponents in 1824 Henry Clay [KY] John Quincy Adams [MA] John C. Calhoun [SC] William H. Crawford [GA]

Results of the 1824 Election A “Corupt Bargain?”

What were the key issues in 1828?

Rachel Jackson Final Divorce Decree

Jackson in Mourning for His Wife

1828 Election Results

The Center of Population in the Country Moves WEST

The New “Jackson Coalition” The Planter Elite in the South People on the Frontier State Politicians – spoils system Immigrants in the cities.

Jackson’s Faith in the “Common Man” Intense distrust of Eastern “establishment,” monopolies, & special privilege. His heart & soul was with the “plain folk.” Belief that the common man was capable of uncommon achievements.

The Reign of “King Mob”

Andrew Jackson as President

The “Peggy Eaton Affair”

Margaret O'Neale Timberlake Eaton was not the focus of the first sexual scandal in American history, but she was at the center of one of the most interesting ones. Daughter of a popular Washington tavern keeper, Peggy was an attractive, vivacious young woman who attracted the attention of some of the most powerful men in America, including Senator John Eaton, a close friend of Andrew Jackson. As a young woman Peggy had married John Timberlake, a Navy purser who spent considerable time at sea. It was said that his untimely death in a foreign port was a suicide brought about by Peggy's infidelity, a charge never proven. Whether true or not, Peggy got married again, this time to John Eaton, who soon became a Secretary of War in Andrew Jackson's cabinet, whom she had met in her father's establishment.

Soon after Jackson's inauguration it became apparent that the wives of the other members of Jackson's Cabinet did not approve of Mrs. Eaton's allegedly lurid past. She was snubbed at White House receptions, and Washington political society refused to accept or return social visits from Mrs. Eaton, and pronounced themselves scandalized that Mrs. Eaton was even invited to participate in polite Washington company. "I did not come here to make a cabinet for the ladies of this place, but for the nation!"

Peggy's colorful life did not end there Peggy's colorful life did not end there. Some years later John eaton died, leaving his widow a small fortune. But she was not destined to live a quiet retirement—at age 61 she married twenty-one year old Antonio Buchignani, her granddaughter's dancing teacher and deeded all her belongings to him. Less than a year later he eloped to Italy with her granddaughter, and Peggy was forced to work as a dressmaker to support herself.

The Nullification Issue

Sen. Daniel Webster [MA] The Webster-Hayne Debate Sen. Daniel Webster [MA] Sen. Robert Hayne [SC]

1830 Webster: Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable. Jackson: Our Federal Union—it must be preserved. Calhoun: The Union, next to our liberty, most dear.

The Tariff Issue

1832 Tariff Conflict 1828 --> “Tariff of Abomination” 1832 --> new tariff South Carolina’s reaction? Jackson’s response? Clay’s “Compromise” Tariff?

Jackson's Native-American Policy

Indian Removal Jackson’s Goal? 1830  Indian Removal Act Cherokee Nation v. GA (1831) * “domestic dependent nation” Worcester v. GA (1832) Jackson: John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!

The Cherokee Nation After 1820

Indian Removal

Trail of Tears (1838-1839)

Jackson’s Professed “Love” for Native Americans

Renewing the Charter of the 1st National Bank

Jackson’s Use of Federal Power VETO 1830  Maysville Road project in KY

Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill which would allow the Federal government to purchase stock in the Maysville, Washington, Paris, and Lexington Turnpike Road Company, which had been organized to construct a road linking Lexington and the Ohio River, the entirety of which would be in the state of Kentucky. Its advocates regarded it as a part of the national Cumberland Road system. Congress passed a bill in 1830 providing federal funds to complete the project. Jackson vetoed the bill on the grounds that federal funding of intrastate projects of this nature was unconstitutional. [state of his political rival, Henry Clay]

The National Bank Debate President Jackson Nicholas Biddle

Opposition to the 2nd B.U.S. “Soft” (paper) $ “Hard” (specie) $ state bankers felt it restrained their banks from issuing bank notes freely. supported rapid economic growth & speculation. felt that coin was the only safe currency. didn’t like any bank that issued bank notes. suspicious of expansion & speculation.

The “Monster” Is Destroyed! “pet banks”? An attempt by President Andrew Jackson to eliminate the Bank of the United States resulted in the rise of seven "pet banks, " state banks that received deposits of federal money on 1 October 1833. Use of the pet banks contributed to a national financial panic that year. By the end of 1836, there were ninety-one of these "pet banks, " so called by those opposing Jackson's fiscal policy. These banks issued notes far in excess of their ability to cover them with gold and silver coin, and many of the notes were issued for highly speculative ventures, particularly in stocks and land.

1832  Jackson vetoed the extension of the 2nd National Bank of the United States. 1836  the charter expired. 1841  the bank went bankrupt!

The Downfall of “Mother Bank”

An 1832 Cartoon: “King Andrew”?

1832 Election Results Main Issue?

The Specie Circular (1836) “wildcat banks.” buy future federal land only with gold or silver. Jackson’s goal? The circular attempted to reduce the amount of paper money in circulation and limit land speculation.

Results of the Specie Circular Banknotes loose their value. Land sales plummeted. Credit not available. Businesses began to fail. Unemployment rose. The Panic of 1837!

The bubble burst on May 10, 1837 in New York City, when every bank stopped payment in specie. The Panic was followed by a five-year depression, with the failure of banks and record high unemployment levels.

The Panic of 1837 Spreads Quickly!

The 1836 Election Results Martin Van Buren “Old Kinderhook” [O. K.] Born in Kinderhook N.Y.

Andrew Jackson in Retirement

Photo of Andrew Jackson in 1844 (one year before his death) 1767 - 1845