1. The Jacksonian Era “Age of the Common Man”
VUS.6d

2. Standard VUS.6d
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major events from the last decade of the eighteenth century through the first half of the nineteenth century by:
d) relating the changing character of American political life in “the age of the common man” (Jacksonian Era) to increasing popular participation in state and national politics.

3. Andrew Jackson 7th president “Age of the Common Man”
The Age of Jackson ushered in a new democratic spirit in American politics
people who had previously been content with rule by the “aristocracy,” participated in the electoral process
Aristocracy: rule by the elite
distinction between “aristocrat” and common man was disappearing as new states provided for universal manhood suffrage, while the older states were lowering property requirements for voting

4. Changes in Political Democracy
The changing character of American politics was characterized by:
Heightened emphasis on equality in the political process for adult white males
The rise of interest group politics and sectional issues
A changing style of campaigning
Increased voter participation
1824 – 355,000 voters
1828 – 1.1 million voters
1840 – 2.4 million voters

7. Bank of the United States
Jackson distrusted the bank as an undemocratic tool of the Eastern elite
He vetoed the rechartering of the bank in 1832.
Jackson’s bank veto became the central issue in the election of 1832, as Henry Clay, the National Republican candidate, supported the bank
Jackson’s re-election brought an end to the bank, as Jackson withdrew government money and deposited it in state banks
This contributed to a major economic depression, resulting in the Panic of 1837

8. Political Changes
Once elected, President Andrew Jackson employed the spoils system
Spoils system: rewarding supporters with government jobs
Jackson’s veto of legislation to recharter the bank of the United States made the presidential veto part of the legislative process, as Congress, from then on, was forced to consider a presidential veto when proposing legislation.
Presidential veto: Power granted to the President to prevent passage of legislation

9. Changes in Political Democracy
The Federalist Party disappeared
New political parties were organized in opposition to the Democratic Party
Whigs
Government should promote and aid economic & industrial growth
Know-Nothings
Nativist; anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant

10. Essential Understandings
An extension of the franchise, westward expansion, and the rise of sectional interests prompted increased participation in state and national politics.

11. Westward Movement & Economic Development
VUS.6b

12. Standard VUS.6b
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major events from the last decade of the eighteenth century through the first half of the nineteenth century by:
b) identifying the economic, political, and geographic factors that led to territorial expansion and its impact on the American Indians.

13. Westward Movement & Economic Development
American settlers streamed westward from the coastal states into the Midwest, Southwest, and Texas, seeking economic opportunity in the form of land to own and farm.

14. Westward Movement & Economic Development
The growth of railroads and canals helped the growth of an industrial economy & supported the westward movement of settlers.

15. Cotton Kingdom
Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin led to the spread of the slavery-based “cotton kingdom” in the Deep South.

16. Slavery

17. Westward Movement & Economic Development

18. Manifest Destiny
The widespread belief that American settlers were destined to expand across the continent from the Atlantic → Pacific
1. the virtue of the American people and their institutions;
2. the mission to spread these institutions, thereby redeeming and remaking the world in the image of the United States;
3. the destiny under God to do this work

19. Impact on American Indians
During this period of westward migration, American Indians were repeatedly defeated in violent conflicts with settlers and soldiers and forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands.
They were either forced to march far away from their homes or confined to reservations.

20. Impact on American Indians
White settlers wanted to grow cotton on the Indians’ land
Indian Removal Act of 1830 (Jackson)
Federal government forced American Indians to leave their homelands and walk thousands of miles to a specially designated “Indian territory” across the Mississippi River

21. “Trail of Tears”
Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Chickasaw, Muskogee Creek
Forced to give up their lands and settle in Oklahoma
Many suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation
2,000-6,000 died of 16,542 relocated Cherokee

22. Trail of Tears

23. Texas
American migration into Texas led to an armed revolt against Mexican rule in 1835
Famous battle at the Alamo
a band of Texans fought to the last man against a vastly superior force
1836: victory over Mexican forces establishes the Republic of Texas
1848: annexation of Texas into the U.S.

24. Battle of the Alamo
James Bowie v. Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

25. Mexican-American War 1846 to 1848
Dispute over Texas leads to war with Mexico
War supported by Southern Democrats want to add slave-owning territory
President James K. Polk (Democrat)
War opposed by Northerners and Whigs

26. Mexican-American War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends war
American victory led to the acquisition of an enormous territory that included… CANCUN!
C: California
A: Arizona
N: New Mexico
C: Colorado
U: Utah
N: Nevada

27. Gadsden Purchase (1853) Why? Resolve border issues with Mexico
Possible route for southern transcontinental railroad