1. Jacksonian Democracy

2. Jacksonian Democracy compared with Jeffersonian Democracy
Believed that capable, well-educated leaders should govern in people’s interests.
Reelected chiefly an agricultural society.
Limited democracy mainly to its political aspects.

3. Andy’s turn
Jackson
Believed that the people themselves should manage governmental affairs.
Reflected an agricultural and industrial society.
Expanded democracy to include social and economic aspects

4. Political aspects of the Jackson Era
1. Democracy in the states. (qualifications, elected vice appointed officials, term lengths.)
2. Democracy in Presidential elections. Down with “King Caucus”. Conventions instead.

5. 3. Democratic view of the Presidency
3. Democratic view of the Presidency. The veto, South Carolina challenge, refusal to enforce Marshall decision regarding the Cherokee.
4. Spoils system. “To the victory belong the spoils.” Encouraged turnover and this protected against built-in aristocracy.

6. “He was…a democratic autocrat, an urbane savage, an atrocious saint.”

7. Andrew Jackson: The Good, the Bad, the Evil
How could democracy simultaneously expand and decrease? What role did Jackson have in both?
How did the masses of Americans participate in politics?
How did American Indians react to the growth of the U.S. under the Jackson administration?
What characterizes “Jacksonian Democracy”?

8. Remember: 1810-1840 “American Democratic Revolution”
General culture of egalitarianism
No monarchy or hereditary power
More social, economic, and political interactions across classes compared to Europe
Ideal of equal opportunity
Social and religious origins of some equality
Panic of 1819: Some people believed that gov’t should more actively help citizens.

9. Expanded Democracy for Who?
No property requirements, fewer requirements for holding office
Popular election of officials, electors, President
Universal white male suffrage (franchisement)
key to American Democratic Revolution
Men legally allowed to vote did not routinely vote
local parties key to voter turnout; 80% adult white men by 1840

10. Reducing Democracy Citizen defined practically as white & male
Women lacked voting rights: treated as male property, no legal status (femme covert)
Increased oppression of blacks
Growth of slave codes
Punishment against free blacks
Racial inferiorities “biological”
Slave rebellions

11. The Political Culture of Democracy
Patterns, habits, institutions, and traits associated with the political system
1824: Andrew Jackson, populist “common man” almost won; ignites new zeal for democratic elections
Elections became the arena for people to express their grievances about, and influence, public policy by electing candidates to benefit them.
More direct reaction to the “Will of the People”

12. The Rise of Andrew Jackson
Born poor, became a Western lawyer
Scots-Irish, farmer
Popular due to his exploits s
War hero (“Old Hickory”)
Indian fighter, actions led to annexation of Florida

13. The Politics of Image
“Jacksonian Democrats” push for Jackson’s election in 1824, 1828
Mass politics and political machines influence popularity with communication & organization
Vote for the party, the policies, the person, or the perception?
importance of a candidate’s popularity with the "common man"

14. The “Common Man” & Revolution of 1828
“Populist” image—a champion of the people, or common man (the small farmer and city worker) over the aristocracy of money, factory, and land.
viewed Jackson as one of their own.; from a poor family, little formal education. Jackson had risen in the world through his own efforts.
"Old Hickory,” belief that he was a tough military hero and frontiersman
Since Jackson opposed special privilege and campaigned as the champion of the people, his election is often referred to as the “Revolution of 1828”
Later irony of these campaign points

15. Not so common man… Common man’s view of Jackson too simple.
Although born in poverty, became wealthy, owned a large slave plantation in TN
By his election, Jackson possessed the manners, dignity, and bearing of a cultured gentleman, not a “wild frontiersman”

16. Election of 1828: How does this show sectionalism?

17. Jackson Presidency,
Defender of the people from big gov’t; political and economic elitism; narrow northeastern interests
Regional economic differences
Rejected the Nat’l Bank & “American Plan”
Supported the Spoils System
Reward supporters with political jobs
Remove Indians, give land to white farmers

18. Jackson’s goals
Enact vision of a politics of opportunity for “common man”
Primary issues:
Westward expansion, Indian relations, state powers, the Second Bank of the U.S.
President should be a servant of the people, so to further their interests and protect their rights, the president had to use their powers vigorously:
Used the veto more than all of the preceding presidents together
Used spoils system; 20% federal positions with "deserving" members of his own party
Jacksonian supporter: "To the victor belong the spoils."
Prepared to use force when South Carolina challenged the authority of the federal government (nullification)
Refused to enforce John Marshall's decision on Cherokee cases; as it was contrary to the people's interest (economy more important)

19. Jackson's enemies referred to him as “King Veto” and “King Andrew I”.
They called themselves Whigs, as had the 18th century opponents, of monarchical power in England.
Why would this group refer to Jackson as a king?

20. Indian Nations after 1812 125-200,000 Natives east of Miss. Rvr.
Statehood and growth of agriculture led to ongoing debate on rights of Natives and citizens
What to do?
Assimilation?
Extermination?
Removal?

21. Cherokee Nation Part of the “Five Civilized Nations”
Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole
considered civilized because they adopted many of the colonists' customs and had generally good relations with them
Had their own government
Constitution
Cherokee Phoenix (first N.A. newspaper)
Bilingual
Dictionary
Schools & churches
Importance of Sequoyah 

22. The Indian Removal Act (1830)
Cherokees most vocal about opposition to removal of natives
Petitioned government with over 16,000 signatures
Significant removal onto “reservations”
Jackson disliked federal-Indian relations; mostly that federal law dictated what states could and could not do on land where Natives settled
“Save” the Indians from harm of Americans living east of the Mississippi River
Wanted open land for white farmers; pressure from slave holders

24. The Cherokee Cases, “…one of the great constitutional crises in the history of the nation” (C. J. John Marshall)
Cherokee v. Georgia
-Tribe sued Georgia
-Are Cherokees a foreign nation?
-“Domestic dependent nations”
-Indians and federal gov’t relations sour
Worcester v. Georgia
Georgia laws that purported to seize Cherokee lands on which gold had been found violated federal treaties
States lack power on reservations
“John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.” Andrew Jackson

25. Indian Removal Removal continued into the 1840s
Immigrant tribes moved into land of Indians in Southern Plains and northern Texas
suffered in arid plains
some attacked immigrants, start another round of “Indian Wars”
Texas Rebellion & Independence in 1830s
Cherokees, Shawnees & Creeks allied with Texans against Mexican government
Ethnic cleansing and racial violence by Texans

26. Conclusions: Indian Affairs
Contradictory…
Indian Nations above states
Direct relations with federal gov’t.
Most Natives relocated west of Miss.
Seminole Wars in Florida
1840s Indian Affairs shift to Plains
Treaties, but gov’t would use FORCE

27. Nullification Crisis
In 1816/1824, Congress passes tariffs to protect American manufacturing, raise revenue
Southern congressmen feared tariffs would destroy southern export economy, already in decline (Europe beginning to produce again)
1828: “Tariff of Abominations” passed
major goal: protect Northern industries from cheaper imports
South harmed directly with higher prices, indirectly by lowering export of cotton to Britain
1832: South Carolina, led by John Calhoun, started a nullification movement
Idea that states should have more power than federal gov’t (states’ rights would make federal laws “null” or powerless over states)
Jackson sends warships into Charleston Harbor; creates a “force bill” to use military to uphold tariffs
Henry Clay creates compromise for a lower tariff (Compromise Tariff of 1833)

28. “War” with the 2nd Bank of the U.S.
The major political issue was his “war” against the BUS
considered it a stronghold of elitism, concentrating great power in the hands of a privileged few.
Henry Clay and Daniel Webster sought to recharter the bank four years early (1832)
pro-Bank National Republicans clashed with the "hard-money” (banknotes backed by silver/gold instead of credit) Jackson administration and eastern banking interests
Jackson veto; creates popular anti-bank feeling despite bank creating stability of economy
Orders all FEDERAL DEPOSITS re-deposited in state banks
Jackson issued the specie circular created a new financial panic in 1837, lasting until 1841

29. Conclusions for Jacksonian America
VIDEO
Mass politics and political parties drive idea that the common man is key to stronger America
Growth & decline of democracy
Religious revivalism (next class)
Indian removal and resistance leads to ongoing debate over race relations
Debate continues on states’ rights
Sectionalism and economics