1. Politics of the People
Chapter 12 Section 1

2. The Election of 1824
Democratic-Republican party has four presidential candidates:
John Quincy Adams has New England’s support
William Crawford has South’s support
Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson both have the West’s support
Jackson wins popular votes, fails to get majority of electoral votes
House of Representatives chooses Adams

3. Jacksonian Democracy
Andrew Jackson feels 1824 election has been stolen from him
Aims to win next election, helps to split Democratic-Republican party
Split eventually creates 2 parties:
Democrats grow out of Jackson’s supporters
National Republicans grow from Adams’s supporters

4. Jacksonian Democracy
Jackson backs interests of common people, supports majority rule
Jacksonian democracy— political power for all people, majority rule
Voting rights partially expanded under Thomas Jefferson’s presidency
Helps Jackson win election, hailed as triumph for common people

5. The People’s President
• Andrew Jackson, first president not from aristocratic background
• Grows up on frontier farm, fights in Revolutionary War, taken prisoner
• After war, becomes lawyer, hero in War of 1812

6. Jackson Takes Office
Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel, dies soon after he wins presidency
Jackson blames death on campaign attacks on wife’s reputation
Inauguration ceremony attracts people from all levels of society
Crowd grows rowdy, forces Jackson to flee White House

7. A New Political Era Begins
Andrew Jackson replaces many government officials with his supporters
Giving government jobs to political backers— spoils system
Opponents charge that spoils system corrupt
Jackson defends system, breaks up one group’s hold on government