1. The Age of Jackson Objectives:
Describes the regional economic differences in the early United States.
Summarize tensions between national and sectional interests.
Examine the critical issues and events of Andrew Jackson’s presidency.
Identify the presidents that followed Jackson and the challenges they faced.

2. Regional Economies Create Differences
Early Industry in the United States
Industrial Revolution – Large scale production resulting in massive change in social and economic organization
Began in Great Britain and spread to the US
Industry took off first in New England, whose economy depended on shipping and foreign trade
The South Remains Agricultural
While the North developed industrially, the south continued to grow as an agricultural power
Cotton Gin – Device produced by Eli Whitney that allowed farmers to produce cotton more profitably
The emergence of cotton as a highly profitable crop in the South led to the need for more field laborers
Slavery expanded

3. Balancing Nationalism and Sectionalism
As the North and South developed different economies, President Madison moved to develop a plan that would make the US economically independent from Europe
“American System” – Plan promoted by Henry Clay
Had three main points:
Establishing a protective tariff
Rechartering the national bank
Sponsoring the development of transportation systems and other internal improvements to make travel throughout the nation easier
The Missouri Compromise
Because of the difference in economies in the North and South, political tensions between the North and South arose
In 1818 settlers in Missouri requested admission to the Union
Northerners and Southerners disagreed over whether Missouri should be a free state or a slave state
The Missouri Compromise – Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, and Maine would be admitted as a free state
The rest of the Louisiana Territory was split into two parts
In the north half slavery was outlawed, in the southern half it was permitted

4. The Election of Andrew Jackson
President John Quincy Adams
Election broke apart the Democratic-Republican Party
Expanding Democracy Changes Politics
During John Quincy Adams presidency, most states had eased the property requirements for voting
Greatly enlarged the voting population
Election of 1828
President Andrew Jackson
Helped in the election by the new voting population who saw the rugged westerner as their champion

5. Jacksonian Democracy The Spoils System The Indian Removal Act (1830)
Jacksonian Democracy – Jackson’s ideal of political power for all classes
Jackson sought to give common people a chance to participate in government
Spoils System – System in which new administrations hire their supporters to replace supporters of the previous administration
The Indian Removal Act (1830)
Federal government provided funds to negotiate treaties that would force Native Americans to move west
The Trail of Tears
US troops rounded up the Cherokee and herded them into camps to await their journey west
Beginning in the Fall of 1838, the Cherokee were sent off in groups on an 800 mile journey, mostly on foot
More than a quarter of the Cherokee died on this journey
Trail of Tears

6. Nullification and the Bank War
In 1824 and again in 1828, Congress agreed to increase the Tariff of 1816
Tariff of Abominations
Blamed for many of the economic problems in the South
Because of the high tariff, Britain reduced exports to the US, and because of this, purchased less cotton
With the decline of British goods, the South was forced to buy the more expensive Northern manufactured goods
The Nullification Crisis
To try and free southern states from the tariff, Jackson’s vice-president John C. Calhoun proposed the theory of nullification
Nullification – Idea that because the nation had been created by a compact among sovereign states, each state then has the authority to decide whether acts of Congress are constitutional
In 1832 the issue of states’ rights was put to the test when Congress raised the tariff again
South Carolina declared the tariff nullified and threatened to secede if custom officials tried to collect duties
Eventually a compromise was reached
Jackson’s Bank War
Jackson was opposed to the national bank
Believed it was an agent for the wealthy and that its members cared nothing for the common people
Eliminated the bank as a governmental institution
Because of his actions, many people were opposed to Jackson
Formed a new political party
Whig Party

7. Successors Deal with Jackson’s Legacy
Election of 1836
President Martin Van Buren (Democrat)
Backed by Jackson
The Panic of 1837
With the Bank of the United States no longer a federal institution, federal funds were disseminated to many smaller pet banks
Many of these banks printed bank notes wildly in excess of the gold and silver they had on deposit
These banks were doomed to fail when people tried to redeem their currency for gold or silver
Panic of 1837 – Financial collapse caused by a series of bank failures
Caused many to lose their savings, bankrupted hundreds of businesses, and put more than a third of the population out of work
Harrison and Tyler
Election of 1840
Martin Van Buren (Democrat) vs. William Henry Harrison (Whig)
“Tippecanoe and Tyler too”
Harrison won the election but died one month into office
Vice-president John Tyler became president
Tyler, a former Democrat, opposed many parts of the Whig program