1. Jackson and the Politics of Democracy
The Age of Jackson
The period from the 1820s to the 1840s is with some justice called “the age of Jackson”. In this section I will explain why

2. The Election of 1824 and J.Q. Adam’s Administration
Furthered Jackson’s career even though he lost
Started as a scramble of five men
John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Henry Clay, John Calhoun, & Andrew Jackson
No one received a majority of the vote
House of Representatives were now left to decide
Now between Adams and Jackson
Clay gave support to Adams
Clay was appointed secy of state
Adams began his career under a cloud of suspicion
Thought that Adams bought the presidency

3. Adams as President Difficult and frustrating presidency
New Congress of 1826
Tariff issue was the main business on their agenda
Pressure for greater protection came from manufacturers, farmers, who would supply critical votes in the upcoming presidential election
The cotton growing South –where tariffs of all kinds were unpopular was assumed to be safely in Jackson’s camp for the upcoming election
The substantial across-the board increase in duties angered southern free traders however, and came to be known as the Tariff of Abominations
Difficult and frustrating presidency
Country was just recovering from a depression
Refused to bow to public opinion and called for expansion of federal activity
Opposition developed in Congress
Congress turned the domestic program into a pipe dream
Many thought the depression had been caused or exacerbated by federal banking and tariff policies.

4. Tariff of Abominations

5. Jackson comes to power
The tariff showed how special interest groups can achieve their goals through congressional “give and take” (trading votes in the legislative bargaining process)
The election of 1828 saw the birth of a new era of mass democracy
Public rallies, torchlight parades, lavish barbeques paid by the candidates support
Influential state or regional leaders rallied behind Jackson
These leaders laid the foundations for the first modern American political system—the Democrats
What gave Jacksonians the edge was their success in portraying their candidate as an authentic man of the people

6. Jackson in office
Jackson won by a popular vote margin of 150,000 and by 2 to 1 in the electoral college
His character:
Removal of Indians from the Gulf States (key to his popularity in that region)
Indomitable will
Intolerance to opposition
Prickly pride
Violent in temper
Got what he wanted
He fought a number of duels and served in wars against the British, the Spanish and the Indians. His experience made him tough and resourceful but deprived him of the flexibility you would normally see in a politician. Yet he generally got what he wanted.
For the next slide:
The first major policy question facing the Jackson administration concerned the fate of the Native Americans.
Jackson had long favored removing eastern Indians to lands beyond the Mississippi. The only difference between how he did it and other presidents were how he demanded a much speedier and thorough removal of all eastern tribes to reservations.

7. Indian Removal
The first major policy question facing the Jackson administration concerned the fate of the Native Americans.
Jackson had long favored removing eastern Indians to lands beyond the Mississippi. The only difference between how he did it and other presidents were how he demanded a much speedier and thorough removal of all eastern tribes to reservations.
The greatest obstacle to voluntary relocation was the Cherokee nation, which held lands in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennesee.
Next slide (8):
A stubbornly resisting majority faction of the Cherokees held out until 1838 when military pressure forced them to march to Oklahoma. This trek known as the Trail of Tears was made under such harsh conditions that almost 4000 died (out of 13000)

8. Trail of Tears