1. A New Era in Politics I. Growing Spirit of Equality
Many Americans felt that the rich should not be treated differently
Europeans were shocked by this

2. A. Alexis de Tocqueville
from France
observed American Democracy
wrote a book called Democracy in America

3. B. More Voters more people gained suffrage, the right to vote
white males over 21
all workers
not just land
owners

4. C. Limits on Suffrage Many Americans still did not have the right
to vote. This included:
women
Native Americans
majority of African Americans
Only a few New England states allowed free African American men the right to vote

5. II. The Disputed Election of 1824
Four candidates
Henry Clay [KY]
John Adams Quincy [MA]
Andrew Jackson [SC]
William H. Crawford [GA]

6. All members of old Republican party Adams had New England support
Clay and Jackson had support from the West
Crawford had support from the South
He became too ill to campaign

7. A. The Candidates John Quincy Adams From Massachusetts
Son of John Adams (2nd President)
Graduated from Harvard
Secretary of State
Intelligent

8. Henry Clay From Kentucky Speaker of the House of Representatives
Skillful negotiator
Less popular than the other western candidate

9. Andrew Jackson Known for military victories Nickname “Old Hickory”
Land and slave owner
Man of the people

10. B. “The Corrupt Bargain”
No clear winner of the election on 1824
Jackson won the popular vote
No one won the majority vote (more than half)
Decision made by the House of Representatives
Influenced by Henry Clay to vote for Adams

11. The result… Adams won the election
Appointed Clay as the Secretary of State
This became known as the “corrupt bargain” . Supporters of Jackson felt Adams and Clay stole the election from Jackson.

12. III. An Unpopular President
Many Americans did not support Adams
Promoting Economic Growth
Adams
supported a strong federal government
paid for new roads and canals
Built a national university and observatory
Americans
Did not like the way Adams spent money
Feared the federal government would become too strong

13. B. A Bitter Campaign Election of 1828 Adams ran against Jackson
harsh contest
constant bashing of each other
Jackson was the winner
supported by the “common” people (farmers and city workers

14. C. Jacksonian Democracy
The spread of political power to more people was part of what became known as Jacksonian democracy
reflected the growing spirit of democracy
first westerner to occupy the White House
beginning of the shift in political power
many came to see his inauguration

15. IV. New Political Parties
No more Federalist party
Whigs
Supporters of John Quincy Adams
Wanted federal government to run the economy
Eastern businessmen
Some southern planters
Many former federalists

16. Democrats
supported Andrew Jackson
frontier farmers
workers in Eastern cities

17. A. New Ways to Choose Candidates
The two new political parties developed more democratic ways to choose candidates for President
The old way was to hold a caucus, or private meeting to choose their candidates
The new way was to hold a nominating convention where delegates from all states chose the party’s candidate
Encouraged citizen participation in elections

18. Jackson in the White House Jackson’s iron will made him a powerful president
I. Andrew Jackson
A. A Self-made Man
strong fighter
joined the patriots at 13
studied law and became a lawyer
bought and sold land in Georgia and became very rich
war of 1812 hero

19. B. A Man of Many Qualities
Quick to lose his temper
Led a violent and adventurous life
Was admired by his supporters
Man of his word

20. II. The Spoils System A. Reward for Victory After taking office:
Jackson fired many government employees (over 200)
Replaced them with supporters and friends instead of qualified men
Felt ordinary Americans could do the job
This became known as the spoils system, the practice of rewarding supporters with government jobs.

21. B. The “Kitchen Cabinet”
Jackson rewarded friends with cabinet jobs
Very few were qualified
As a result
Rarely met with his official cabinet
Relied on a group of unofficial advisors
he met with them in the White House kitchen, the group became known as the “kitchen cabinet”

22. III. The Bank War Jackson thought the Bank of the United States was too powerful A. Mr. Biddle’s Bank
Nicholas Biddle ran the Bank of the United States
Jackson disliked Biddle and felt the bank only benefited the rich man
The bank limited the amount of loans state banks made
Angered farmers and merchants who borrowed money

23. B. The War Begins
Worried that Jackson might try and destroy the bank, Biddle and other Whigs decided to renew the banks charter early
Whigs felt if Jackson vetoed the bill to renew, this would anger voters
C. Jackson’s Veto
Jackson vetoed the Bank bill
He declared the bank unconstitutional
He felt the Bank helped only the rich at the cost of the common people
This did not effect Jackson's run for president in 1832
The people supported Jackson and rejected the bank
The bank closed in 1836
This led to an economic crisis

24. A New Crisis President Jackson and Vice President John C
A New Crisis President Jackson and Vice President John C. Calhoun started out as friends but fought over states rights, or the rights of states to limit the power of the federal government
Jackson favored a strong federal government
Calhoun favored strong state government
This debate led to two important issues
Tariff question
Rights of Native Americans

25. A Crisis Over Tariffs
1828- congress passed the highest tariff in the history of the nation- Tariff of Abominations (an abomination is something that is hated)
Protected manufactures form foreign competition. Mostly northerners.
Southern planters were hurt by tariffs.
They sold their cotton in Europe and bought European good in return.
High tariff meant they had to pay more for the imports
People thought this was unconstitutional

26. A. Calhoun Versus Webster
Calhoun fought against the tariff
He claimed a state has the right to nullify, or cancel a federal law that is considered unconstitutional. This is called nullification.
Resigned as Vice President
Became senator for South Carolina
Daniel Webster disagreed
He felt the nation would fall apart if states had the right to nullify federal laws.
This argument would last for years

27. B. The Nullification Crisis
Anger against tariff increased in the South
Congress lowered the rate of the tariff
South Carolina still not happy and passed the Nullification Act, declaring the new tariff illegal and threatened to secede, or withdraw form the Union
Jackson was angry, but did not want a civil war
He supported a lower compromise rate
South Carolina agreed to the compromise tariff and repealed the Nullification Act Jackson
*tensions between North and South would increase in years to come

28. II. Tragedy for Native Americans A. Indian Nations in the Southeast
Southeast Indian Nations ( Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee and Seminole) wanted to live in peace with the white man
Settlers wanted the fertile land for growing cotton
Jackson sided with the white settlers and set aside land west of the Mississippi and forced Indians to move there.
Few Indians wanted to move

29. Congress passed Indian Removal Act
B. Forced to Leave
Congress passed Indian Removal Act
This forced many Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi
More than 15,000 Cherokee were sent west by the US Army
This sorrowful journey was known as the Trail of Tears
walked hundreds of miles
traveled for months
many died

30. Seminole Indians resisted removal Began fighting US Army
C. The Seminoles Resist
Seminole Indians resisted removal
Began fighting US Army
Led to the Seminole War
There were three Seminole Wars
In the end the government forced the Seminoles to leave Florida

31. III. Martin Van Buren and Hard Times
Martin Van Buren became president after Jacksons second term ended. He was a clever and intelligent politician.
A .The Panic of 1837
Van Burin faced worst economic crisis called the Panic of 1837
State banks were making too much paper money
paper money was not supported by gold or silver
When people tried to exchange paper money for gold and silver many banks did not have enough

32. B. Economic Depression
Cotton prices went down due to a surplus, too much
Cotton planters borrowed money
Usually repaid when they sold their crop
Low cotton prices meant planters could not repay loans
As a result the banks failed
The nation fell into a depression, a period when business declines and many people lose their jobs
lasted three years
Thousands of people had no jobs

33. People blamed Van Buren
Believed in Laissez Fair (government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs)
His limited action did not help
Tried to set up a new banking system

34. IV. Campaigns of 1840 Democrats chose Van Buren to run again
Whigs chose William Henry Harrison
A New Sort of Politics
Candidates traveled all around the country
rallies, banquets and entertainment
Engaged in mudslinging, use of insults to attack an opponent’s reputation

35. B. Whigs in the White House
Harrison won the election
Soon after he died of pneumonia
Vice President John Tyler became president