1. Ch 12: The Age of Jackson 1824-1840

2. Andrew Jackson former military hero from Tennessee Election of 1824: won the popular vote, but didn’t win the majority vote in the Electoral College House of Reps. decide on winner John Quincy Adams became winner, but Congress supported Jackson—so Adams wasn’t very successful at accomplishing what he wanted to do!

3. Election of 1828 Jacksonian Democracy: idea of spreading political power to all people, allowing a TRUE majority rule 2 parties– Democrats (supporters of Jackson & the “common man”) and National Republicans (supporters of Adams & wealthy) Expansion of voting rights helped Jackson to be elected Spoils system: giving political jobs to supporters

4. Living Together… Americans were divided in their feelings about Native Amer. – Some wanted them to adapt to white culture/life – Some wanted them to move to avoid conflict over land issues – Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Choctaw, & Seminole) lived east of Mississippi because many of them had adapted to aspects of white culture

5. Cherokee Nation Held land in GA, Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, & Tennessee Learned to dress & farm like the whites somewhat (some even had slaves) Adopted a written language, published a newspaper, sent children to schools, wrote a Cherokee Constitution Gold was discovered on their land in GA, & suddenly the Amer. were forcing them to move west.

6. Indian Removal Act Jackson believed that Amer. should regulate where the Nat. Amer. lived 2 choices: adapt to white lifestyle & be citizens OR move west (past Mississippi River) They COULD NOT have own govt. within US borders though (like Euro. settlers) 1830: govt. would negotiate treaties that would require Native Amer. to move west

7. Trail of Tears Nat. Amer. saw no choice but to exchange their lands for land in the west (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska) Cherokees appealed to Supreme Ct to protect land in GA—Justice John Marshall said that fed. govt could make laws, but not the states Jackson & GA ignored Marshall’s ruling, and refused to negotiate with Cherokees

8. Trail of Tears, cont. 1838, fed troops rounded up Nat. Amer. from their homes & forced them into camps—often with nothing but the clothing they had on fall/winter 1838-1839…Nat. Amer. walked westward to their new lands in horrible conditions (rain, snow, lack of food/clothing/shelter) ¼ died along the way

9. Not all left… Cherokee in NC/Smoky Mtns. were allowed to remain Seminoles (led by Osceola) fought back, moved south into Everglades

10. Conflict Over State’s Rights 3 regions (northeast, south, west) were arguing over economic issues. – Sale of public lands (NE people didn’t want western lands to be sold cheaply b/c it took people away from cities/factory work—west people wanted it to encourage settlement & gain power) – Internal improvements (transportation improvements on canals & roads to increase settlement & trade) – Tariffs (taxes put on goods, that was then used to pay for internal improvements—North was for them, made imports more expensive than Amer. made goods—South opposed them b/c econ. depended on foreign trade)

11. Tariff of Abominations Adams increased tariff on raw materials & manufactured goods This was bad for south (espec. SC) b/c they had to sell their cotton cheaply to stay competitive, but had to pay more for manuf. goods. Jackson was elected with the help of this tariff being in place

12. Results of High Tariff Jackson’s VP (John Calhoun) was from SC & wanted to keep them from leaving US—proposed doctrine of nullification States have the right to nullify (reject) a federal law it feels is unconstitutional SC felt that this tariff favored the northeast economy, but not theirs in any way

13. Webster-Hayne Debate Daniel Webster (Mass) vs. Robert Hayne (SC) debated states’ rights to reject fed. laws/taxes Jackson hadn’t stated his position on the issue yet @ dinner in honor of Jefferson’s b-day, Jackson learned of Calhoun’s intentions to gain support for nullification – Jackson toasted that the union must be preserved – Calhoun toasted that the states rights should be respected & have = benefits from the union

14. Threats of Secession Calhoun & Jackson became political enemies, BUT Jackson didn’t want the south to leave the union—asked for tariff to be reduced, but south still felt they were too high SC nullified tariffs, threatened to secceed (leave the union) if the US tried to collect the tariffs, & voted to start building army Jackson ran for office again, w/out Calhoun as running mate--& made sure it was clear that he wanted to see the union laws obeyed & county kept in together