1. President Andrew Jackson: “The Common Man’s President” Presented himself as a common man— actually a wealthy plantation & slave owner More common men were able to vote…fewer voting requirements (ex. Land ownership)

2. Spoils System Giving government jobs to friends, family and political supporters in return for their aid and loyalty during their campaign Jackson said this increased democracy…more people involved in government

3. Dealing with Native Americans Jackson believed assimilation (blending in) could NOT work Solution—move Natives off of ‘their’ land onto reservations (Indian Removal Act of 1830)—on the reservations, Natives could maintain their own culture

4. Trail of Tears—term for the forced removal of Natives Members of the Cherokee tribe were forced to walk over 1,000 miles and 20% of their people died

5. Worchester vs. Georgia—the Supreme Court ruled that the removal of Natives off of their land was unconstitutional Jackson continued with the removal anyway saying… “John Marshall made his decision, now let him enforce it”

6. Opposition to the Bank of the U.S. Jackson said that the B.U.S. (Bank of the U.S.) was an agent of the wealthy and did nothing for the average American citizen He withdrew government money from the B.U.S. in an effort to bankrupt it He deposited the money in ‘pet banks’ (favorite banks) in the South and West The B.U.S. failed soon afterwards

7. States’ Rights & Nullification Southern states were mad at the favoritism that the National Government showed to the North (especially with the ‘Tariff of Abominations’) The South saw the North getting rich at the South’s expense Vice President John C. Calhoun developed the idea of nullification—he said that a state has the right to nullify (or reject) any law that they deem unconstitutional

8. South Carolina declared the tariffs “null and void” and refused to pay them—they even threatened to secede (break away) from the Union Jackson was furious and threatened to send troops into South Carolina and to hang his own Vice President for such ideas…as President he needed to maintain the power of the National Government over state affairs Jackson called upon the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article 6) that said the laws made by the National Government are the ‘supreme law of the land’ and no person or state can supersede (go above) them

9. The cartoon indicated that President Andrew Jackson is taking on so much power that he is acting much like a king would act. He is shown trampling on the Constitution of the United States Jackson takes on too much power when he: -Forces the removal of Indians off of their land…furthermore, when he ignores the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue -Kills the National Bank of the U.S. by withdrawing federal funds -Bullies the south (especially South Carolina) with the threat of federal troops if they do not comply with the National Government -Gives jobs to those who he likes rather than those who are qualified