Jacksonian Democracy 1828 1840 Democratizing Politics The difference

Jacksonian Democracy 1828 -1840

Democratizing Politics The difference between Jeffersonian democracy and Jacksonian democracy was one of attitude. Jefferson believed that the average citizen could be educated to determine right Jackson believed that the ordinary man instinctively knew what was right. America was becoming more democratic, the new western states eliminated property qualifications for voting. This led to higher voter turnout Free public schools gained wide-spread support, adult education and secondary education indicate interest in improving knowledge. Office holders begin to call themselves Representatives.

The Jacksonian Appeal Jackson portrayed himself as a simple, common man from the backcountry of America. Jackson was the first man elected from the West. He was not from the eastern aristocracy. He was the first man elected who had been born in a log cabin. He was the founder of the Democratic Party For all that, Jackson was not a common man. He was a wealthy land speculator and owned a fine plantation He had opposed cheap money

The Jacksonian Appeal But he did epitomize many American ideals He was intensely patriotic He was generous to a fault He was natural and democratic in manner He was a fighter, a relentless foe, and a gentleman in the best American tradition He had a reputation as a man of honor and had fought numerous duels for honor. He had fought in the Revolutionary War, several Indian Wars, and won the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. For these reasons Jackson drew support from every section and every social class. During his inaugural party he opened the White House to all his supporters, many from the backcountry. In the following near riot, Jackson nearly got killed and the White House was trashed. He spent the next several months across the street in the Blair

The Spoils System To the Victor go the Spoils Jackson was determined to punish those office holders who had attacked him and his wife during the campaign Many of the men he removed from office were incompetent or corrupt. He also felt that office holders should be rotated periodically. In his words, no one was entitled to hold an office So he fired all “old” members of the Cabinet and hired “new” ones

President of All the People President Andrew Jackson believed in exercising authority directly. Jackson did not rely on his cabinet for advise Instead he formed an informal “kitchen cabinet” that consisted of friends and Martin Van Buren, secretary of state Even his kitchen cabinet could only advise him, Jackson in many cases did what he wanted. Jackson favored Jefferson’s frugal approach to government, he was penny pinching and had little imagination. Jackson’s popularity was mainly his personality

Jackson Versus Calhoun Jackson stood firmly for the Union and would not even tolerate talk of disunion. Calhoun was a strong advocate of state’s rights, eventually Calhoun would champion the cause of nullification On most issues other than state’s rights both Calhoun and Jackson were very much in agreement Calhoun also wanted to be president and had only accepted the post as Jackson’s vice-president because he believed Jackson was in poor health. There were several minor issues during Jackson’s presidency that lead to a split of the two men The Peggy Eaton affair Jackson’s invasion of Florida in 1818 Though of little substance, these slights convinced Jackson that Calhoun was not a man of honor.

The Nullification Crisis The tariff (tax) law of 1832 lowered tariffs (taxes) far less than the planters of South Carolina wanted They were afraid it would hurt their economic interests Did not want the tarriff to pass. As a result, South Carolinians began to talk of nullifying (ignoring) the law. President Jackson took the exact opposite position. In July 1832 he warned South Carolinians that if one drop of blood was spilt over this issue he would go down there (South Carolina) and hang the first nullifier he found from the first tree he found.

The Nullification Crisis On November 24, 1832 the South Carolina convention passed the Ordinance of Nullification and prohibited the collection of taxes The legislature then passed a bill to raise and equip an army Jackson addressed the people of South Carolina on December 10, 1832 telling them that he would use armed force if need be to enforce the law of the United States He further stated that disunion by armed force was treason. South Carolina’s radicals had counted on other states for support, but this support did not materialize and they found themselves facing Jackson’s wrath alone The Radicals sobered at the thought of government troops and backed off. Calhoun who had played a part in the episode was some what embarrassed. In the future South Carolina would ensure the support of other states before it attempted nullification again.

Indian Removals Jackson believed that the Indians were savages and incapable of governing themselves. In 1831 and 1832 the United States fought the Black Hawk War. It was the last major resistance to the advancing white men in the old North West. It was not much of a war and ended when Chief Black Hawk was captured and brought to Washington D. C. The capture of Chief Black Hawk not only ended the Black Hawk War, but the remaining Indians in the North West fled, most to Canada, opening the area to white settlement. The Fate of the Five Great Southern Tribes Between 1831 and 1833 he forced 15, 000 Choctaws to migrate to Oklahoma The Cherokees on the other hand made major efforts to conform to the white man’s standard, and formed their own state called The Cherokee Nation It did not matter, planters wanted their land

Indian Removals Several treaties seemed to recognize the legality of their government, but Georgia would not recognize the Cherokee Nation Court cases: Cherokee Nation v. Georgia – Tribe was not a foreign nation and had a right to sue in federal court Worcester v. Georgia – Law of Georgia had no force within the boundaries of Cherokee Territory Jackson backed Georgia’s position and ruled that the Indians must be removed In 1838, the United States forced 15, 000 Cherokee to leave Georgia for Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears.

Removal of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Chicksaw Indians in the 1830 s