The Age of Jackson Andrew Jackson A J

The Age of Jackson Andrew Jackson (A. J. )

Expansion of Democracy North Workshops South => factories Craftspeople => business owners/hired labor Small farms => large plantations Family owned => wealthy white people/enslaved African Americans * LOSING WEALTH AND POWER IN THEIR GOVERNMENT * * Wealth into the hands of a few *

Jacksonian Democracy Government managed by wealthy, property-owning men. Policies targeted to help build THEIR power Small farmers, western frontier settlers, and slaveholders hoped for a change => Andrew Jackson (1800’s Obama) Defend the rights of the common people and slave states (SOUTH) Democratic reforms (i. e. voting qualification changes – excluded free blacks as they were allowed under their state constitutions) Nominating Conventions – members nominate candidates not the party’s leaders.

Election of 1828: re-do 1824 Andrew Jackson Democratic Party John C. Calhoun as running mate War hero (War of 1812) Born poor, rose to success through hard work John Quincy Adams National Republicans Harvard graduate Father was the 2 nd president

Jackson’s Qualifications Born and raised in the Carolinas (SOUTH) Taught himself and became a successful lawyer Tennessee’s first U. S. Congress representative Served in the U. S. Senate Served on the TN Supreme Court War hero: defeated Creek and Seminole Indians; Battle of New Orleans (“Maverick”) Strong presidency – vetoed many bills (more than the 6 presidents preceding him) Vetoed re-chartering of the Second Bank of U. S. Strong Union – threatened S. C. when it tried to nullify a federal tariff

1828 Negative “commercials” A. J. Hot tempered Crude (raw/unprepared) Not ready to be president of the U. S. “paid for by the J. Q. campaign” John Q. Out of touch with everyday people – those people A. J. was defending. “cold as a lump of ice” “paid for by the A. J. campaign” * A. J. WINS and breaks a popular vote record *

“Pays to be the King” Win for the common people Spoils System: the practice of giving government jobs to political backers Jackson rewarded some supporters Martin Van Buren – Secretary of State Kitchen Cabinet – informal group of trusted advisers who sometimes met in the White House kitchen… … Jackson was a hungry fella’

Different region = different interests North Economy based on manufacturing Supported tariffs – American goods sold at lower prices than British goods Opposed gov’t cheap sale of public land (lose people) South Economy based on agriculture Mostly cash crops (cotton/tobacco) Opposed tariffs – increased the cost of imported goods Sold goods to foreign nations – tariffs angered trade partners Relied on enslaved Africans West • Emerging economy – farming and settlement • Support for international improvements and the sale of public land

Hot Topic of the day: Tariffs South North Wanted tariffs to protect their industries from foreign competition. So high, that importing wool would be impossible Tariff would hurt their economy Tariff of Abominations (hateful thing): Congress placed a high tariff on imports prior to A. J. JQA signed it (rather than vetoed it) knowing he would be defeated in his re-election bid. Added to growing sectional differences.

States’ Rights on tariffs? What do you think A. J. ? Individual states’ right to disregard a law that had been passed by the U. S. Congress (federal government) John C. Calhoun represented the severely damaged economy of South Carolina due to the tariff (previously favored a strong central gov’t) Some even mentioned leaving the Union. Congress should not favor one state or region over another… States’ Rights Doctrine: because the states formed the national government, state power should prevail – could nullify any federal law (unconstitutional) Opposition (northern states) – American people, not the individual states made up the Union. Nullification (reject) Crisis: conflict of nullification Calhoun did resign from the vice-presidency (Martin Van Buren) Elected to the Senate to continue his push for nullification

Hayne vs. Webster (Senate) Hayne Robert Y. Hayne, senator from South Carolina What is his side…? Nullification gave states a way to lawfully protest federal legislation. Webster Massachusetts What is his side…? United States was one nation, not a pact among independent states Welfare of the nation should override that of individual states.

Jackson to the rescue (? ) Opposed to nullification, but concerned of economic issues in the south. 1832 he urged Congress to pass a tariff that lowered the previous rate (not good enough) South Carolina passed the Nullification Act and threatened to withdraw from the Union and voted to form its own army (Jackson’s not so happy…) At A. J. ’s request, Congress passed the Force Bill – approving the use of the army if necessary. No other state openly supported S. C. Henry Clay “Mr. Compromise” – gradual lowering of the tariff over several years and S. C. leaders would enforce the law. Neither side changed their beliefs about states’ rights… Civil War

Jackson creates more waves Did not always support greater federal power Opposed the Second Bank of the United States 20 year charter to act exclusively as the federal government’s financial agent. 80% of the bank was privately owned but it was supervised by Congress and the president. Unconstitutional extension of Congressional power – states should have the power here. Many in the South opposed the bank – only helped wealthy businesspeople

Mc. Culloch v. Maryland Mc. Culloch Refused to pay the tax Federal government Maryland Pass a tax that would limit the Bank’s operations. Took Mc. Culloch to court… State Ruling: National bank was constitutional and the states can’t have more power than the federal government

Dealing with the aftermath Bank’s director pushed a bill to renew the Bank’s charter Jackson would defeat the bill – Congress could not get the 2/3 vote to override the veto. Jackson weakens the Bank’s power by moving funds to state banks… led to inflation by offering easy credit to people buying land. More economic issues on the horizon…

AHHHH… Panic of 1837 1834 the Whig Party formed – favoring the idea of a weak president and strong Congress Just like an English political party opposed to the monarchy… Jackson was using his power like a king. Couldn’t choose one candidate 1836 Election – Whig vs. Van Buren Panic of 1837: severe economic depression… contributed partially to Jackson’s policies, but Van Buren took the rap for it. 1840 Whigs chose William Henry Harrison as their single candidate who won a landslide election against Van Buren.

A. J. and the Indians Famous American Indian fighter No sympathy for Native American’s land claims – where they had always lived – American farmers have priority. Reversed the government’s pledge to respect Indian land claims. Brutal removal of the southeastern peoples to empty places in the West. Indian Removal Act: (1830) authorized the removal of Native Americans who lived east of the Mississippi River to lands in the West.

Congress deals with Indians Established Indian Territory – U. S. land in what is now Oklahoma, where the Indians were moved to. Protect the Indians from further conflicts with American settlers (Calhoun). Bureau of Indian Affairs – managed Indian removal to western lands (government agency)

Native Experience Mississippi abolished the Choctaw government and forced them to sign the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek: Gave more than 7. 5 million acres of their land to the state ¼ of the Choctaw Indians died on the move to Indian Territory. This spurred some other Indians to resist removal. Creek Indians were “escorted” by federal troops to the Indian Territory after resisting. Chickasaw negotiated a treaty for better supplies on their trip – many still died.

New Approach by Cherokee Could they avoid removal by adopting the culture of white people? Set up schools where children learned English Developed a government modeled after the U. S. Constitution – election system, bicameral council, court system. Created a writing system and published a newspaper in both English and Cherokee This did not protect the Cherokee Upon finding gold in Georgia, the preparations for their removal were made. GA militia began attacking Cherokee towns

Worcester v. Georgia Case Cherokee sued Georgia saying they were an independent nation that Georgia’s government had no legal power over their lands. Ruling Chief Justice John Marshall: Cherokee nation was a distinct community in which the laws of Georgia had no force. Only the federal government, not the states, had authority over Native Americans.

Follow through on the decision Georgia ignored the Court’s ruling and Jackson didn’t enforce it either. Violation of his presidential oath yet most Americans didn’t see much issue with it. Cherokee were removed by U. S. troops and Georgia quickly took their businesses, farms, and property. Trail of Tears: Cherokee’s 800 -mile forced march, where many died (18, 000)

Others resistance movements Leader of Fox and Sauk Indians in Illinois, Chief Black Hawk tried to protect their lands. Ran out of food and supplies and were eventually forced to leave. Second Seminole War in Florida Osceola told his people to resist with force After Osceola died, his followers continued fighting Many were removed or killed, but eventually U. S. gave up the fight and a small group resisted removal.