ANDREW JACKSON 1767 - 1845

THE ANDREW JACKSON ERA

1830 - 1850

MILITARY CAREER

• Joined Continental Army at age 13 as a courier

• Major General of Tennessee Volunteers. Led troops to victory in March 1814 against the Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend

• May 1814 appointed Major General of the Army during the War of 1812. On January 8, 1815, he defeated the British in New Orleans and was declared a hero.

• During the 1st Seminole War (1817-19) he overthrew the Spanish Governor in Florida

MILITARY LEADER

PRESIDENCY

• 7th President. March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837• Elected by newly formed Democratic Party• Given nickname “Old Hickory” because of his toughness

and aggressive nature in battle• Opponents referred to him as “Jackass”. Jackson liked

the name. Later became symbol for the Democratic Party

• January 1835 Jackson paid off the entire National Debt, the only time in history that has been accomplished

• First Presidential assassination attempt was against Jackson on May 6, 1833 - it was unsuccessful

PRESIDENT JACKSON

Campaign Poster

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

• Jackson repeatedly called for the abolition of the Electoral College

• Wanted to accomplish this by Constitutional Amendment in his annual messages to Congress

• Believed that it should be the right of the people to directly elect the President and Vice President

• He was never successful

SPOILS SYSTEM

• Largely responsible for what is known as “Spoils System” which rewards voters with government jobs for working toward the victory

• Dismissed 20% of Federal employees and replaced them with political appointees from his party

• Led to corruption including the appointment of officials with no experience related to their responsibilities

• Still practiced by both parties today

POLITICAL CARTOONS

OPPOSITION TO NATIONAL BANK

• Jackson opposed National Bank for the following reasons:– Concentrated financial strength in a single institution– Exposed government to control by foreign interests– Exercised too much control over Congress– Served mainly to make rich richer

• Succeed in destroying Bank by vetoing its 1832 re-charter and withdrawing U.S. funds in 1833. Local and state banks sprung up. Not long after banks collapsed

• Direct cause of Panic of 1837 which threw economy into a deep depression

• Jackson was censured by the Senate for this action

DESTROYING NATIONAL BANK

Cartoon showing Jackson destroying National Bank

NULLIFICATION CRISIS

• Also known as the “Secession Crisis” 1828 – 1832• South Carolina voted to “nullify” (void) the Tax Tariff Of

1828• Jackson said all states had to obey Federal Laws• Tensions rose and both sides prepared for military action• After much discussion and being close to starting a

battle, in 1832 Jackson signed a new tax bill and South Carolina repealed their Ordinance of Nullification

• Supreme Court has always ruled that individual states do not have the power to void or nullify Federal Laws

INDIAN REMOVAL ACT

• Jackson supported removing Indians from their land• Signed Indian Removal Act on May 28, 1830• Act authorized President to grant unsettled lands west of

the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders

• Many tribes moved peacefully some did not• Cherokee Indians were forcefully removed and over

4,000 Cherokees died on the forced march which became known as the “Trail of Tears”

INDIAN REMOVAL ACT

INTERESTING FACTS

• Joined Revolutionary War when he was 13

• Fought in War of 1812 and the Seminole War • First President to invite the public to White House Ball to honor his

inauguration. It was a disaster• Owned 44 slaves • Fought and killed Indians but adopted two Indian children• Had bullet lodged near his heart after being shot in a duel and a

musket ball in his lung that made him cough blood and made his whole body shake

• First President to ever have assassination attempt. Assassin’s gun misfired twice and Jackson attacked him with his cane

ANDREW JACKSON

Most famous Jackson image