Andrew Jackson

Andrew JacksonFrontiersman or Front ManElection of 1824Marked an end to the Era of Good FeelingsAlso an end to the Virginia DynastyJefferson, Madison, Monroe.

The CandidatesJohn Quincy Adams (Secretary of State)William H. Crawford (Secretary of Treasury)Andrew JacksonHenry ClayAll democratic-republicansEach with different personalities and governmental beliefs

ResultsJackson 99 E.C. 152,933 Popular votesAdams 84 E.C. 115, 696 Popular votesCrawford 41 E.C. 46, 979 Popular votesClay 37 E.C. 47, 136 Popular votesJackson did not have majority of E.C. (Effect of Clay)Vote goes to the House of RepresentativesClay, coming in 4th, is out of the raceCorrupt BargainClay uses his dislike of Jackson to sway support to AdamsAdams becomes president and appoints Clay to Secretary of State.Jackson supporters denounce as a corrupt system of elite interests without listening to the will of the peopleAdams presidency marked by legislative opposition

Id rather be right than be presidentElection of 1828Easily won by Jackson over AdamsMore active interest in politics emergedState organizations based on political participationMass campaigning encouraged participationParty loyalty among politicians and publicJackson wins with coalition of the North, South and West

Age of the Common ManJackson was a symbol of the possibilities of personal advancement that frontier offeredStrong executive who largely ignored his cabinetKitchen Cabinet:Nickname given by political opponents of Jackson to his personal friends who were the unofficial cabinetJacksonian DemocracyStrengthens presidency by using veto more often than all other presidents combinedOverrode sectional interests which made him very popular:In contrast to a time where Congress was dominated by popular sectional figures:Clay, Calhoun, Webster:All rivals of JacksonSpoils SystemAKA Patronage System or Rotation in officePractice of giving government jobs to friends as opposed to having any sense of meritJackson removed around 919 positions upon assuming officeExplained as reform or constructive turnoverPerformance in public office, Jackson maintained, required no special intelligence or trainingWould protect against corrupt civil servants

Tariff of Abominations 1828As the North industrialized, the industries wanted protection from foreign competitionSoutherners were outvoted by the North and West and tariffs were passedSouth argued that the tariff was of sectional interest and only helped some while harming othersClaimed to be unconstitutional due to violation of states rightsContJohn Calhoun of South Carolina writes a defense to doctrine of nullification:States could refuse to enforce laws deemed to be unconstitutionalSouth Carolina nullifies a 1833 tariff and threatens to secede.Jackson considers the act treason, obtains bill from Congress which allows him to collect tax by force if necessaryContHenry Clay designs a compromise tariff that ends threat of secession and civil warReduced tariffs to 1816 levelsVeto of Maysville Road Bill 1830Congress votes to allocate funds for construction of a road near Maysville, KyJackson vetoed claiming the funds were unconstitutional and funding should come from state fundsLoss for Henry Clay and supporters of Jackson in the westJackson and Native AmericansPolicy of U.S. government towards Nat-Ams had been to allow them to stay east of the Mississippi River:As long as they attempted to adopt or assimilate white waysTJ offered the alternative of removal to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River

Five Civilized TribesCherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, and SeminolesCherokees had adopted many white customsConstitution based on the U.S. Schools for children

Sequoyah

Developed the Cherokee writing systemIndian Removal Act 1830Appropriated funds for removal, by force if necessarySome tribes negotiated treaties to leaveCherokees decided to use the court systemCherokee Nation v Georgia (1831)Worchester v Georgia (1832)Marshall ruled in favor of the CherokeeJackson ignores and continues with policyJohn Marshall made his decision, now let him enforce it

Trail of TearsCherokees, last of the 5 Civilized Tribes to move Forcibly moved by the U.S. Army to present day OklahomaAround 4,000 out of 15,000 died

Jacksons Bank War2nd Bank of the U.S. chartered 1816Functioned as a quasi-private institutionHeld government moneySold government bondsMade commercial loansMost important function:Control over state banks which tended to issue more paper money than they could back in hard currencyOverall, the Bank acted as a stabilizer by controlling money supply

Cont.Western farmers and speculators disliked the BankPanic of 1819 caused in part by the Bank by cutting back on available creditClay and Webster began an early push for a rechartering of the 2nd BankCongress approved the applicationJackson quickly vetoed the Bank bill:UnconstitutionalHarmful to states rights

Election of 1832 and Bank WarJackson easily defeats Henry Clay who was portrayed as the defender of the Bank and privilegeJackson withdraws all federal deposits ($10 million)Places the money in state banks called pet banks by criticsJacksons response was that his election gave him authority to act against the BankOther than impeachment, not much Congress could do

Nicholas BiddlePresident of the National BankEnemy of Andrew JacksonMore Bank Backlash EffectsMarked the end of Clays American SystemBeginning of laissez-faire economic policyFormation of permanent opposition political party:(American two-party system): Whigs, which was a reference to the patriots who challenged King GeorgeRefer to Jackson as King AndrewBelieved he was acting more like a tyrant than a president

Response of Nicholas BiddleAs federal funds are withdrawn, Biddle calls in Banks commercial loansCaused recession and panicMerchants, businessman, southern planters outraged at JacksonSpecie Circular & Panic of 1837Widespread use of paper money issued by state banks alarms JacksonIssues the Specie Circular that required all purchases of public lands be made in hard currencyBanks suspended businessLed to the collapse of banking system which led to worst recession to dateFederal government provided no assistance during this time (no bailouts, etc)

Election of 1836Whigs attempt to run 4 sectional candidates as strategy to draw Electoral College votes away from VP Martin Van BurenWould take the election to the House of RepsStrategy failsVan Buren becomes known as Van RuinInherited all problems Jackson left behind4 dismal years in the White House

Election of 1840Whigs run William Henry HarrisonTippecanoe and Tyler TooEasily defeats Van BurenHarrison dies a month after taking officeJohn Tyler becomes first president to assume office upon death of the presidentNicknamed His AccidencyTurned out to be anti-Whig and anti-JacksonVetoed bills related to American System

William Henry HarrisonJohn Tyler