Andrew Jackson

Early Life

Andrew Jackson was born into a poor family in South Carolina.

He fought in the American Revolution

Became famous as the commander during the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

This battle did not need to get fought as the Treaty of Ghent had already been signed ending the war.

Running for president

Jackson ran for president against John Quincy Adams in 1824. He lost.

He ran against Adams again in 1828 and won.

Jackson said he represented the common man.

Jackson as president

Jackson hired the people who helped him get elected.

This became known as the “spoils system.”

Jacksonian Democracy

Jackson promised to take care of the common people. This became known as Jacksonian Democracy.

The idea of spreading political power to the people and ensuring majority rule.

Issues Jackson faced as president

Tariffs

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods.

Northerners liked the tariffs. The north had factories which benefited.

The South hated the tariffs. The tariffs raised the prices they paid for factory goods.

How a tariff works

Crisis over Nullification

Southern states, especially South Carolina fought against the tariffs.

They said a state had the right to nullify, or reject, a federal law that it considers unconstitutional.

States’ Rights

South Carolina threatened to secede, or leave the United States if the tariff laws were enforced.

Jackson was furious. He said, “I will hang the first man of them I can get my hands on from the first tree I can find.”

South Carolina backed down and the crisis ended, but the tensions between the North and the South would remain.

The Bank of the United States

The Bank of the United States was the most powerful bank in the country.

It held government funds and issued money.

President Jackson disliked the bank.

He didn’t trust banks and thought the Bank of the United States had too much power.

Jackson set out to destroy the bank.

The people who opposed Jackson called him a tyrant saying that he wanted too much power.

Indian Issues

Indians had been forced off their lands since the white man had come to America. They tried to adopt white man’s ways.

Sequoya – wrote a Cherokee alphabet

Cherokee had their own newspaper

Wore white man’s clothes

Wrote a constitution

None of this mattered

Indian Removal

Gold was found on Cherokee land making it even more valuable to white settlers

Jackson called for the removal of the Cherokee off their lands.

This became known as the Indian Removal Act.

The Cherokee went to the Supreme Court over their removal and won, but Jackson ignored the ruling.

Trail of Tears

About 15,000 Cherokee were forced from their homes.

Thousands died on the way to Oklahoma.

This became known as the Trail of Tears.

Andrew Jackson political cartoons

Study the following four political cartoons of Andrew Jackson.

1. Identify any people or objects seen in the cartoon.

2. Identify the title of the cartoon as well as any words/dates listed.

3. Describe any actions taking place in the cartoon.

4. Explain the message of the cartoon