Jacksonian Era

Unit 5

End of an era…

• July 4th 1826:

• 50th anniversary of the Dec. of Ind.

• Thomas Jefferson & John Adams die

…and the beginning of another

What were the characteristics of the New Democracy?

Election of 1824

Andrew Jackson John Quincy Adams

Election of 1824

Andrew Jackson• Hero of New Orleans

• Little political experience

• “man of the people”

John Quincy Adams• Secretary of State

• Former Ambassador

• Brilliant lawyer

• 30 years of political experience

Election of 1824Jackson J.Q. Adams

Popular vote

43% 31%

Electoral vote

99(Not a

majority)

84

House vote

7 13

Why?

John Quincy Adams presidency(1825-1829)

Faced difficulty because:

• Unable to get most of his policies approved by Congress…why?

• Jackson supporters broke off from the Dem-Rep and created the Democratic party

States Rights

At Issue: Tariff of 1828• Congress increases Tariff of 1816• Britain buys less cotton from South• South gets angry…why?• North doesn’t care…why?

Result: Calhoun’s South Carolina Exposition• Valid?

Election of 1828Jackson J.Q.

AdamsPopular

vote56% 44%

Electoral vote

178 84

Revolution?

President Jackson (1829-1837)

• Orphaned & uneducated

• Campaigned against government corruption

• Frequently used the veto power…called “King Andrew”

The Spoils System

• Giving friends government jobs

• Jackson replaced 10% of federal employees

• Rewarded friends for political support

• Party membership vs. Merit & Service…justifiable?

• Increased power of political parties…how?

States Rights

1832:

• Congress increases the Tariff again

• S.C. nullifies the Tariff and threatens to secede

1833:

• Congress issues Force Bill…allows Pres. Jackson to use military force to enforce the Tariff

• Henry Clay negotiates a compromise & avoids war

States Rights

1830:

• Senator Hayne (S.C.) & Senator Webster (MA) debate the nullification issue– Significance?

Jackson vs. Native Americans

1820s:

• Natives control large parts of southern and western states

• American citizens clash with natives over land

Jackson vs. Native Americans

(1830) Jackson issues Indian Removal Act:– Government will negotiate for more land from

natives

– Natives would move west and be allowed to maintain their way of life

• Many tribes were forced to sign treaties

Jackson vs. Native Americans

(1832) Cherokee challenged the law:– Natives argued that the government could not

negotiate a treaty…why?

– Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional

• Jackson ignored the ruling

• 1830 – 1840: About 50,000 Native Americans move west of Mississippi River

• Cherokee lost 25% of population on the Trail of Tears

Trail of Tears

Was the Indian & Removal Act just?

Post Jacksonian Era

(1837-1845)

Politics of the post Jacksonian era

What impact will the following presidencies have on American society?

• Martin Van Buren

• William Henry Harrison

• John Tyler

Martin Van Buren’s presidency(1837-1841)

• Chosen by Jackson

• Causes the Panic of 1837

• Ineffective presidency

William Henry Harrison’s presidency(1841-1841)

• Portrayed as old war hero/ a common man

• Gives a 1 hour & 45 minute inaugural address in the rain

• Dies one month later of pneumonia

• 1st president to die in office…problem?

John Tyler’s presidency(1841-1845)

• Harrison’s V.P.

• Assumes presidency

• Fights with his party and Congress over power

• Ineffective president

Politics of the post Jacksonian era

What impact will the following presidencies have on American society?

• Martin Van Buren

• William Henry Harrison

• John Tyler