The Age of Jackson

The Age of JacksonA. Jacksonian Democracy – period

when expanded voting rights and conventions led to more people becoming active in politics

The Age of Jackson1. Many white men gain opportunity

to vote when property requirements were removed

The Age of Jackson2. Nominating conventions – public meetings held by political parties to choose party’s candidates

The Age of Jackson3. Women and African Americans still

had NO voting rights

The Age of Jackson4. Democratic Party – supporters of

Andrew Jackson

5. National Republicans – supporters

of John Quincy Adams

The Age of JacksonB. Jackson’s Victory

1. Campaign of 1828 focuses on candidate’s personalities

Jackson v. Adams

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- War hero who was poor and rose through hard work- Hot tempered, crude and ill-equipped for president

Andrew Jackson

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John Quincy Adams- Harvard educated, father 2nd president of US- Out of touch with everyday people-“cold as a lump of ice”

The Age of Jacksona. Jackson wins with record

number

- victory seen as win for common people

The Age of Jackson“What a scene did we witness!…a rabble, a mob,

of boys,…women children, scrambling, fighting, romping…But it was the people’s day, and the people’s President, and the people would rule.”

~ describing Jackson’s inauguration party

The Age of Jackson2. Jackson rewards some supporters

with government jobs - known as

spoil system

a. Jackson relies on Secretary of State Martin Van Buren and

other members of his kitchen cabinet

The Age of JacksonC. Conflict over Tariffs

1. North – manufacturers and want high tariffs to protect from

foreign competition

The Age of Jackson2. South – rely on agriculture and

import most goods; want low tariffs

The Age of Jackson3. Tariff of Abominations – tariff with high rates

a. South – federal govern abusing

powers

b. North – pleased

The Age of JacksonD. The Nullification Crisis – dispute between state and federal governs

1. States’ rights – supporters believe federal govern is limited by Constitution

The Age of Jacksona. Written by V President John Calhoun

b. Said states had right to nullify, or cancel federal law they considered unconstitutional

2. S Carolina tests nullification

theory after congress passes new

tariff

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The Age of Jacksona. they threaten to withdraw

from Union if force is used

to collect tariffs

The Age of Jackson3. President Jackson against nullification

4. Compromise – Congress lowers taxes little by little and S Carolina will enforce tariff law

The Age of JacksonE. The Second Bank of the US

1. Jackson against 2nd Bank of US

The Age of Jackson2. McCulloch v. Maryland – states try

to tax branches of national bank

a. Case goes to Supreme Court

The Age of Jackson1. Congress allowed to establish

bank (Elastic Clause)

2. Federal law superior to state law

The Age of Jackson3. Maryland cannot tax bank

The Age of Jackson3. Jackson weakens power of national

bank

The Age of JacksonF. Van Buren’s Presidency

1. Whig Party – group of Jackson’s opponents

a. wanted weak president and strong legislature

The Age of Jackson2. Martin Van Buren (Jackson’s VP)

wins election

The Age of Jackson3. Panic of 1837 – financial crisis that

led to severe economic depression

The Age of Jackson4. Election of 1840

a. Van Buren blamed for economic

depression

The Age of Jacksonb. Whigs nominate William

Henry

Harrison and John Tyler

- Harrison was a general from the Battle of Tippecanoe

The Age of Jacksonc. Popular vote close but Harrison wins electoral vote by

landslide

The Age of Jackson