THE JACKSONIAN ERA (1824-1840)

Disputed Election of 1824 John Quincy Adams wins over Jackson - chosen by

Congress b/c not ½ of electoral votes

Election of 1828 Jackson dominates over Adams Believed in Jacksonian Democracy

Spread of political power to more people Led to 2 new political parties

Whigs – Adams, programs 4 national growth, spur economy

Democrats – Jackson, roots of today’s party Began holding nominating conventions where all states

had a say who they were electing

Hired many ppl to work in gov. that were his supporters = spoils system Believed more citizens would prevent small group of

wealthy men from controlling gov. National Bank War

Thought National bank was unconstitutional & did not like private investors ran it

Whigs came up w/ plan to save bank & ruin Jackson’s re-bid for election of 1832

Plan backfired when ppl voted majority for Jackson Bank closed & helped bring economic crisis &

depression

MANIFEST DESTINY1820 - 1860

Americans believed their nation & democratic gov. were best in the world

Believed we had right & duty to spread culture all the way to Pacific Ocean

Open new opportunities 4 economy Negative Side:

White Americans believed they were superior to N.A. & Mexicans

Oregon Country

Region west of Rocky Mounts.

Soil by coast fertile and forests in east

Britain & US agreed to occupy jointly

Fur trappers named mountain men worked in area Sold fur at

rendezvous

Missionaries were 1st white Americans to permanently settle Wanted to convert

N.A. to Christianity “Oregon Fever:

Led to Oregon Trail Met in Missouri and

took till October Had schedule to

follow daily Had many dangers w/

weather & sickness

The Republic of Texas Austin Family given land grants in Texas which

was part of Mexico Had to become Mexican citizens & worship Roman

Catholic Church 1830 – Texans stop following rules so Mexico

says no more Americans can come in & wants laws followed

1833 – Gen. Santa Anna become dictator of Mexico & wants Americans out

Tejanos – ppl of Mexican descent born in Texas who supported Americans drive to get rid of Santa Anna

Texans take position in Alamo, an old Spanish mission in San Antonio

Texans were severely outnumbered by troops

1836 – Mexicans began siege of bombarding Alamo for 12 days Most Texan survivors were executed

Gen. Sam Houston worked hard to gain volunteers & wanted revenge

Battle of San Jacinto – 1836 “Remember the Alamo” Lasted 18 min & although

they were outnumbered they captured Santa Anna

Signed treaty for Independence known as Lone Star Republic

U.S. was divided whether to annex (add on) Texas

Southwest

Spain owned New Mexico Territory & California Americans used Santa Fe Trail to N.M. Terr. Missionaries & Ranches throughout Cali

James Polk becomes President in 1844 Get U.S. & Britain to divide Oregon Territory @ 40

degrees North – US south of line Annexed Texas after pretending they would ally with

G.B.

Mexican War – 1846 War starts over land boundaries near Rio Grande

River Defeated Mexico in Santa Fe, Mexico City, San Diego Bear Flag Republic – Cali says they are indep. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildalgo

Mexican Cession – US gained N.M & all Cali US paid $15 million & respect rights of ppl in cession

Gadsden Purchase – 1853 Paid $10 million for Arizona and small part of N.M. today Many felt dream of Manifest Destiny completed

Americans Rush West Mormons came to Utah seeking refuge from

persecution after many places by Brigham Young Hard journey and lived in desert Became state in 1896

California Gold Rush 1848 – men from John Sutter’s mill were digging &

found gold near Sacramento Kept a secret for short time b4 masses in US & Europe

came 49-ners: ppl who came in 1849 to seek gold Most ppl did not strike it rich Led to California becoming a state in 1850, cities

booming, & a diverse population

Life in the North New Inventions like the sewing machine, plow and

telegraph (signals along a wire) sparked trade Factories started using steam power which was

cheaper to run Could build factories anywhere Produced goods @ lower cost so overall price lower

Railroad Boom 1829 – 1st steam powered engine created By 1850’s railroads all over country Linked towns all over for businesses from west to east

Clipper ships – faster ships with large masts

Horrible Factory Conditions Owners cared more about $ and # produced then

workers Whole families worked from 4am to 7pm Hazardous Conditions – no windows, heat, cold, no

safety devices, no laws regulating conditions

Trade Unions Workers organized for shorter workday, higher

wages, and better working conditions Wanted to strike (refuse) to work

New Wave of Immigrants 4 million people British– came for higher wages Irish – potato famine (shortage of food) Germans – food shortages & revolutions Worked in farms & factories Nativists – wanted to preserve US for native-

born, white citizens so they did not like new immigrants

African Americans Slavery outlawed in North Faced discrimination – policy that denies equal

rights Some small successes

Life in the South Cotton gin by Eli Whitney led to boom in

cotton production Needed new land to cultivate planting so

moved west Led to spread of slavery

Agricultural Economy Rice, sugar cane, tobacco, and livestock

production Very little industry b/c no one to buy

goods Cities: New Orleans, Charleston,

Richmond Were economically dependent on North

from $ from banks & tools/supplies

75 % of southern whites owned small farms w/ only 1 or 2 slaves

Wealthy families were few with large plantations & more than 20 slaves

Free Africans not allowed to travel or vote so as to not set a good example for slaves

1/3 of population slaves Had slave codes – kept slaves from running or

rebelling Couldn’t gather in groups larger than 3 Couldn’t learn to read or write

Most families were divided Some tried to escape or rebel