AmericaAmerica1828–18501828–1850

Essential Questions • What challenges did the nation face between 1828

and 1850?• In what ways did the two-party system and partisan

politics both help and hinder the government’s ability to address the nation’s problems?

• How did governmental leaders and policies affect Native Americans during this time period?

• In what ways did the country evolve and grow between 1828 and 1850?

• How did social movements during this period work against the status quo?

Andrew Jackson: Early Life and Career

• Born in 1767• Experiences in

Revolutionary War instilled hatred of the British

• Career as a lawyer• TN congressman, senator,

and Supreme Court justice• Cotton farmer and

general store owner

Illustration showing Jackson as a child getting wounded by a British soldier

Early Life and Career (continued)

• War of 1812:– Creek War, Battle of

Horseshoe Bend– Battle of New Orleans

• First Seminole War (1817–1819)

• Governor of Florida Territory (1821)

Painting depicting Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans

The Election of 1824 and the “Corrupt Bargain”

• Four Democratic-Republican candidates

• Jackson, JQ Adams, Clay, Crawford

• Jackson won the most electoral votes but not a majority

• Election decided by the House; Clay supported Adams, who won

A cartoon depicting the 1824 election as a foot race between the four candidates

The “Corrupt Bargain” (continued)

• Jackson likely won the popular vote

• Accused Clay of backing Adams in return for secretary of state position

• Little supporting evidence

John Quincy Adams

Henry Clay

The Election of 1828• Adams vs. Jackson again

– Adams: National Republican– Jackson: Democrat

• Bitterness and accusations during the campaign

• Jackson’s strong base of support

• Van Buren campaigned for Jackson

• Jackson won

“Jacksonian Democracy”• Strict interpretation

of Constitution• Hands-off approach

to economy• “Spoils” (patronage)

system

“Jacksonian Democracy” (continued)

• Manifest Destiny• Indian relocation• Increased suffrage

for white men• President for the

“common man”

“As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to use the rights of persons and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending.”—Andrew Jackson

Jackson’s Inauguration• Mobs of “regular

people” attended inauguration for champion of the “common man”

• Unruly crowd followed him to Executive Mansion

• Chaos in the mansion

• Jackson fled to a hotel