Andrew Jackson

1828 - 1834

Election of 1824

Background New political era in the 1800s with westward

expansion > SECTIONALISM

Democratic-Republican Party was solid in office for 23 years

Election of 1824 led to a split (sectional) John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Henry Clay &

Andrew Jackson (all Republicans)

Election Chart

Candidate/ Position Electoral Vote (%) Popular Vote (%)

Andrew Jackson – non committal

38 43

John Q. Adams – central gov’t

32 31

William Crawford – state’s rights

16 13

Henry Clay – central gov’t; national bank

14 13

Election of 1824 cont. Results

Jackson supported in West & South Carried most electoral &

popular vote but no clear majority

Crawford had a stroke so he was eliminated

Clay threw his support to Adams “Corrupt bargain” – Clay

named Sec. of State

Significance John Q. Adams becomes

Pres.

New voters in South & West

Democratic-Republican Party divided National Republicans led

by Adams & Clay Democrats led by Jackson

Election of 1828

Jackson Lacked a formal education

“Self-made” man

Popular in native South

Champion of the people: “Take for your President a man from your body”

War of 1812 Hero: Battle of New Orleans

Adams “Write” vs. “Fight”

Claimed Jackson a gambler & lacked a proper education to serve in this position

How does this political cartoon depict Jackson? Do you think it was accurate? Why or why not?

Election of 1828 continued

Results Jackson carried every state in the South & West

He received 56% of the popular vote

Adams only carried New England states

*Turning point because more people were voting Reduced state property qualifications to vote & run for

office 3 times more people voted

Jackson’s Policy Spoils System

Jackson wanted to reform “lazy” gov’t workers so he gave his friends & supporters jobs as a reward

He felt justified because the best people for the job were those who were loyal to him

Others claimed it was corrupt (his gambling & poker buddies)

1/5 of office holders were opened up to the future President > rotation in office

Positives of this? Negatives??

Banking Crisis

When was the 1st Bank of the U.S. created? Why? Bank was up for charter

renewal

U.S. gov’t owned 20% of bank stock

Jackson believed Congress did NOT have the power to do so

Bank Symbol of privilege (rich

getting rich)

Loaned money to poor which created a cycle of debt

Issue= STATE’S RIGHTS How is power divided

between the state & federal gov’t?

Bank continued State’s rights vs. federal

authority No regulations on bank

Bank printed too much money, gave out too many loans, people deposited money into banks run by friends

Jackson vetoes the bank bill

Congress overrides the veto (election year)

Jackson saw Congressional actions as a threat He closed the bank &

moved gov’t accounts to the state banks

DISASTER for economy > loans & inflation)

But he was supported by the common man

*Use of checks & balances Jackson wins in 1832!

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

STATE vs. FEDERAL

Chief Justice John Marshall sided with the national gov’t on bank issue

Bank held federal money so states couldn’t tax it Bank notes represented gold but it gave out too

many > fraud This caused the Panic of 1837 (economic

depression) *Made it clear that national interests were more

important than those of the state

Tariff Controversy

Tariff (tax) part of economy since 1816 but unpopular in South (why?)

1828 Congress passed a high tariff on European imports which angered the South – why?

Jackson’s V.P. John Calhoun (from S. Carolina) wrote essays on State’s Rights & NULLIFICATION

Calhoun Resigns V.P. to take seat in

S. Carolina Senate S. Carolina threatens to

secede if gov’t collects tax Congress passes a bill to

allow the President to use military force to collect taxes

Henry Clay develops compromise: reduce tax over 10 years if S. Carolina doesn’t secede

American Indian Policy

1830 Indian Removal Act Jackson favored westward expansion because of

exploits of war – we “earned” it Supreme Court against policy

Trail of Tears Not the 1st expulsion of Natives but represents a

betrayal of promises/treaties Moved 18,000 Cherokees over 1000 miles to

Oklahoma; 4,000 died

Political Parties

Whigs/ National Republicans 1834 Jackson’s opponents

united as Whigs Led by Henry Clay & Daniel

Webster Included supporters of the

Bank of U.S., manufacturers in favor of tariff, wealthy businessmen, urban

Democrats Roots with Jefferson’s

Democratic-Republicans of 1792 but 1st Democratic Convention in 1832

Led by Jackson Supporters included

working class, immigrants, small farmers; rural