SassoUS I

The United States is changing pretty rapidly during Jackson’s administration- socially, politically, economically

The Spoils System becomes a big part of Jackson’s government- “to the victor goes the spoils”

Spoils System- appointing people to government positions on the basis of party loyalty

Not a new development, but Jackson is the first president to remove officials and replace them with his own

Jackson figures that the president should have more power than anyone else in the government, so he just planned on doing whatever he wanted

Also develops his “Kitchen Cabinet” of advisors

One method of doing whatever he pleased was by exercising his veto power

Used more vetoes (12) than the first six presidents COMBINED

Many of his vetoes are used on bills proposed by Henry Clay

This is one way for Jackson to get back at his political enemies

One example would be his veto on the Maysville Road Bill

Since Jackson is a nationalist, many felt this would be approved

This Bill would extend the Cumberland National Road inside the state of Kentucky

Jackson vetoed this because the Constitution does not allow the federal government to spend $ on local transportation

Since this improvement would only help Kentucky, the federal government would not pay for it

Where is Henry Clay from? Kentucky

What does Jackson do next? Approves a bill that will build a new National Road to and through Tennessee

Where is Jackson from? Tennessee

An unlikely pairing Had a bit of a troubled history

together Calhoun had been a

nationalist Helped create the American

system with Clay However, by the 1820’s,

South Carolina is struggling economically

Part of it’s struggles come from the high tariffs that Calhoun helped create (Tariff of 1816)

A new tax- the Tariff of 1828 Many people in South Carolina

begin to talk of secession Calhoun starts to think more

along sectional lines

Calhoun’s political future truly depends on how he can help fix things for SC

He is well aware that secession is very dangerous Tariff of 1828 becomes known in the South as the “Tariff of

Abominations” Calhoun decides to propose the concept of Nullification Anonymously writes the South Carolina Exposition and

Protest Has to keep it anonymous because he is still VP and he

knows that this will go against Jackson’s beliefs Not completely his idea- had been developed by TJ and

Madison The idea says that states have a final decision on federal

law If a state does not agree with a federal law, they can decide

to make it null and void in their borders This could potentially lead to the break up of the United

States

Proposed Tariffs in 1832 will decrease taxes on certain products, but increase them on others

Jackson: “Our federal Union it must be preserved”

Calhoun: “The Union: Next to our liberties most dear”

South Carolina will nullify the tariff

“Compromise Tariff” of 1833 Will reduce taxes over the next several

years Should keep both sides happy Jackson will pass a “Force Bill” right

behind it That will be nullified by SC