The Age of Jackson Andrew Jackson’s policies speak for the common people, but violate the rights of Native Americans.

The Age of JacksonAndrew Jackson’s policies speak for the common people, but violate the

rights of Native Americans

The Election of 1824

Candidate Popular Vote Electoral Vote

Andrew Jackson 43% 99

J.Q. Adams 31% 32

William Crawford 13% 41

Henry Clay 13% 37

Based on what you have learned about the process of electing a President and the role of the Electoral

College, what problem do you see?

The Election of 1824

• Andrew Jackson, the hero of the War of 1812, wins popular vote but not electoral vote

• Vote now goes to the House of Representatives

• Henry Clay has the ability to decide the vote – and he does not trust Jackson

“I cannot believe that killing twenty-five

hundred Englishmen at New Orleans qualifies [him] for the various

difficult and complicated duties of [the presidency].”

The Corrupt Bargain• House elects John Quincy Adams to the

presidency • Jacksonians claim Adams and Clay had struck a

“corrupt bargain”• Jacksonians form their own political party to

block Adams’s policies

Versus

The Corrupt Bargain?Jackson could barely contain his fury at having lost the election in what he claimed

was a "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay to overturn the will of the people. To most Jacksonian supporters it looked as if congressional leaders had conspired to revive the caucus system, whereby Congress greatly influenced, if not determined, the selection of the president. Jackson laid the blame on Clay, telling anyone who would listen that the Speaker had approached him with the offer of a deal: Clay

would support Jackson in return for Jackson's appointment of Clay as secretary of state. When Jackson refused, Clay made the deal with Adams instead. In Jackson's words, Clay had sold his influence in a "corrupt bargain." Clay denied the charges,

and while there certainly had been some behind-the-scene maneuvering by Clay to push the vote to Adams, it most likely reflected Clay's genuine doubts about Jackson's qualifications as a president. In assessing the odds of successfully

forwarding his own political agenda, Clay questioned Jackson's commitment to the American System of internal improvements. On the other hand, Clay knew that

Adams had supported it consistently over the years. Enraged, Jackson resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate and vowed to win the presidency in 1828 as an outsider to

Washington politics.

The Corrupt Bargain?

“The fateful decision came on January 9, 1825. A meeting was arranged between Adams and Clay for an evening's conversation. "Mr. Clay came at six," Adams confided to his journal, "and spent the evening with me in a long conversation." In the course of the conversation Clay asked the New Englander "to satisfy him with regard to some principles of great public importance, but without any personal considerations for himself." Nothing crude or vulgar, like declaring the terms of a political deal, passed their lips. No need. Both men understood one another's purposes. Surely they both realized that in exchange for House support Adams would designate Clay as his secretary of state.”

The Life of Andrew Jackson

“It was, however, in selecting his own successor at the State department that Adams undid his strategy for nonpartisanship and national unity. He asked Henry Clay, to whom he owed his election, to serve as secretary of state. The offer was extended after the House had elected Adams-not before as is often alleged.”

John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life

Changing Political Parties

Anti-Federalists Federalists

FederalistsJeffersonian-Republicans

(Democratic-Republicans)

Democrats(Andrew Jackson)

National Republicans(John Quincy Adams)

National Republicans(J.Q. Adams)

• Federal government should take a leadership role

• Federal government should support internal improvements (roads, bridges, etc.)

• Anti-slavery

Democrats(Jackson)

• Federal government should remain as inactive as possible

• The individual states should be responsible for internal improvements (roads, bridges, etc.)

• Pro-slavery

Sum up the difference between the two political parties….

Jackson Benefits from States’ Decisions

Most states had been gradually easing voting qualifications - few required you to own

property anymore

In 1828, many of these new “common” voters vote for Jackson

First Issue: Native Americans

• Whites moving West want to displace or assimilate Native Americans–Assimilation: make them join white culture

• Jackson: only solution - move Native Americans off their land

• Congress passes Indian Removal Act of 1830• Jackson pressures some tribes to move, forcibly

removes others

Indian Removal Act of 1830

Natives Fight Back

• Cherokee argue that they have already signed treaties with the gov’t and do not have to move

• Worcester v. Georgia• Supreme Court ruled Cherokee were a “distinct

community” and GA could not force them to do anything

• Established the principal that Fed. gov’t had authority over Native Indian affairs

“John Marshall has made his decision;

now let him enforce it!"

The Trail of Tears

Cherokee forced west on Trail of Tears• 800-mile trip made on foot• Robbed by government officials and settlers • Many fall ill during the journey• Thousands die

The “Common Man” Takes Office

• Jackson limits appointees to federal jobs to four-year terms

• Uses spoils system—replaces former appointees with his own friends

• Friends become primary advisers, nicknamed the “kitchen cabinet”

Issue Two: States’ RightsBritish have been trying to flood U.S. with cheap

goods; tariffs were raised in 1824 & 1828

• Vice-president John C. Calhoun calls 1828 Tariff of Abominations– Thinks South pays for North’s prosperity

• Calhoun devises nullification theory:– Constitution based on agreement among states– State can reject law it considers unconstitutional– States have right to leave Union if nullification

denied

Debate Over States Rights

• Senator Robert Hayne argues Southern view of tariff and states’ rights

• Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts defends Union

• Jackson believes Union “must be preserved” and Calhoun resigns as V.P.

South Carolina Rebels!

• South Carolina declares 1828, 1832 tariffs null; threatens to secede (won’t be the last time!)

• Congress passes Force Bill: can use army, navy against South Carolina– Jackson doesn’t actually send in troops

• Henry Clay proposes a new tariff that lowers taxes over 10 years

Issue Three: National Bank

Re-Chartering the Bank

• Second Bank of the United States (BUS) not due to be rechartered until 1836; Clay and Webster introduce issue early– Wanted it to be a campaign issue – Thought Jackson would veto it and loose support– Underestimated how much the people disliked

bank

A “Privileged Institution”

• Democrats made sure people thought of Bank as a “privileged institution”– All Federal taxes deposited there, unfair advantage

over smaller state & private banks– Stockholders earned interest from deposits, only

people with $$$ could be stockholders– Bank President Nicholas Biddle gave loans to

Congressmen at much lower rates than to average citizen

“The bank … is trying to kill me but I will kill it!"

Development of Pet Banks

• After 1832 reelection, Jackson puts in Sec. of Treasury who will put government funds in state banks – Known as “Pet Banks” - loyal to the Democrats

• Biddle calls in all BUS loans and refuses to give out new loans – Hoped this would force Jackson to re-charter– Cost Biddle much of his support, BUS was not

rechartered

The Whig Party

• Jackson’s tactics and policies angered many – including some within the Democratic Party

• 1834 – Whig political party formed • Backed ideas of the American System

– Tariffs– Internal Improvements– Federal control of banking and currency