Andrew Jackson: Champion of the Common

Man or “King Andrew”?

Key Tenets of Jacksonian Democracy

Belief in the common manRepresented the interests of the people, not

the special interests of the Eastern elite

Expanded white male suffrageNominating conventions replaced legislative

caucuses of party leaders

Supported patronage – the policy of placing political supporters in office“To the victors belong the spoils”

Jackson & the Bank

Jackson distrusted the BUS because he thought it was monopolistic

1832 Jackson vetoed a bill to renew the BUS charter, making him popular with the common people

Jackson & the BankAfter winning the 1832 election, Jackson set

out to kill the bankWanted to illegally withdraw federal funds &

redeposit the money into state “pet banks”

Bank Pres. Nicholas Biddle responded by raising interest rates & calling in loans owed by state banks

ResultsLed to an increase in the number of state

banks that issued their own currency Pushed the nation toward economic

instability & a depression in 1837