Jackson and Van Buren

Jackson’s Indian Plan

• Natives were in the way of westward expansion.

• How do we solve the problem?

• Assimilate, move or destroy.

Cherokee’s move toward accommodation.

• Settled agriculture and private land ownership.

• Sequoyah: devised Cherokee alphabet.

• Sequoyah: devised Cherokee alphabet.

• Slave owners.

Jackson v. Marshall

Jackson wants to open Indian lands to white settlement.

• 1830 Indian Removal Act: uprooted over 100,000 Indians

Worcester v.. Georgia. (1833)

• “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.”

Trail of Tears

• Forced removal of the

Cherokee to Oklahoma.

• Some flee to the Smokie Mountains of Tennessee and form the Eastern Band of the Cherokees.

Seminoles

• Costliest Indian campaign. Never completely defeated.

Texas

• Mexico wins independence from Spain.

• Remember the Florida for Texas swap?

• Stephen Austin. Awarded land for settlement. Settlers to be Catholic and pledge allegiance to the Mexican gov’t.

The big issue:

• Slavery. Mexico emancipated their slaves in 1830

Thirteen days of Glory

• “I shall never surrender nor retreat… Victory or Death!”

William Barrett Travis

• Santa Anna (Ruler of Mexico) invades Texas with 6000 troops to crush the rebellion.

• The Alamo. Old Spanish mission. >200 defenders held out for 13 days.

Texas wins independence

• Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and all the defenders die fighting rather than surrender.

• Battle of San Jacinto: Sam Houston surprises Santa Anna.

• 1836. The Lone Star Republic is born.

The US and Texas

Why wouldn’t the US want to annex Texas immediately?

• Slavery! :(

• Puts Texas in a precarious position.

“Whigging” out

• Formed as an anti-Jackson force.

Supporters:• Supporters of Clay’s American system.• Southern state’s righters.• Larger Northern industrialists and merchants.• Many evangelical Protestants associated with

the Anti-Masonic party.

Election of 1836

• Martin Van Buren wins the presidency in a very close popular vote.

Jackson’s legacy

Plus

• Bolstered the power of the executive branch.

• Led the common people into national politics.

• United them into the Democratic party.

• Proved that the common man could be trusted with the vote.

Minus

• Encouragement of the spoils system.

• Treatment of the BUS.

• Treatment of Native Americans.