Spoils SystemWho: Andrew JacksonWhat: Rewarding political supporters with public office.When: It became prevalent when Jackson takes office.Where: Within the government; mostly executive branch.Why: Jackson defended the system on democratic grounds. He felt ANY American could learn the ways around an office, even a government office. He wanted to discourage an aristocratic government by putting in the common man.

Spoils SystemImportance: Important element of the emerging two-party system. The promise of support to a candidate was a compelling reason for Americans to choose one side and stick with it through thick and thin.

Spoils System• What cont’d.: Less about bringing in new people and more

about rewarding old friends. Mostly about party loyalty and less about what they person could do for the country.

• Some men essentially bought their jobs through campaign contributions.

• The government was not made up of people who were illiterate, incompetent, dishonest.

Tariff of AbominationsTariff of Abominations

Who: JQAdams, AJackWhat: Tariffs protected American industry against competition from European manufacturing, but invited retaliatory tariffs on American agriculture exports overseas.Sides: North= Pro tariff, South= Anti tariff, “Black Tariffs”, “Yankee Tariffs” orWhen: 1828 Congress increased tariff. The TofA added a 47% increase in the price of imported goods, which was the highest in American history.Reactions: SC flags were lowered to half-mast. Why so dramatic? Southerners believed tariff was scapegoat b/c they sold their cotton and other produce in a world market completely unprotected by tariffs but were forced to buy their manufactured goods in an American market heavily protected by tariffs. Basically…Southerners felt they were footing the bill for the North and West.Writings: The South Carolina Exposition (CODG) denounced the tariffs as unjust and unconstitutional. It claimed the states should nullify the tariffs.

Greatly disliked

Debate Over Tariffs

PRO• If you were a craftsman or

manufacturer in the U.S., you would like tariffs because your products would not have that additional tax, therefore your products are cheaper than foreign products. People will be more likely to buy your products.

CON• If your business is

agriculture, you need to sell your food and raw materials and buy manufactured goods. You may depend on foreign nations to buy your goods and in return you buy their manufactured goods. Tariffs will make foreign goods more expensive. There may be less demand for farm goods in foreign markets and your regional economy will suffer.

Nullification CRISIS• Southern states believed they could nullify any federal law they deemed

unconstitutional. – SC nullifies the Tariff of 1828. – V.P CODG resigns and goes back to his home state to help them support states’ rights.

• Andrew Jackson was against nullification and wanted to send troops to SC. (Force Bill)– SC threatens to secede (treason, according to Jackson) from the country if troops were sent to enforce

the tariff.• Henry Clay aka Great Compromiser (Missouri Compromise fame) worked out a deal

to lower the tariff.– Compromise Tariff of 1833 (reduces over the 10-year period)– SC passed this new tariff.

• Southern states still thought nullification was legal.– Both sides claimed victory!