The Age of JacksonSection 3

Chapter 11

Focus QuestionsHow was Jacksonian Democracy a sign of

change in American politics?

How did tariff disputes lead to the nullification crisis, and how did President Jackson respond?

Why was President Jackson against a national bank, and how did his opposition affect the economy?

Jacksonian DemocracyMany states began to allow non-property owning

males to vote

Some parties started have nominating conventions– public meetings to select the party’s presidential and vice candidates

This democratic expansion became known as Jacksonian Democracy after Andrew Jackson

Jacksonian Democracy Jackson supporters believed

that he would support the common man and rights of the slave states

The people in the party who thought that Clay and Adams stole the 1824 formed the Democratic Party

In 1828, Jackson ran for president as a Democrat and chose John C. Calhoun as his running mate

Jackson’s VictoryJackson and Calhoun won with a record number

of votes

Jackson rewarding some of his supporters with government jobs– this known as the spoils system

Martin Van Buren was his secretary of state and one of Jackson’s strongest supporters

Jackson also relied on an informal group known as the kitchen cabinet (often times they met in the kitchen)

Conflict over TariffsWhen it came to tariffs, northern states wanted

higher tariffs and southern states wanted lower tariffs

This regional divide was Jackson’s first issue in office

In 1828 Congress passed the Tariff of Abominations (hateful things) was passed– it was a high tariff and southerners thought federal government was abusing their power

The Nullification CrisisJohn Calhoun (Vice President) wrote a statement in

support of states’ rights

Those who favor states’ rights believe that the federal government is strictly limited by the Constitution

The dispute between state and federal government became known as the nullification crisis– states had the right to rebel if their rights were violated

Daniel Webster a Senator from Massachusetts did not agree

The Nullification Crisis South Carolina tested this

in 1832 and Jackson promised to send troops if need be to make them follow the tested law

A compromise was reached and war was avoided

The Second Bank of the United States

Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States that was formed in 1816

In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Constitutionality of the bank came into question and the Supreme Court sided with Congress in allowing them to form a national bank

The Second Bank of the United States

This case also determined that federal laws out weigh state laws

By the time Jackson had completed his presidency the national debt had lowered but he did not improve the economy

Van Buren’s PresidencyIn 1836, the Whig Party was formed from a

group of Jackson’s opponents

The Whig’s ran four candidates in 1836 but with Jackson’s support the Democrat Martin Van Buren won

Van Buren’s Presidency In 1836, the Whig Party was

formed from a group of Jackson’s opponents

The Whig’s ran four candidates in 1836 but with Jackson’s support the Democrat Martin Van Buren won

The Panic of 1837, hit America and led to a severe economic depression

Van Buren was blamed for the panic

The Whigs ran William Henry Harrison in 1840 and they finally won the presidency

Focus QuestionsHow was Jacksonian Democracy a sign of

change in American politics?

How did tariff disputes lead to the nullification crisis, and how did President Jackson respond?

Why was President Jackson against a national bank, and how did his opposition affect the economy?