The Age of Jackson  The Age of Jackson 

President Andrew President Andrew Jackson defined a Jackson defined a

period of American period of American history. history.

Path to the Presidency Path to the Presidency Served in the army during the Revolutionary Served in the army during the Revolutionary

War War Practiced law in Tennessee, became a successful Practiced law in Tennessee, became a successful

land speculator, and served in a variety of land speculator, and served in a variety of government offices, including the House of government offices, including the House of Representatives and the Senate Representatives and the Senate

Served in the War of 1812, nicknamed “Old Served in the War of 1812, nicknamed “Old Hickory” Hickory”

Became nationally famous as the “Hero of New Became nationally famous as the “Hero of New Orleans”Orleans”

Path to the PresidencyPath to the Presidency  

In 1824 he ran for president and won the In 1824 he ran for president and won the popular vote, but not a majority of the popular vote, but not a majority of the electoral votes. electoral votes.

John Quincy Adams won the House of John Quincy Adams won the House of Representatives’ vote and became president in Representatives’ vote and became president in the “corrupt bargain” with Claythe “corrupt bargain” with Clay

Jackson and his supporters remade the old Jackson and his supporters remade the old Democratic-Republican Party into the Democratic-Republican Party into the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party. .

Path to the PresidencyPath to the Presidency  

Quincy Adams and his supporters became the Quincy Adams and his supporters became the National RepublicansNational Republicans. .

Jackson was a popular war hero—“a man of Jackson was a popular war hero—“a man of the people.” the people.”

Important Changes in Voting:Important Changes in Voting: In the 1820s voting restrictions in many states

—such as the requirement for property ownership—were being lifted, allowing poor men to become voters.

Election DayElection Day

See the painting --See the painting --

““Jacksonian Democracy”Jacksonian Democracy”

Jackson won the support of ordinary, hardworking Americans

Politicians and campaigns would increasingly attempt to appeal to all the people, not just small elites

Such political power exercised by ordinary Americans became known as Jacksonian Democracy.

Spoils system: rewarding supporters by giving them positions in the government.

King MobKing Mob

Vermont Voter’s OathVermont Voter’s Oath

““You solemnly swear (or affirm) that You solemnly swear (or affirm) that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the State of touching any matter that concerns the State of Vermont, you will do it so as in your Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person”person”

The spoils systemThe spoils system

“rotation in office” of government officials and employees

take government out of a small governing class

At its worst, this new system amounted to rewarding party members with jobs

In fact, the idea was not really new nor did it lead to much corruption

The Indian Removal Act The Indian Removal Act

Five major Native Five major Native AmericanAmerican groups lived in the groups lived in the southeastern southeastern UnitedUnited StatesStates: the Cherokee, Choctaw, : the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Creek. Chickasaw, Seminole, and Creek.

White Americans called them the “five civilized White Americans called them the “five civilized tribes” because many of them had adopted aspects of tribes” because many of them had adopted aspects of European and European and AmericanAmerican culture. culture.

Many white Americans viewed them as inferior. Many white Americans viewed them as inferior. Farmland was becoming scarce in the East, and white Farmland was becoming scarce in the East, and white

settlers coveted the Indians’ lands settlers coveted the Indians’ lands

The Indian Removal Act The Indian Removal Act

Indian Removal Act (1830): called for the relocation of the five nations to an area west of the Mississippi River called Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma. 

The U.S. Army marched the Choctaw, the Creek, and the Chickasaw west, hundreds of miles, to Indian Territory.

Many died on the long trek due to exposure, malnutrition, and disease.

The Trail of Tears The Trail of Tears Worcester Worcester v. v. GeorgiaGeorgia (1832): The Supreme Court (1832): The Supreme Court

ruled against Georgia, denying it the right to take ruled against Georgia, denying it the right to take Cherokee lands.Cherokee lands.

To get around the Court’s ruling, government To get around the Court’s ruling, government officials signed a treaty with Cherokee leaders who officials signed a treaty with Cherokee leaders who favored relocation. favored relocation.

The Cherokee were herded by the U.S. Army on a The Cherokee were herded by the U.S. Army on a long and deadly march west. long and deadly march west.

Of the 18,000 Cherokee forced to leave their homes, Of the 18,000 Cherokee forced to leave their homes, about 4,500 died on the march, which became known about 4,500 died on the march, which became known as the as the Trail of TearsTrail of Tears. .

The Second National Bank The Second National Bank

The The Second Bank of the United States Second Bank of the United States accepted accepted deposits from the US governmentdeposits from the US government

Established in 1816 and given a 20-year charter Established in 1816 and given a 20-year charter Opponents (including Jackson) thought that the Opponents (including Jackson) thought that the

Constitution did not give Congress the authority to Constitution did not give Congress the authority to create the bank. create the bank.

Opponents recognized that state banks were more Opponents recognized that state banks were more inclined to make loans to poorer farmers in the South inclined to make loans to poorer farmers in the South and West—the very people who supported Jackson. and West—the very people who supported Jackson.

Jackson destroys the Second National Jackson destroys the Second National BankBank

By contrast, they viewed the bank as an By contrast, they viewed the bank as an institution devoted to the interests of wealthy institution devoted to the interests of wealthy northern corporationsnorthern corporations

In 1832, Jackson vetoed the bill to extend the Bank’s charter

In 1833, Jackson issued an executive order ending deposits of US funds into the bank

Election of 1832Election of 1832

Jackson easily defeated Clay, the Jackson easily defeated Clay, the National Republican candidateNational Republican candidate

The The Whig PartyWhig Party was formed by Daniel was formed by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay as a result of the Webster and Henry Clay as a result of the conflict over the bank – became the chief conflict over the bank – became the chief political rival to the Democratic party political rival to the Democratic party until the Civil Waruntil the Civil War