Andrew Jackson’s Presidency

Common Man or King?

The Election of 1824• In 1824 there was heated race for

president. There were four men hoping to replace James Monroe as president. These four men were John Quincy Adams (the son of John Adams), William Crawford, Henry Clay “the great compromiser” and Andrew Jackson.

John Quincy Adams• Jackson won the popular vote but did not

receive the electoral vote. According to the Constitution, if one person wins a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives must choose the president. The House of Representatives choose John Quincy Adams to be the 6th president.

Hahaha in your face Jackson…. The House of Representative picked

me!!!!!

Jackson is Upset!!• Jackson felt that Adams had stolen the presidency

from him. He was so upset he was determined to run again

in the next election and win as president in 1828.

I hate you Adams!!!

I am determined to be President!

Democratic Republican Party Splits• For the next four years, the gap in the

Democratic-Republican Party grew wider and the party was about to split in two. Some in the party supported Jackson and others supported Adams.

“Common Man”• . Andrew Jackson claimed that he represented the

“common man.” He said that Adams represented people who were privileged and wealthy. The division eventually created two parties. The Democrats came from the supports of Jackson and the Republicans supported Adams

Dear… I know I can’t vote but you should

vote for Adams

Burp…I’m voting for Andrew Jackson

Whooo…Go Common Man…

• He pushed to extended voting rights to more “white people”.

• He advocated throwing out the property requirements within the states.

• Jackson supported an amendment for popular election of Senators.

• Pushed to have presidential electors chosen by popular vote rather then by state legislatures.

• All was not so rosy – as we will see later on.

Andrew Jackson Wins Election! Large numbers of Western farmers and workers in the nations cities turned out to vote for Andrew Jackson. With an overwhelming number of votes, Andrew Jackson won the 1828 race for president making him the 7th president of the United States.

Andrew Jackson – National BankTariff of 1816 was increased in 1824. The 1828, the Tariff is called the Tariff of

Abominations, because the tariff was raised again. In 1832, another Tariff was passed and this time, South Carolina declared the Tariffs of 1828 & 1832 unconstitutional. Henry Clay

had a compromise that would call for the Tariffs to be lowered over a 10 year period.

Jackson disliked the Bank of the US (BUS). He had vowed to destroy it!

Jackson made the public believe that the BUS was a privileged institution.

Nicholas Biddle was the bank’s president, did make bad choices that reinforced Jackson’s view.

Jackson appointed a Secr. of Treasury that would put federal funds into state banks. These were called ‘Pet Banks.’

BUS Charter expired in 1836, & was not renewed. The bank then failed 5 years later.

Andrew Jackson – Indian Removal Act (1830)Tribes of the southeast, known as the ‘5 civilized tribes’ began to assimilate the customs of

their European neighbors. These tribes were: Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, & Chickasaw. After War of 1812, many white settlers wanted Indian land.

INDIAN REMOVAL ACT (1830):

Federal gov’t can negotiate treaties to move tribes west.

About 90 treaties are signed.

FORCING THE ISSUE:

Jackson will have many forcibly removed.

Saux & Fox Chickasaw

CHEROKEE:

Fight in court system.

Worcester v. Georgia: Court ruled Georgia was not entitled to regulate the Cherokee.

Jackson refused to abide by ruling.

Cherokee continued to fight in state courts

Many Cherokee begin to favor relocation.

October of 1838: Cherokee are sent off, about 800 miles. About 25% of people die along the way.

North Vs. South• People in the north supported the idea of high tariffs

(taxes on imported goods) because the tariffs meant that people would want to buy the cheaper American made goods rather than imported products with the higher taxes.

• The South however didn‘t like the high tariffs. The South made their money by growing cotton and other crops and selling them to foreign countries for credit rather than money. The tariffs would make the foreign goods cost more.

Nullification Crisis• John C. Calhoun, Andrew Jackson’s vice-president

understood the frustration of the Southern farmers over the tariffs. Calhoun developed a plan called the Doctrine of Nullification. The Doctrine of Nullification said that a state had the right to nullify (reject) a federal law that it considers unconstitutional.

South Carolina Threatens to Secede• President Jackson was against the Doctrine of

Nullification but didn‘t want the South to remain upset. He asked Congress to lower the taxes and Congress agreed however South Carolina was still not happy.

Congress please lower the tariffs!!

South Carolina Threats to Secede• South Carolina threatened that if the tariffs

weren‘t lowered even more they would secede (break away) from the United States and start their own country. Jackson was furious and said he would hang the first person he got his hands on!!!!!!!!!

We still aren’t happy!

Ugh….This is so

frustrating!!!

WHAT IMPACT DID JACKSON’S PRESIDENCY HAVE ON THE NATION?

• Election of 1828- voting rights expanded; Jackson’s fights for the “Common Man”

• Tariff of Abominations – Sectional tensions grow between North and South; argue over States’ Rights and cost of imported goods (North – high tariff / South- Low tariff)

• Indian Removal Act of 1830 – thousands of Native Americans are removed from their homeland; Cherokees suffer on the “Trail of Tears”

• Bank War – Jackson drives the Second Bank of the United States out of business; inflation rises.

• Because of inflation, America will experience an economic depression in 1837. People exchanged paper money for gold and silver. The Banks ran out of gold and silver.

• Business in the Northeast shut down

• No way to pay rent or buy food

• People went hungry and homeless