III. Jackson’s Presidency- A. The Spoils System

- Jackson throws out tons of old advisors and federal employees.

- He filled the jobs with his supporters, political allies, and personal buddies: the “kitchen cabinet” (he supposedly let his friends into the White House through the kitchen).

B.Jackson versus States’ RightsIn 1828, southerners in Congress raise the heat

on the national Tariff, claiming it to be a plot to enrich Northeasterners at the expense of the South.

John C. Calhoun promotes the idea of nullification, that states can nullify (in effect ignore and disobey) any law that they deem unconstitutional.

Daniel Webster of Massachusetts opposes men like Calhoun calling their ideas deluded.

- In 1832, the legislature of South Carolina actually does it, declaring 2 tariffs unconstitutional and refusing to obey them.

- Jackson is furious, taking South Carolina’s announcement as a personal insult, threatening to send troops to South Carolina and to hang John C. Calhoun.

- Before any bloodshed occurs, Henry Clay, “the Great Compromiser” steps in and calms the conflict with a plan for a gradual tariff reduction over the next 10 years.

C. Jackson versus the National Bank • Jackson believes the Bank of the

United States (BUS) to be an evil “monster” that “makes the rich richer” and could use its financial power to control politics.

• Jackson declares a personal war on the Bank, promising to “kill” it.

• He refuses to renew its charter and puts government money in other private banks.

• Bank president Nicholas Biddle tries to save the bank, but Jackson’s plan works, and the U.S. ends up with no central bank.

•Jackson gets a new reputation as “King Andrew the first,” an overly powerful president who does whatever he wants.

• Webster & Clay start a new party to protest Jackson’s new power: the Whig party

D. Jackson versus the IndiansWhite attitudes toward the Indian:

• The Indian has valuable traits that can be shared with white society as he becomes civilized.

• The Indian can and must assimilate to the white American society of the Republic.

• The Indians are separate and sovereign nations to be dealt with using treaties.

• The Indians are dependent children to be protected, but whose needs are always secondary to those of white citizens.

• The only good Indian is a dead Indian.

• After 1812: The “5 Civilized Tribes” (Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, & Chickasaw) have “played ball” with white society’s vision of being “civilized”: They lived a settled yeoman agricultural lifestyle in Georgia,Tennessee, the Carolinas and Florida (some even owned slaves).

• Meanwhile: White settlers in the south harass and intrude on Indian lands while other whites try to protect the Indians

• 1821: Cherokee leader Sequoyah designs a full written alphabet for the Cherokee: literacy increases in the tribe.

• 1827:under the leadership of John Ross the Cherokee Nation writes their own Constitution.

• 1828: the Georgia legislature passes a series of laws to limit Indian rights and isolate them from white society.

• 1830: With Jackson’s support, Congress passes the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Jackson immediately mobilizes the army to begin moving Indians west of the Mississippi river.

• 1831: Lawyers try to help the Cherokee, first suing the state of Georgia (unsuccessful).

• 1832: Next lawsuit is successful, in Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court nullifies Georgia’s anti-Indian laws, saying that the U.S. cannot mess with the land and laws of the Cherokee. Jackson finds this idea ludicrous (ridiculous) and says “go ‘head, John Marshall, enforce it.”

• 1835: Although John Ross keeps resisting the removal policy, the U.S. government signs a treaty with other Cherokees who believe removal to be the best solution.

• 1838: Forced removal is completed as General Winfield Scott rounds up remaining and drives them 800 miles through bitter cold, harassment, and suffering to Oklahoma. At least 4000 die along the way on this “Trail of Tears.”