JACKSONSONIAN ERA1824-1849

John Quincy Adams Son of the second president Brilliant man who was fluent in many

languages. Very qualified – former Secretary of State,

negotiated the end of the War of 1812 and wrote the Monroe Doctrine.

People described him as self righteous and arrogant, “a chip off the old iceberg.”

John Quincy AdamsElection of 1824

Four men ran for president that year William Crawford John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Henry Clay

Jackson won both the popular vote and the majority of electoral votes, but he did not have a big enough majority to win. The race had to be decided in the House of Representatives. By law, the top three would have a run off decided by members of the House of Representatives.

The Election of 1824 Henry Clay came in fourth, but he was

Speaker of the House. Crawford had a stroke so the race came down to Adams vs. Jackson.

There was a meeting between Adams and Henry Clay

ANDREW JACKSON1829 - 1837

First Known Painting

of Jackson, 1815

Nicknames/ Qualities “Old Hickory” “Conqueror of Florida”

Short tempered, one either loved him or hated him or loved to hate him, wanted to be called “General,” loved to dual.

Election of 1828 Dirtiest election of all times Both candidates resorted to “mudslinging” mudslinging is trying to ruin the opponents

reputation by saying bad things about them.Attacked Jackson’s wife, Rachel. Said she was a

polygamist. She was actually married to another man that had left her. She did not know he was still alive. He showed up again after she married Andrew Jackson and then got divorced.

Rachel, was very stressed with this situation, she died before Jackson was inaugurated.

Jackson won the election in a landslide!

But he never got over the death of his wife.

He blamed Henry Clay and said that he had convinced a newspaper to run the stories about his wife.

Henry Clay denied the allegations. Jackson said he could forgive the

mudslinging against him, but would never forgive those that attacked his dear Rachel.

Events of Jackson’s Presidency

Suffrage (right to vote) – states began to loosen rules on property ownership being a voting requirement. In other words, Jackson gave more people the right to vote.

Voting Requirements in the Early 19c

Events during Jackson’s Presidency

Spoils system – Jackson fired government workers who were his enemies and hired his friends – system still in place.

Nullification Crisis – Southerners were very upset over high tariffs. Vice President Calhoun from SC threatened to “nullify” (cancel) federal laws on tariffs – even threatening to succeed (break away). Jackson said union must be preserved. Calhoun resigned.

Events of Jackson’s Presidency Indian Removal Act of 1830 – forced removal of

the Native Americans east of the Mississippi. Cherokee tribe fought this Act in court. It went

all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the

Cherokee. Cherokee had Constitutional rights to the land.

Jackson ordered them to leave anyway. General Winfield Scott and seven thousand

soldiers forced the Indians to move west of the Mississippi.

Trail of Tears The forced journey caused thousands of

Indians leave their homes and move mostly to Oklahoma.

Thousands of Indians died on the trip and so it is referred to as the Trail of Tears. One Indian died every four miles 4,ooo Cherokee lost their lives on the trip

It ended in March 26, 1839

Jackson’s War with the Bank

Jackson despised the National Bank. Henry Clay, Nicolas Biddle and Daniel

Webster thought most people were for the bank.

They tried to get it renewed early to force Jackson to veto the bill, because they thought that if he vetoed it, it would be bad for Jackson politically.

Jackson not only vetoed the bill, then “killed” the bank

Martin Van Buren

Good friend of Jackson Organized Democratic Party Had a reputation as an aristocrat

wanna be

Van Buren’s Presidency Panic of 1837 and 1839 – too much

cotton production caused prices to fall The whole economy then collapsed Van Buren had no plan to help the

economy and Jackson had killed the National Bank which may have helped.

Lost the next election due to the poor economy

William Henry HarrisonWar hero and Indian fighter, wanted

re-charter the bankHe was older and smart and had studied

medicine.He wanted to show how smart he wasand gave the longest inaugural address

ever (2hrs). It was a cold and miserable day. Ironically, Harrison caught pneumonia and died. He was the first president to die in office.

John Tyler John Tyler was Harrison’s VP and

became president on Harrison’s death. People called him “His Accidency.”

Refused to pick a VPPeople said he was stubborn andaloof and aristocratic.

Tyler’s presidency Went completely against what Harrison

and the Whig Party had wanted and vetoed the National Bank.

Tyler was then thrown out of the Whig party

Sign a treaty with Texas.

James K. Polk

Very strong supporter of Jackson and his policies.

Some even described him as, “more Jackson than Jackson,” and said he made very decision thinking, “What would Jackson do?”

Polk and Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny defined Term first coined by John L. O’Sullivan in

Democratic Review, July 1845".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth.”

Ideological basis for belief: Sincere belief in democracy and republicanism Idealized view of U.S. as model for others

Religious BeliefsThe belief that Christians must convert the Indian “heathens.”

Concrete Reasons for Manifest Destiny

Americans tempted by “free” land U.S. stopped at Mississippi Knew of California and Oregon

Develop trade with Far East Pacific Coast to Far East – need base Jealous of Mexico’s success

Fear of Foreign Invasion British Claims to Oregon; Mexico in south

4 Factors leading to U.S./Mexican War

Mexican anger over annexation of Texas

Dispute over Texas/Mexican border Nueces River or Rio Grande

Instability of Mexican government 19 governments in 25 years

Polk Administration’s drive to expand U.S. Polk saw his mandate as creating a coast-

to-coast nation

Diplomatic Prelude to War

1845 Polk sends Zachary Taylor to Corpus Christi. Encamped on Nueces River

Sends John Slidell to negotiate. He offers: $5 million for New Mexico west of Rio

Grande $25 million for California

Strong anti-U.S. sentiment meant that Mexico would not accept offer

March 1846 Taylor crossed Nueces and war begins

Polk’s Mexican War Strategy

After luring Mexico into the war, Polk had a three part strategy. 1. Drive the Mexicans out of disputed border

region 2. Seize New Mexico and California 3. Take Mexico City (capital of Mexico)

All those goals were achieved and in February 1848, a peace treaty was signed (The Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago)

Mexico ceded Texas, NM, and CA and agreed to the Rio Grande as being the border between countries

Costs of War Over 1700 were killed in the war. 11,000 die of disease Millions of dollars were spent on the war

effort The Mexican war was the training ground

for Civil War generals.