The Age of Jackson1824-1840

Democracy and the Common Man

Do you think Jackson personifies Jeffersonian

ideals?

America after the War of 1812• Internal Migration to South and West

• Suffrage—right to vote

• Popular vote and the electoral college

• campaigns

Women During the Age of Jackson

Republicanism and Family• John Adams said lamented in 1776 that the

republican idea of equality had “spread where it was not intended,” encouraging women to demand legal and financial rights.

• Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792

• Rise of sentimentalism (natural affection as pre-requisite) and companionate marriages (not arranged) marriages

• Women’s religious activism

• Founding of female academies

• Women became school teachers (1820s)

Republican Motherhood

Cult of Domesticity

Rise of Middle Class• See page 304 in

textbook

Godey’s Ladies Book

Clothes for women of all stations in society

Social Practice “Ladies Receiving”

“Domestic Tranquility…”• Women had no legal rights in most states

• Women could not own property in most states

• Divorce was rare—women would lose custody of children and their good name

• To preserve the family, a good wife would never be seen in the company of a woman with a compromised reputation

• Women did not live as long as men

• Women did not have education or career opportunities outside of traditional roles—all options for these was limited

• Women were expected to be submissive to husbands

• As internal migration led to men moving westward, there was a notable demographic transition of women marrying later and having fewer children

• See p. 259-262

The European actress, Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923)

“Alexis De Tocqueville……a French civil servant, traveled to this

country in the early 1830s to study the American prison system, which was one of the more innovative systems in the world. His book, Democracy in America, published in 1835, was the result of his observations, and it reflected a broad interest in the entire spectrum of the American democratic process and the society in which it had developed.

His insightful commentary on the American way of life has proven to be almost prophetic in many respects, and provides the modern reader with an outsider’s objective view of what this country was like in the Age of Jackson.”

(from Research and Education Association, Advanced Placement: U.S. History, 2003)

Notably:• Informal manner

• “American Plan” dining habit in hotels and rooming houses—all people of all classes ate together at common tables

• No separate areas on stagecoaches, steamships or railroads for people of different classes

• Men all dressed in simple dark trousers and jackets

• Women were guided in fashion by Godey’s Ladies Book

• Equality was a governing principle of society (for white males)

Election of 1824• What are qualities that you look for

in a leader?

• What qualities does the average American want in a leader?

• In recent years, a test has been, who would you want to go bowling with or share a meal with?Is that a valid test? Why or why not?

2016 Candidates

• Does a candidate’s background influence you?

• Does a candidate’s family? Religion? Part of the country?

• Does the personality influence you?

• His/Her experience or profession?

• Why or why not?

Who do you like for 2016?• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/vot

e2012/quiz/

• Take the Political Party Test

Jackson• Early years—Revolution• Family• Education• Move to Tennessee• Jobs• Boarding house• Politics• Election of 1828

Jackson Prepares His Presidency• The Democratic Party and The “Good Ol’ Boys”

• The spoils system

• Inauguration Night

• How would Jackson govern without his First Lady?

Rachel and Peggy—c. 1828

Jackson Administration• Secretary of Defense Eaton

• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

• Worcester v. Georgia

• Jackson’s Executive order

• South Carolina’s threat to secede

Second Term• Biddle’s Bank

• Vetoed renewal of the charter of the National Bank

• Specie circular vs. currency

• Andrew as King

Elections of 1836 and 1840• Martin Van Buren

• William Henry Harrison--Whigs

• John Tyler

Photograph of an 1845 daguerreotype of Andrew Jackson

Small Group AssignmentHand in one paper per group—write

names!• Choose one aspect of Jackson’s life and write

out a brief scenario on how you would make it into a movie script.

1. Event(s) Emphasized:2. Setting (time and place):3. Plot Details (three or more)4. Cast (six or more):5. Other information as needed (stage or

screen, where to film, release dates, promotional ideas, movie poster design, specific makeup, costumes, music, sets, etc. You must have 3 or more)