History Final Exam - Identifications Week 11

Jackson Forever poster

After the election of 1824, there were lots of publications in newspapers proclaiming that Jackson was the only true patriot worthy to be in the White House.

County Election Painting, 1854

Beginning in the late 1840s, George Caleb Bingham created a series of paintings illustrating American democracy. He was drawn to the energy and near-chaos of speeches, rallies, election days, public announcements of voting results and more. Prior to painting this work, Bingham himself ran for state office in Missouri as a Whig. Here he shows the tumult of a county election day. Children play games, drunkards raise their glass (while political operatives drag inebriated men to the poll), citizens carefully debate the issues, while others study the newspaper. Art historians argue whether Bingham is celebrating or mocking American democracy.

"It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation." - Andrew Jackson, Second Annual Message to Congress, 1830

In this quote, Jackson is explaining that Indian Removal Act is in progress and going well. Jackson viewed this law as a time to celebrate because it was going to greatly benefit the US.

Andrew Jackson

Ran for presidency in 1824 but lost to John Adams, he cried foul play because he got more electoral votes than Adams. In the election of 1828 Jackson campaigned strongly and beats Adams. The seventh President of the United States (1828-1836), who as a general in the War of 1812 defeated the British at New Orleans (1815) and became a war hero. Campaigned for presidency as a "man of the people" and was nicknamed "Old Hickory" because of his rough and rugged persona despite the fact that he was a wealthy slave owner. Jackson's election symbolized the country's new westward orientation. Jackson creates the "spoils system" where he would remove his enemies from office and replace them with loyal supporters. Jackson did not support the national bank because he viewed it as too powerful. Jackson passed the Indian Expulsion Act removing more than 100,000 Indians from their homes leading to the Trail of Tears. His previous nickname of "Old Hickory" transforms into "King Andrew."

"The Cherokee nation, then, is a distinct community, occupying its own territory, with boundaries accurately described, in which the laws of Georgia have no right to enter, but with the assent of the Cherokees themselves, or in conformity with treaties, and with acts of congress." - Justice John Marshall (left)

Samuel Worcester, an ally of the Cherokee, challenges the state of Georgia's Indian Removal legislation in the Supreme Court - and wins.

1824 Corrupt Bargain

Term presidential candidate Jackson's supporters used to attack the alliance between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay that deprived him of the presidency. Jackson received the most electoral votes, but because there were 4 candidates he did not receive enough votes to be elected president. Therefore, the vote was left up to the House of Representatives. The House elected John Adams over Jackson even though he had more electoral votes. Jackson coined the term "corrupt bargain" due to the conspiracy that Henry Clay convinced Congress to put Adams into office in return for Adams making Clay his Secretary of State.

Slaying the Many Headed Monster, 1836

This 1836 caricature of Andrew Jackson symbolizes his fight to revoke the charter of the Second National Bank. Long distrusting of banking systems and a strong advocate for specie -silver and gold, Jackson made neutralizing the National Bank a top priority of his administration. In this image the twenty four heads on the snake represent the twenty four state branches of the National Bank, with the largest head belonging to bank president and Jackson foe, Nicholas Biddle of Pennsylvania. Jackson's weapon of choice to defeat the snake is a cane labeled "Veto," symbolizing his unprecedented use of the presidential veto power. Jackson used that executive power more than any other president, and it is ultimately what afforded him the opportunity to shut down the National Bank. Aiding Jackson in his fight against the snake is Vice President Martin Van Buren depicted holding the head of political rival and former president, John Quincy Adams.

Office Hunters for the Year, 1834

This image depicts Jackson as a demon controlling strings attached to "political officers." This image is symbolizing the "spoils system" and how Jackson would remove those in the government that did not agree with him during his presidency and replace them with loyal supporters. This image is representing how corrupt Jackson made the government. The spoils system led to an abuse of powers leading to Jackson's nickname of "King Andrew."

Samuel Morse

United States portrait painter who patented the telegraph and developed the Morse code (1791-1872). Morse's telegraph broke the age-old link between transportation and communication. The first message he typed out on the telegraph was "What Hath God Wrought?" The telegraph kickstarted the communications revolution. The communications revolution transformed American society and how information was passed.

Benjamin Folger

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/kingdom-of-matthias/characters/benjamin-folger

Robert Matthews (Prophet Matthias)

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/kingdom-of-matthias/characters/robert-matthews-prophet-matthias