Age of Jackson

Andrew Jackson

7th president of the US elected in 1828; known as "Old Hickory"; saw himself as a representative of the common man

Compromise Tariff of 1833

A new tariff proposed by Henry Clay & John Calhoun that gradually lowered the tariff to the level of the tariff of 1816; avoided civil war & prolonged the union for another 30 years.

Tariff of 1832

A tariff imposed by Jackson which was unpopular in the South; South Carolina nullified it, but Jackson pushed through the Force Act, which enabled him to make South Carolina comply through force; Henry Clay reworked the tariff so that South Carolina would accept it, but after accepting it, South Carolina also nullified the Force Act

Age of Jackson

A time in American history that saw to the expansion of voting rights to all adult white males, the Nullification Crisis (South Carolina), Indian Removal Act, and the War on the Bank.

Henry Clay

Adams' Secretary of State who was involved in the "Corrupt Bargin." He supported the National Bank and hoped that Jackson's opposition to it would help make him become president, he was wrong, many people supported Jackson in his war against the bank; proposed a compromise to reduce tariffs

Old Hickory

Andrew Jackson's nickname, reflecting his toughness and his common, self-made man qualities

Worcester v. Georgia

Cherokee fought the Indian Removal Act by taking issue to supreme court, supreme court ruled in favor of Cherokees, Cherokees should not have to leave their land, & Andrew Jackson ignores and continues to move natives west of the Mississippi River

Trail of Tears

Forced removal of the Cherokees, during harsh winter, from their native homeland to new territory in Oklahoma. A 1/4 of the natives did not survive the trip

Election of 1824

John Quincy Adams was elected 6th President; the election was decided by the House of Representatives because neither Adams or Jackson received a majority of electoral votes

John Quincy Adams

He was the sixth president. His presidency was overshadowed by the "corrupt bargain." He wanted a strong central government.

corrupt bargain

Henry Clay helps John Quincy Adams win presidency & Adams appoints Clay Secretary of State. Jackson claims this was the reason why he lost the election of 1824.

Jacksonian Democracy

Idea of spreading political power to all people and ensuring majority rule, Govt. by the people (common man & not wealthy), changed voting requirements (only white males & did not have have to own property)

Battle of New Orleans

Jackson led a battle that occurred when British troops attacked U.S. soldiers in New Orleans; made Jackson a famous war hero

Age of the Common Man

Jackson's presidency was the called the Age of the Common Man. He felt that government should be run by common people - a democracy based on self-sufficient middle class with ideas formed by liberal education and a free press. All white men could now vote, and the increased voting rights allowed Jackson to be elected.

The National Bank

President Jackson vetoed this charter after he felt that it favored the wealthy and was undemocratic.

Nullification Crisis

South Carolina cancelled tariffs & threatened to secede from the Union if they tried to collect the tax

electoral college

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Tariff of 1828

also known as the Tariff of Abominations; designed to protect industry in the northern United States

Whigs

political party formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic party; only lasted for about 20 years

Election of 1828

re-match of the 1824 election, as incumbent President John Quincy Adams of the National Republican Party faced Andrew Jackson of the Democratic Party; Andrew Jackson won

spoils system

replacing government officials with a persons own supporters; this policy gave more citizens a role in government and prevented the creation of a permanent class of government officials

Indian Removal Act of 1830

required the Indians to adopt Western ways of life or to move West; the Cherokees refused to do so

tariff

taxes and fees to be paid on imports and exports

suffrage

the right to vote in political elections; Andrew Jackson's election signaled a shift of power to the common man (eliminated property ownership for voting, rise of the common man because of expanded suffrage rights)

nullify

to invalidate or cancel

John C. Calhoun

vice-president during presidencies of JQA & AJ; argued the Tariff of 1828 was unconstitutional and that the states had the right to nullify the tariff in their own state