History Georgia Highlands Chapter 9 Jacksonian America

Andrew Jackson

(1829-1833) and (1833-1837), Indian Removal Act, nullification crisis, "Old Hickory," first southern/ western president," President for the common man," pet banks, spoils system, specie circular, Trail of Tears, Henry Clay Conjectural Process; 7th President - as president, he opposed the Bank of America, objected to the right of individual states to nullify disagreeable federal laws, and increased the presidential powers.

What were several controversies Andrew Jackson was involved in during his presidency?

(1829-1833) and (1833-1837), Indian removal act, nullification crisis, Old Hickory," first southern/ western president," President for the common man," pet banks, spoils system, specie circular, trail of tears, Henry Clay Conjectural Process.

William Henry Harrison

(1841), was an American military leader, politician, the ninth President of the United States, and the FIRST President to DIE in office. His death created a brief Constitutional crisis, but ultimately resolved many questions about presidential succession left unanswered by the Constitution until passage of the 25th Amendment. Led US forces in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

When were Native Americans first expelled from the Southeastern United States?

1830 to 1838

When was the first anti-mason party held?

1831

When did Jackson veto the recharter of the Bank of U.S.

1832

When did the Nullification crisis take place?

1832 - 1833

Nullification Crisis

1832; sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by the Ordinance of Nullification, an attempt by the state of South Carolina to nullify a federal law - the tariff of 1828 - passed by the United States Congress; 1832-33 was over the tariff policy of the Fed. Gov't, during Jackson's presidency which prompted South Carolina to threaten the use of NULLIFICATION, possible secession and Andrew Jackson's determination to end with military force; compromise devised by Henry Clay - tariff would be lowered gradually until 1842

What year did Jackson remove deposits from the Bank of the U.S causing commercial panic?

1833

When was Taney named chief justice of the Supreme Court?

1835

When did the Seminole Wars take place?

1835 to 1842

When was Van Buren elected as president?

1836

In what year was William Henry Harrison elected?

1840

In what year did President Harrison die and what was the result?

1841; first there was a Constitutional crisis - eventually, Tyler, Harrison's Vice President, was named President

Van Buren

8th president; hand chosen by Jackson; President Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State from 1829 to 1831. As Secretary of State, was President Jackson's most trusted and loyal adviser. Vice president from 1833 to 1837. With Jackson's support, became 8th president of the U.S

Jacksonian Democracy

A policy of spreading more political power to more people. It was a "Common Man" theme; The first major opening up of American suffrage (voting rights) by Jackson's new Democratic Party in 1830s. Franchise extended to all white men (not just rich white men). Achieved by state legislation not constitutional amendment.

Trail of Tears

A pro-removal chief signed the Treaty of New Echota in 1835 which ceded all Cherokee land to the United States for $5.6 million. Most Cherokees condemned the treaty. Between 1835 and 1838, 16,000 Cherokees migrated west to the Mississippi along the Trail of Tears. 2,000 to 4,000 Cherokees died. Jackson claimed that the "remnant of that ill-fated race" was now "beyond the reach of injury or oppression," apparently trying to convince himself or others that he had supported removal as a way to protect the tribes. A trek about 5 Indian tribes made for relocation. Beginning in the winter of 1838, the Cherokee Indians were the first to walk to "Indian Territory" (Oklahoma) with heavy loads on their backs and almost nothing on their feet. Almost an eighth or more of the Cherokees died before they reached the new territory. Once they arrived they named their walk, "The Trail Where They Cried," to show how the trail hurt them after. Andrew Jackson tried to defend himself for making them leave by saying that it would "protect the tribes." Between 1830 and 1838 virtually all of the "Five Civilized Tribes were expelled from the southern states and forced to relocate in the new Indian Territory

Kitchen cabinet

A small group of Jackson's friends and advisors who were especially influential in the first years of his presidency. Jackson conferred with them instead of his regular cabinet. Many people didn't like Jackson ignoring official procedures, and called it the "Kitchen Cabinet" or "Lower Cabinet".

People's Party

Formed in 1842, the populist party was created by farmers' alliances; they supported the abolition of national banks and the government ownership of railroads; Political party made up of poor whites and poor blacks. Mostly farmers.

Alexis de Tocqueville

French political writer noted for his analysis of American institutions (1805-1859); French political writer whose 1831 study of American society was chronicled in the 2-volume "Democracy in America"; wrote this after spending 2 years in the U.S.

President Van Buren

Good friend of Jackson took over when Jackson would not go a third term; VP of Jackson who ran for president in 1836. Won the popular vote by 50.9 and won majority of the electoral votes. Panic of 1837 which started in the South (affected most) and was rooted in the changing fortunes of American cotton in Great Britain, yet as president, he did nothing to help solve this "credit bubble"

DeWitt Clinton

Governor of New York who started the Erie Canal project. His leadership helped complete the canal, which boosted the economy greatly by cutting time traveled from west New York to the Hudson;

Webster-Hayne Debate

Hayne first responded to Daniel Webster's argument of states' rights versus national power, with the idea of nullification. Webster then spent 2 full afternoons delivering his response which he concluded by saying that "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable"; argument between Daniel Webster and Robert Hayne, about the issue states' rights versus national power. Webster said that Hayne was a challenge to the integrity of the Union. Hayne responded with a defense of the theory of nullification. Webster then spent two full afternoons delivering what became known as his "Second Reply to Hayne." He concluded with the ringing appeal: "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable."

Who supported the Bank of the United States?

Henry Clay and the Whigs Nicholas Biddle, Henry Clay, the Whigs, and the wealthy

What was President Jackson's opinion (which side did he support) in the Webster-Hayne Debate?

His text said - "Our Federal Union - It must be preserved and his toast was, "The Union, next to our liberty most dear" - sided with Webster

Who could and could NOT vote in 1842?

In the South, no slaves could vote; Free blacks could NOT vote anywhere in the South; Free blacks could hardly vote in the North; In no state could women vote

spoils system

A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends; "rotation in office;" Jackson felt that one should spend a single term in office and return to private citizenship, those who held power too long would become corrupt and political appointments made by new officials was essential for democracy

How did Calhoun argue for nullification?

he cited the 10th Amendment to the Constitution stating that since the federal government was a creation of the states, the STATES and NOT the COURTS or CONGRESS were the final ones to decide the constitutionality of federal laws

Why did Calhoun support nullification?

he was an outspoken protectionist, and although he supported the tariff of 1816, by the 1820s he believed that the tariff was responsible for stagnation of the economy in South Carolina

What role did Van Buren serve for Jackson?

he was his Secretary of State in 1829; he quickly established himself as a member of the official cabinet and of the president's unofficial circle of political allies - known as the Kitchen Cabinet

Specie Circular

issued by President Jackson July 11, 1836, was meant to stop land speculation caused by states printing paper money without proper specie (gold or silver) backing it. It required that the purchase of public lands be paid for in specie. It stopped the land speculation and the sale of public lands went down sharply. The panic of 1837 followed.

What effect did Tocqueville's book, Democracy in America, have on other nations?

it helped spread the idea of democracy to France and other European nations

Was Jacksonian Democracy a class-based movement to elevate workers and farmers

it was an effort to control power of the capitalists groups - mainly Eastern groups - for the benefit of non-capitalist groups such as farmers and workers in the East, West, and South; thought of Jackson as an early version of modern reform efforts to "restrain the power of the business community"

What does "to the victors belong the spoils" mean?

it was the process of giving out jobs as political rewards - later became the "spoils system"

What did Jackson's commitment to extending power beyond the entrenched elite do?

led him to reduce the functions of the federal government; however, he was strongly committed to the preservation of the Union; he did promote an economic program to reduce the power of the national government

How did whites attitudes towards Native Americans change, and how did these changes lead to the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears?

many white Americans had considered the Indians "noble savages," people without real civilization but with an inherent dignity that made civilization possible among them. By the first decades of the nineteenth century, this vaguely paternalistic attitude (the attitude of Thomas Jefferson, among others) was giving way to a more hostile one, particularly among the whites in the western states and territories whom Jackson came to represent. Such whites were coming to view Native Americans simply as "savages," not only uncivilized but uncivilizable. Whites, they believed, should not be expected to live in close proximity to the tribes. White westerners favored removal as well because they feared that continued contact between the expanding white settlements and the Indians would produce endless conflict and violence. Most of all, however, they favored Indian removal because of their own insatiable desire for territory

Do most historians agree that Jackson was the President of the Common Man? Why or why not?

no, most disagree based on their assessments of American society during the Jacksonian Era

Dorr Rebellion

Short-lived armed insurrection in the U.S. state of Rhode Island; Agitation for changes to the state's electoral system; Rhode Island - rebellion against land qualifications for voting - Tyler puts it down and brings an end to it (1842)

nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution; legal theory that a state in the US has the right to invalidate any federal law that the state deems unconstitutional. John C Calhoun was the foremost proponent.

Whigs

anti-Jackson's party of conservatives and popular with pro-Bank people and plantation owners. They mainly came from the National Republican Party, which was once largely Federalists. They took their name from the British political party that had opposed King George during the American Revolution. Their policies included support of industry, protective tariffs, and Clay's American System. They were generally upper class in origin. Included Clay and Webster

How did Frederick Jackson Turner see Jacksonian-isms?

as a protest by the frontier against the conservative aristocracy of the East

Who benefited under Jacksonian Democracy?

authentic democratic movement, dedicated to powerful, at times radical, egalitarian ideals—but mainly for white men; Socially and intellectually, the Jacksonian movement represented not the insurgency of a specific class or region but a diverse, sometimes testy national coalition; to aid hard-pressed farmers and planters, Jacksonians pursued an unrelenting (some say unconstitutional) program of Indian removal, while backing cheap land prices and settlers' preemption rights; Middle class and lower class benefited o Jackson portrayed himself as a "common man" o North benefits

How were electors chosen in 1828?

by popular vote in EVERY state except - South Carolina

What were some of the major changes politically during the early 19th century?

growth of the electorate; emergence or beginning of political parties

March 4,1829

Andrew Jackson inauguration

Seminole Wars

Andrew Jackson initiated these wars; crossed border into Florida (Spain) to attack the Seminole tribe that was harboring runaway slaves; 3 conflicts between Florida with the Seminole Indians that ultimately resulted in the opening of the Seminole's desirable land for white exploitation and settlement

President of the Common Man

Andrew Jackson. Born a more simpler life than the former rich elite presidents before him; he was not a democratic philosopher; he embraced a simple theory of democracy; was a champion of democracy; he stood as a symbol of anti-elitism and egalitarianism

Whigs

Anti-Jackson political party that generally stood for national community and an activist government; The Whigs were originally colonists supporting independence. In the mid 1830s, the Whig Party opposed Jackson's strong-armed leadership style and policies. The Whigs promoted protective tariffs, federal funding for internal improvements, and other measures that strengthened the central government. Reaching its height of popularity in the 1830s, the Whigs disappeared from the national political scene by the 1850s; A party that opposed Jackson's leadership style and policies. They promoted protective tariffs, federal funding for internal improvements, and other measures that strengthened the central government

Nullification

Calhoun introduced the idea in his SC Exposition and Protest. States that suffered from the tariff of 1828 had the right to nullify or override the law within their borders. Jackson proclaimed that nullification was unconstitutional and that the Constitution established "a single nation," not a league of states. A final resolution of the question of nullification was postponed until 1861, when South Carolina, accompanied by other southern states, seceded from the Union and started the Civil War

Chief Justice Taney

Chief Justice from Maryland supported states' rights against powers of the national government in the Dred Scott Case; deemed the compromises unconstitutional because a slave is property of his owner and the Constitution did not give Congress the right to deprive citizens of having their slaves in the territories, which are common property to all the states.

Democracy in America

Classic French text by Alexis de Tocqueville on the United States in the 1830s and its strengths and weaknesses such as the tyranny of the majority; explained why republicanism succeeded in the U.S. and failed elsewhere.

What did Jackson's followers call themselves?

Democrats - thus giving a permanent name to what is now the nation's oldest political parties

Independent Treasury Act

In the wake of the Specie Circular and the Panic of 1837, President Van Buren proposed, and Congress passed this act. The system that was created took the federal government out of banking. All payments to the government were to be made in hard cash and it was to be stored in government vaults until needed.

Webster and Hayne debate

In this debate over the tariff of 1828, it was argued that Calhoun's doctrine of nullification was the only way to preserve southern interests; however, Webster from Massachusetts argued that a compact existed between people and the government, not to be broken by states--for the union.

Indian Removal Act

Introduced by Congress and passed in 1830 with the approval of Andrew Jackson in 1830, this act was passed to appropriate money to finance federal negotiations with the southern tribes in order to relocate them to the West.

Who said, "To the victors belong the spoils?"

Jackson ally - William L. Macy of New York

Jackson was known as "man of the people." Which people were attracted to Andrew Jackson?

Jackson was a self-made man who declared education an unnecessary requirement for political leadership. Indeed, Jackson launched the era when politicians would desperately try to show how poor they had been.

What did Schlesinger argue about Jacksonian-ism?

Jacksonian Democracy was an effort to control power of the capitalists groups - mainly Eastern groups - for the benefit of non-capitalist groups such as farmers and labouring men in the East, West, and South; thought of Jackson as an early version of modern reform efforts to "restrain the power of the business community"

Eaton Affair

John Eaton, Secretary of War, was rumored to have had an affair with Peggy Timberlake, whom he later married, before her husband died in 1828. She was snubbed by the wives of Jackson's cabinet (led by Calhoun's wife). The President wanted to help her because his wife had been the object of similar rumors. This turned Jackson against Calhoun, drew Van Buren and Jackson closer together and dissolved the Cabinet. Calhoun resigned the vice presidency the next year and entered the Senate for South Carolina.

Thomas Dorr

Led the Dorr Rebellion in Rhode Island to change the state's electoral system in 1841-1842 saying that white male had to have property to vote.

Bucktails

Martin van Buren's supporters, wore deer tails in their hats to show support; they challenged the established political elite led by governor, DeWitt Clinton; they advocated institutionalized political parties based on the support of the broad public constituency

Was the Jacksonian Democracy a reform movement against conservative special interests?

Most of these changes came before the emergence of Jackson's Democratic Party, some were even accomplished over objection to the Jacksonian's. -There were men in all sections who feared the spread of political democracy, but by 1830's few were willing to publicly voice it; the Jacksonian Democracy sought to fix the impression that they alone were champions of democracy; that they alone were engaged in a mortal struggle against aristocratic opponents.

Who suffered under Jacksonian Democracy?

Native Americans and mixed-blood Hispanics; Jacksonians proclaimed a political culture predicated on white male equality, contrasting themselves with other self-styled reform movements. Nativism, for example, struck them as a hateful manifestation of elitist puritanism. Sabbatarians, temperance advocates, and other would-be moral uplifters, they insisted, should not impose righteousness on others. Beyond position-taking, the Jacksonians propounded a social vision in which any white man would have the chance to secure his economic independence, would be free to live as he saw fit Suffer o Women o Native Americans o Southerners o Upper class

What party did lawyer and activist Dorr's friends and followers form?

People's Party

Who opposed the Bank of the Untied States?

President Andrew Jackson removed all federal funds from the bank after his reelection in 1832, and it ceased operations as a national institution after its charter expired in 1836; President Jackson and the Democrats; Jackson wanted to destroy the national bank so much that he removed the government's deposits from the bank and placed them in pet banks. This destabilized the financial system and ultimately lead to a recession and the death of the national bank.

25th Amendment

Presidential succession; Clarifies an ambiguous provision of the Constitution regarding succession to the Presidency, and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President as well as responding to Presidential disabilities.

In which state did democratization cause instability and problems?

Rhode Island

Panic 1837

Rush on the banks, banks close, farmers and business suffer, speculators can't get money for land, speculators can't pay back loans, more banks fail; Weakened the US economy. State banks gave out too many loans. They had no gold or silver to back the paper loans. President Jackson required anyone buying public land had to pay for it with gold or silver. People rushed to the bank with their paper loans to exchange for gold and silver. Many banks didn't have enough gold and silver and were forced to close.

Nullification crisis

Southerners favored freedom of trade & believed in the authority of states over the fed. gov.--> declared federal protective tariffs null and void; South believed individual state cannot defy fed. gov. alone; led to increased sense among Southerners as "minority" & threat of secession rather than nullification was the South's ultimate weapon

Anti-Mason Party

The first third party, The Masons were a super secret society that many upper class people were a part of. When William Morgan was rejected from the Masons he built on the rising suspicion that the Masons were secretly running the country to spread anti-Mason propaganda and eventually form the party. Although this party was unsuccessful it is notable as the first party to hold a national convention.

democratization

The process of establishing representative and accountable forms of government led by popularly elected officials.

Removal of Indians

Trail of tears; Indian Removal Act; Factors for Westward Expansion in Texas; since his early military expeditions into Florida, Jackson had harbored deep hostility toward the Indians

What was the result of the Panic of 1837?

depression that resulted when speculators could not pay back loans thus causing banks to fail

How did Andrew Jackson change the office of the presidency?

early on Jackson showed favor only to those who socialized with the Eatons and proved their loyalty to him in other ways. To rid himself of the immediate controversy Jackson dismissed his entire cabinet in 1831 except for the Postmaster General. In time, this caused Jackson to turn to a group of unofficial advisors. His opponents labeled them his "Kitchen Cabinet" because of their "back door" access to the President; took office with great expectations to cleanse government of corruption and restore the nation's finances. Washington's elite feared that Jackson would fire everyone that held government positions, even the competent, and replace them with his own people. Although Jackson replaced only about ten percent of the government officers he held power over, it was a high percentage compared to his predecessors. marked not only the triumphed of a particular vision of government and democracy. § Said he wanted a government with less regulations but when he becomes president, everything he does is based on a strong national government § In favor of the common man. Tries to fight for the equality of white men § Doesn't have an agenda. Fights for equality § Brings back the two party system § Tyrannical instead of democratic § Personal agenda to destroy Indians § Hated the privileged elites § Jackson fought to keep the Union perpetual and separate o Wanted more states' rights

What did the right to vote mark or represent?

freedom and democracy

How did politics begin to change during Andrew Jackson's presidency?

now politics were open to virtually any of the nation's white males and no longer just to a relatively small number of elite property owners - that is why this period is called the "Era of the Common Man"

What controversial constitutional theory did Jackson's Vice President, John C. Calhoun champion?

nullification

Age of Jackson

period marked by the belief that ordinary people should vote in elections, hold office, and do anything they had the ability to do; 7th Pres., 1st President from West (Tenn.), Controversies: Spoils system, Indian removal, Tariff, States rights & Nullification, Second Bank of the U.S. Jackson cleared J. Q. Adams' people out of offices—introduced rotation in office, or the "spoils system. Problems started early— "Affair of the Petticoat"—Jackson's rough frontier friends, appointed to Cabinet, clashed with proper Washington society. Jackson said at end of life he had 2 regrets: never won the Tenn. Horse Races, and didn't shoot Calhoun.

factional competition

pluralist; the idea of formal political parties; not until the 1820s and the 1830s did the idea of formal political parties begin to emerge

How did progressive historians see Jackson?

saw his politics as a forebear of their own battles against economic privilege and political corruption

What did the "Dorrites" or People's Party do in 1842?

set up a new government with Dorr as governor of Rhode Island; however, the existing legislature rejected Dorr; during that year 2 governments were claiming to be the real power; the old government said Dorr and his followers were rebels and began putting them in prison

What was Andrew Jackson's political philosophy, and how was it reflected in the policies and actions of the administration?

supported Western expansion. He stood for the right of the common people to have a greater voice in government. Distinct changes in laws, practices, and popular attitudes gave rise to Jacksonian Democracy and were in turn accelerated by the new egalitarian spirit.

What did Tocqueville recognize about democracy and what relationship between social class and politics did he see?

that even in America it had many limits; it was a powerful force in the lives of most WHITE men; it was NOT equally available to all (blacks and women); for many of a lower class democracy was still a distant hope; limits of equality and democracy

What did Jackson say about government?

that it should offer "equal protection and equal benefits" to all its white male citizens and favor no one region or class over another; according to him, offices belonged to the people and NOT to self-serving bureaucracy; also, a turnover in bureaucracy would allow him to reward his own supporters with offices

Was Jacksonian Democracy a regional movement designed to shift power to the West?

the national character of the Whig economy would discourage arguments among the three sections of the nation—the Northeast, the South, and the West. The Northeast would manufacture goods for the South and West. The South would supply cotton to Northeastern factories, and the West would provide food for both the South and Northeast. The prosperity of each section would depend on friendly relations with the other two, and none of them would want to bring up the divisive question of slavery; Jackson and his Democratic successors proposed to limit the role of government in the market revolution and in resolving the tensions among the sections; Americans pushed westward. In the new western states, there was a greater level of equality among the masses than in the former English colonies. Land was readily available. Frontier life required hard work. There was little tolerance for aristocrats afraid to get their hands dirty

Why had the French originally sent Tocqueville to the United States?

to study prisons as those in America were considered much more humane and effective