Andrew Jackson Notes

• Essential question

o Champion of the “Common Man?”

o “King” Andrew – powerful, ruthless, power hungry

 In many ways, he’s both

o (1767 – 1845)

• Democratic Trends in 19th Century

o Voting Requirements:

 White males over 21. From 1800 – 1820, more white

males at 21 will vote

 White suffrage increased because

• Party nominating committees

• Spoils system

o Idea that if a party is elected, they will

bring friends and supporters into office

o Issue is that it creates bias and alienates

other party

o Corruption potential

o (1994 – Republicans came into office and

special interests groups took over
congress and bribed congress members
for favors

o Believes in spoils systems

o Person of average intelligence is needed

for job.

• Rise of third parties

o While the US is for the most parts two

party system, other groups do exist. Most
groups eventually fade out or are
assimilated by major parties
 • Popular campaigning takes effect – flyers,
floats, parades

• Two party system returns in 1832 election

o Dem-Republicans – National Republicans

– Whigs – Republicans

• Jackson’s early life

o Born in 1767 in the old 96. Mother was a tavern owner in

South Carolina

o In 1777, the revolution was underway and he was 10. In

the fighting, a British officer scarred him and from then on,
he hated the British. Mother becomes nurse and dies.
Orphaned in teens

o Makes a decision to cross the mountains into Tennessee

o Meets the Donelson family and falls in love with the

daughter – Rachel decides to divorce Robart and marry.
After this, legal papers and divorce must go underway and
remarry. Technically the two were bigamist. This event will
hurt him in the election – politically.

o At one point in his career, in early 1800’s, a man named

John Dickinson makes slanderous remarks. Jackson
challenges him to a duel in Kentucky, and Jackson is shot
near the heart. He then gives the headshot to Dickinson

o Jackson becomes a planter a lawyer. Plantation is called

the Hermitage

o Wealthy!

o National figure in war of 1812 – Battle of New Orleans.

Significant because it was after the peace treaty.
Established him as military leader.

o Seminole War – hung a British

• 1824 – Jackson’s first run for presidency

o Opponents:

 Henry Clay

 John Quincy Adams

  John C Calhoun

 William H. Crawford

• First prominent Georgian to run for presidency.

Dies before election

o Calls himself a common man

 White, over 21

 BUT A PLANTER! Owns slaves, has raiiisources

 Known as the “Hickory Tree” because he stood

straight in battle

o John Quincy Adams gets 30.5% of popular vote

 84% electoral votes

o Jackson had 43.1% of popular vote

 99 electoral votes

o Henry Clay was third in popular vote

o House of Representatives takes over things get nasty

 Corrupt Bargain

 The candidates met, and Clay threw support to John

Quincy Adams.

 Clay becomes the secretary of state – foreign policy

experience

 Clay saw Secretary of State as a ticket to presidency

 John Quincy Adams becomes president

o Jackson and the majority of US are incensed

o Supporters attack new administration politically

o Quincy Adam’s ideas are blocked by Jackson’s political

support

o During the campaign, Jackson and wife were insulted

o JQA was called an elitist and monarchist

• Eventually Rachel died before election of 1828

• 1828 election

o Jackson takes advantage of political situation and becomes

president

• Won states from West and South

• Center of the population begins to move West

• Jackson Coalition

o Planter Elite from South

o Frontiersmen

o State politician – spoils!

o Immigrants

o IDEA that common man can become president

• One of the founders of the modern democratic party

• Jackson’s Faith in “common man”

o Distrust of Eastern establishment, special privileges,

monopolies

o Heart was with the plain folk

o Common man can do uncommon things!

o Relates to modern age and distrust of wall street banks

• History Values Dissonance!

• Mob rouser tactics

• Peggy Eaton affair

o Woman of questionable character enters white house

o Gossip spreads from the wife of John C Calhoun comes to

Jackson

o This leads to break between Jackson and John C Calhoun

• Native American Policy

 o Jackson is an Indian fighter

 Believes that they are a barrier to progress

 Impede farming

 Attack white people

o In Georgia, gold is discovered. 1830 – Indian Removal Act

 Except its found on Cherokee Lands

• Considered and independent nation – laws do

not apply

 Famous Case – Worchester v. GA

• Arrested under GA law

 Eventually Jackson oversees the removal of the

civilized tribes of GA in TN, GA, AL, SC, and NC.
These tribes are moved to Oklahoma

 AKA moved into Hell

o Indians Removal Act

 Indians are given little compensation and are forced

to evict from land.

 Trail of tears to Oklahoma territory. Thousands die of

starvation and exhaustion

 Though the Indians found oil. REVENGE!

 One of the “achievements” of the Jackson admin.

o Professed love for native Americans – though ensured that

white civilization would triumph over native Americans

• Renewing the Charter of the 1st National Bank

o Use of federal power

 VETO

 1830 Maysville Road project in Kentucky – Henry

Clay state

 First modern president – aware of media, Kitchen

 cabinet – informal advisors for president. Friends of
associates. Said that these people met in the White
House Kitchen

 Newspaper editor friends

 First president to speak to US people

 Uses constitutional powers to stop bills

 National bank debate between

• Nicholas Biddle and Jackson

• Should it continue?

 Opposition to 2nd National bank

• Soft paper argument – state bankers felt soft

money restrained banks

• Hard money – gold.

• Jackson sided with Soft paper

 Instead of national bank – pet state banks

 Jackson destroyed the bank of the US

 No national banking system from till presidency of

Woodrow Wilson