Name:
Directions: Answer the following questions to the best of your ability. These responses will be
used during an in-class debate to determine if Jackson’s Presidency was “The Rise of the
Common Man” or the “Reign of King Mob.”
The Reach of Jacksonian Democracy
Using pages 210-211 and the attached packet, examine how the following topics
represented an increase in democratic activity during Jackson’s Presidency.
1) What is Universal White Male Suffrage?
This term refers to the lessening of restrictions of the right to vote (suffrage) for all white male
citizens. Some of these restrictions included: the ability to pay a tax, property ownership and
literacy tests. 3x as many people voted in 1828 than in 1824 – This trend continues throughout
Jackson’s two terms.
2) How did the Spoils System work? What is Rotation-in-Office?
The Spoils System refers to Jackson’s practice of changing political appointees from the
previous administration and replacing with loyal people and friends. Jackson replaced
approximately 10% of all the entire Executive Branch employees. The idea of the spoils system
encourage others to get involved in politics because of the possibility to be rewarded. Rotationin-Office was Jackson’s attempt to lessen corruption in government by changing people’s
responsibilities and jobs. This idea helps people have more trust in government.
3) How did Andrew Jackson use his “kitchen cabinet”?
The “kitchen cabinet” was Jackson’s unofficial group of advisors. This cabinet was made up of
loyal friends and influential newspaper editors. Reportedly these people would sneak in through
the White House kitchen. In reality, the stories of the “kitchen cabinet” are more fiction than fact,
but the belief of the “common man” is that Jackson was willing to listen to everyone’s opinion,
not just the wealthy, educated elite.
4) How did Andrew Jackson use the veto power differently than all other previous
Presidents? Why can this be seen as increasing democracy?
Jackson was seen as the first “activist” President. This meant that Jackson would extend the
power of the Executive Branch to meet his goals. Since one of his goals was the enable the
“common man” to benefit from the central government, he often used the power of veto in an
attempt to decrease power of the elites and increase the power of the “common man”
The Limited Reach of Jacksonian Democracy
Not all groups equally benefited from the increase in democratic practice evidenced
during the Age of Jackson (1828-1836). In fact, certain groups of people experienced a period of
diminished rights during the period. These groups, women, freed African-Americans and Native
Americans, all were negatively impacted by Jacksonian Democracy.
Women (p. 254-255)
1. Define: “cult of domesticity”
This term refers to the 19th century belief that women should be restricted to the home and family
after they were married. Often this belief system was encouraged by social norms and customs.
“If married, women were civically dead, but if unmarried, women were socially dead” In many
states, this restrictive tradition were sometimes turned into laws.
2. Name four things women were forbidden to do during the early 1800s (especially if they
were married).
All women - could not vote and could not sit on juries. If married, could not own property or
have custody of her children. Women were legally and socially at the mercy of men, their
governments and their laws.
African-Americans (p. 248-249 and 253)
1. Define: “Abolition” and “Emancipation”
Abolition = the reform movement that called for slavery to become illegal
Emancipation = the act of freeing slaves without any payment or compensation made to the
slave-owner.
2. How were abolitionists like William Garrison and David Walker received by the general
public?
Garrison and Walker were radical abolitionists-Much more radical than other abolitionists of
the time period. They faced a lot of opposition, even violence, during the early 1830s as many
poor whites resented Garrison and Walker’s arguments about African equality.
3. What was the “gag rule” and how did it slow the progress of abolition?
The “gag rule”, sometimes also called “the great silence”, was a rule supported by Southern
representatives, which limited or prevented debate on slavery in Congress. The rule was finally
repealed in 1844.
Native Americans (p. 226-229)
1. What were the “Five Civilized Tribes”?
Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek and Chickasaw – They were so called because they had
began to adopt the customs and attributes of their white neighbors. The most successful of these
tribes were by far the Cherokee Indians. They had a written language, a constitution (based off
of the US model), an elected chief White Bird (John Ross) and the first public schools in the state
of Georgia.
2. What is assimilation?
Assimilation = the process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and
attitudes of the prevailing culture and customs
3. How did the Cherokee Nation react to the Indian Removal Act? What was the result of
the Worcester v. Georgia case in 1832?
The Indian Removal Act (1830) gave the federal government the power and the money to
negotiate treaties with Native American tribes to move them west. Although many tribes, like the
Seminole and the Sauk/Fox, resisted removal by force, the Cherokee Indians took the Indian
Removal Act to court. John Marshall recognized the Cherokee’s right to their land and upheld
their challenge to the new law. Regardless, Jackson and the federal government still worked to
pressure the Cherokees to move to Indian reservations in the Oklahoma territory. In 1835, a
small faction of Cherokees in favor of removal signed the Treaty of New Echota.
4. Define: “Indian Removal Act of 1830” and What was the Trail of Tears?
Indian Removal Act (See above) The Trail of Tears describes the forced march of the Cherokee
Indians from their homeland to Oklahoma. The 800-mile journey started in late fall and for most
surviving groups ended by March. Of the approximately 20,000 Cherokees that started the
journey --- 25% of them died along the way.