Jacksonian America, 1824-45
I). Democratizing
America?
II). Religious
Fervor
III). Rise of
Andrew Jackson
IV). Indian Policy
V). Political
Parties
Things to consider
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Expansion & reduction of democracy
Deepening of slavery
Role of government in economic,
social, cultural, national life
Mass political movements
Religion and politics
Indian sovereignty & U.S. democracy
Democratizing America?
-No property
-Popular election of
officials
-Non-farming groups
-Voters chose
electors & Pres
-All white male
political equality
Reducing Democracy
-Citizen defined practically as white and male
-Women lacked voting rights: treated as male
property, no legal status
-Increased oppression of blacks
*Growth of slave codes
*Punishment against free blacks
*Racial inferiorities “biological”
*Slave rebellions
The Rise of Andrew Jackson
-b.1767: humble birth
-Western lawyer
-Scots-Irish, farmer
-War hero
-Indian fighter
“Jacksonian Democrats”
The Politics of Image
-Vote for the party, the
policies, the person, or
the perception?
-“Populist” image
-Emotionalism
-Mass politics/parties
-Communication &
organization
Election of 1828
Jackson’s Inauguration Party
Jackson Presidency,
1828-1836
-Image of antielitism, big gov’t,
North East
-Rejected Nat’l Bank
& “American Plan”
-Spoils System
-Pay back
supporters
Religious Democracy, 1839
Second Great Awakening
I). Methodists & Baptists
A. Rural & West
B. “Choose salvation”
C. Pop culture
D. Reformist
1830s Lorenzo Dow
Democratizing religion
-Outlet for women
-Church attendance
-African Americans
-Emotionalism and
evangelicalism
-American Political
System
-Slavery & women’s
rights
African American Religion
J.L. Kimmel, 1935
Jackson and the Indians
I). Eastern Indians after IV). Indian Removal Act
1812
V). Resistance
II). “Five Civilized Tribes” VI). Trail of Tears
III). Georgia
Indian Nations after 1812
-British eliminated
-Tecumseh defeated
-Treaties and land
-125,000 Natives
-Conflict with states
-Assimilation?
-Extermination?
-Removal?
“Five Civilized Tribes”
Cherokee
 Choctaw
 Chickasaw
 Creek
 Seminole
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William McIntosh
Cherokee Nation
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Constitution
Dictionary
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Cherokee Phoenix
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Bilingual
Schools & churches
Sequoyah 
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Georgia and the Cherokee
GA ignored
1827 constitution
 Jurisdiction over tribe
 Farm land
 Barred from court
 Gold, 1829
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Indian Removal Act, 1830
Jackson disliked federal-Indian relations
 Did not want to void treaties
 “Save” the Indians from harm
 East of the Mississippi River
 Open land for white farmers
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Resistance to Removal, 1831-2
Cherokee v. Georgia
Worcester v. Georgia
-Tribe sued Georgia
-Are Cherokees a foreign
nation?
-Rev. Samuel Worcester
-GA arrested him
-Sued GA, won in Court
-“Domestic dependent
nations”
-Indians and federal gov’t
-States lack power on res.
Chief Justice John Marshall
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“…one of the great
constitutional
crises in the history
of the nation.”
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Jackson Ignored Marshall
Cherokee Removal
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Chief John Ross
Opposed removal
16,000 signatures
Wife died on Trail of
Tears
Chief until 1860s
Trail of Tears
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1838: ¼ Died on trip
No compensation for property
Cold, hunger, disease
Some refused to go, remain in GA, NC, TN
Indian
Removal
More Removal to Indian
Territory
Conclusions re: Indian affairs
1840s Indian Affairs shift to Plains
 Most Natives relocated east of Miss.
 Seminole Wars in Florida
 Indian Nations above states
 Direct relations with federal gov’t.
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Conclusions for Jacksonian
America
Mass politics
 Growth and decline of democracy
 Religious revivalism
 Importance of Race
 Indian removal and resistance
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