BELLWORK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How did Andrew Jackson contribute to an American victory in the
War of 1812?
Describe Native American involvement in the War of 1812. (How
did it start? Why did they help? How did it end?)
Based on what you read for homework, how did American policy
towards Native Americans change from 1776 to 1812?
Make a connection  How did the Monroe Doctrine change
American policy during the “nation building” period?
THINKER: In political elections, how important is image and
experience? What makes a good presidential candidate?
Jacksonian America
Nation-building in the
United States
Post-1812 politics
• Madison (1809-1817) – foreign
policy focus
• Monroe (1817-1825) – improve
relations with Latin America &
expand American territory
• Monroe Doctrine (1823):
further efforts by European
countries to colonize the
Americas would be viewed as
an act of aggression, requiring
U.S. intervention
•
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
•
Election of 1824
After 23 years in control, the Democratic-Republican party was
split.
The party had four candidates:
John Q. Adams (son of 2nd president, supported by President
Monroe)
Henry Clay (speaker of the House, popular among the “new West”)
William Crawford (former Secretary of War & current Secretary of
the Treasury)
Andrew Jackson (supported in the West and South)
Jackson was the least experienced, but worked his way up society
and appealed to the “common folk”
Election of 1824
• Jackson won the most popular votes, but no candidate had a
majority of electoral votes.
• The election was turned over to the House of Representatives.
(12th Amendment)
***After the election
was turned over to
the House, only the
top three candidates
under electoral votes
were considered
Election of 1824
• Henry Clay (Speaker of the House)
turned his support to Adams.
• After the votes, Adams won, and
immediately named Clay
Secretary of State.
• Jackson believed this was a
“corrupt bargain” and this election
divided the party forever.
– Republicans: supporters of
Adams and Clay
– Democrats: supporters of
Jackson
There’s Something About Little
Johnny…
• Nickname: Accidental
President
• Had no personal skills
• Loved to skinny dip in
the Potomac River
The Jackson/Clay Feud
• Jackson and Clay remained political enemies and feuded throughout Jackson’s
entire presidency
• During the 1824 election, Clay said: “I cannot believe that killing 2,500 Englishmen
at New Orleans qualifies for the various, difficult, an complicated duties of
President.”
Election of 1828
• Four years later, the election was once again between
Adams and Jackson.
• Americans were asked to choose between “John Adams
who can write, and Andrew Jackson who can fight!”
• Three times as many people voted in 1828, and Jackson
claimed the title of President.
• Jackson enacted the spoils system: replacing Adams’
government workers with his own supporters.
There’s Something About Andy…
• Nickname: Old Hickory
• Fought over 100
duels, getting shot in
the chest once, and
then calmly killed his
opponent
The Bank Crisis
• The U.S. Bank had a lot of influence over Congress and the
nation’s economy.
• To Jackson, the bank was unconstitutional, corrupt, and
only represented the rich.
• Henry Clay planned to strengthen the bank and embarrass
the President by drafting a new plan for the bank.
• Clay predicted Jackson would not veto the bill in an election
year.
The Bank Crisis
• Jackson saw this as an attack:
• “The Bank is trying to kill me ……..but I will kill the Bank!”
• Jackson vetoed the bill and made it a central fight in his
reelection campaign.
• “When the laws make the rich richer, the humble members
of society – farmers, mechanics, and laborers – have a right
to complain.”
• Many citizens agreed, and Jackson beat Henry Clay in the
election of 1832.
“Jackson Slays the Monster Bank:” 1832
Jackson’s Presidency Overview
• 1832 – vetoed the bill to strengthen power of U.S. Bank
• In 1830, he passed the Indian Removal Act, which forcibly
relocated 45,000 Native Americans….. Led to the Trail of Tears
• In 1835, Jackson paid off the entire U.S. debt (only time in
history!!!)
• Throughout his second term, he unsuccessfully tried to abolish the
Electoral College
• Strengthened the spoils system, leading to corruption (by the end
of his term, he had dismissed 20% of Federal employees)
• Panic of 1837 – many blamed Jackson for failure of local banks, led
to inflation and unemployment.
Jackson pays the U.S. debt
• On Jan. 8, 1835, all the big political names in Washington gathered to
celebrate Jackson’s accomplishment when a U.S. Senator rose to
make the big announcement: "Gentlemen ... the national debt ... is
PAID!“
• The one and only time in U.S. history when the country was debt
free. (1837 - economic recession)
• Before he was president, Jackson was a land speculator in TN.
Involved in a land deal went bad and left him with massive debt. This
is why he had so much hatred of debt & banks!
• How he paid the debt…..
• U.S. agreed early on to consolidate the debts of all the states — $75
million; During Jackson’s presidency - $56M
• To do that, he took advantage of a huge real-estate bubble that was
raging in the Western U.S. The federal government owned a lot of
Western land — and Jackson started selling it off.
• He was also ruthless on the budget. He blocked every spending bill he
could (programs to build roads)
• It took six years to pay off the debt  U.S. government had a surplus
which they divided amongst the states.
• Jackson mandated that all land sales had to be purchased with gold
and silver (where?). Land sales plummeted and state banks printed
money = inflation!
Population
east of the
Mississippi
before
removal treaty
Removal treaty
(year signed)
Choctaw
19,554
Dancing Rabbit
Creek (1830)
Creek
22,700
Cusseta (1832)
Chickasaw
4,914
Nation
21,500
Cherokee
Seminole
5,000
Years of major
emigration
Total number
emigrated or
forcibly
removed
Deaths during
removal
12,500
2,000–4,000+
(Cholera)
1834–1837
19,600
3,500 (disease after
removal)
Pontotoc Creek
(1832)
1837–1847
over 4,000
500–800
New Echota
(1835)
1836–1838
20,000
2,000–8,000
Payne's Landing
(1832)
1832–1842
2,833
1831–1836
Native American Removal: A
History through Primary
Documents
The Whig Party
• While Jackson remained popular, he also made
many political enemies.
• Whig Party: new political party joined together by
people who opposed Jackson; such as, Henry Clay,
the U.S. Bank, and wealthy businessmen.
• The Whig candidate, William Harrison, became
President in 1840, ending Jacksonian ideas.
CLOSURE
1.IN YOUR OWN WORDS, describe the election
of 1824.
2.What is the spoils system?
3.What was the bank crisis? What did this do to
Jackson’s popularity?
4.What was the Whig party?
Debate –
Was Jackson a good President?
• Andrew Jackson’s presidency has been a constant debate throughout
history.
• As a class, we are going to debate whether Jackson was a good or bad
President? Why or Why Not?
• The class will be split up into 4 groups: 2 are PRO Jackson and 2 are
ANTI Jackson.
• It is important to understand BOTH sides of the argument!
• You may have to do extra research tonight!
• Choose a spokesperson
• In your groups, write a speech that includes the following:
•
Intro
–
–
•
Speech Outline
Hook (Grab the audience’s attention)
Thesis
Body (three arguments)
1. Middle
2. Weakest
3. Strongest
•
Closing
–
–
Summarize
Lasting Impression
Andrew Jackson Debate
• Everyone in the group is helping to write the speech.
• The rest of the group needs to have questions ready to ask the other side.
• In order to be a good debater, you need to understand both sides (Why he
is good and why he is bad)
• Some of your questions might be answered during the speech, but it might
spark other questions too – write down any questions you have.
• Each person will turn in 3-5 questions they want to ask the other side. This
will be turned in for credit!
• Both sides are going to present their arguments before the floor is open for
questioning.
• Everyone is getting participation points for the day – you must speak, ask a
question, or respond to a comment to receive those points.
Andrew Jackson Debate
• GOOD: Ended power of the U.S. bank, gave
more power to lower classes in society,
stopped corruption in government.
• BAD: Went against Congress to authorize the
largest removal of Native Americans in
history, put his supporters in power