The Age of Jackson
Andrew Jackson’s Controversial Presidency
Election of 1824
 John Q. Adams (Whig Party) runs against Andrew Jackson
(Democrat)
 Jackson wins the popular (people) vote but not the required
majority of electoral votes
 Twelveth amendment states when the electoral college cannot
elect a President the House of Representatives (Congress) will
decide the election
Election of 1824
 Congress votes in John Q. Adams as President
 Jackson’s supporters say the Presidency was robbed
 Henry Clay who “gives” his electoral votes to Adams is
then given the Secretary of State job
 Situation known as the “Corrupt Bargain”
6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
 Father was John Adams, the
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2nd President of the U.S.
Was in politics most of his
life, was a Federalist then
turned DemocraticRepublican in 1809
Only serves one-term as
President like his father
Will have most of his ideas
blocked in Congress by
Jackson’s supporters
Passes the Tariff of 1828 (also
known as the “Tariff of
Abominations”) which hurts
him politically
First President to have photo taken (1843)
Tariff of
Abomination
 Protective Tariff – (Def) High tax
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on imports to protect U.S.
businesses against foreign
competition selling the same
products
Adams (Northerner) passes law
that hurts the South by:
Increased tax on imports forcing
South to buy Northern products
which cost more
British begins to send less
products and buy less cotton
from the South
Angers South who blame the
Northern states for losing
business
Election of 1828
 Expanded Suffrage – voting
rights given to all white male
adult citizens (did not need to
own land
 The “common man” (southern
farmers and eastern factory
workers) were strongly against the
rich and the national bank
 The South and West voted for
Jackson, the North for Adams
 Presidency strengthens new
“Democratic Party” that
continues today
Election of 1828
 Nominating Conventions – after 1828, political parties
are stronger and use conventions to choose presidential
nominee (candidate) and party platform (what a party
supports)…also allows citizen participation
7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
 Former General famous for
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winning the Battle of New
Orleans and fight the Indian
Wars
Came from humble, poor
beginnings
At age 13 joined the fight for
independence during the
American Revolution
Known as “Ol’ Hickory” and
the “People’s President”
Wife Rachael, dies shortly
after winning the 1828
election which was very hard
on her reputation
Jackson vows revenge against
all those who hurt her
7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Interesting Facts:
 Almost wasn’t eligible to be
President, mother traveled
from Ireland while pregnant
 Was a momma’s boy, hated
the Indians because they
threatened her when he was
young
 Carried a bullet in his chest
for much of his life from a
duel (wife insults)
 Very short temper
 Considered the “Father of
American Democracy”
 Inauguration party became a
completely out of control
drinking party
Jacksonian
Democracy
 Will be thought of by some
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as a dictatorship
Wanted a government by the
people, that spread power to
everyone
Democracy in social,
economic, and political life
Wanted a limited
government but with a
strong president
Spoils System- The act of
replacing government
officials with your own
supporters.
Nullification Crisis
Closing the 2nd
National Bank
Indian Policy
Sectionalism
Warm-Up
Nullification – (def) to void, revoke
Does a state have a right to decide not to follow a federal
(national) law?
How do you feel about a state wanting to leave the Union
(United States)? Do they have a right to do so? What kind of
problems do you see happening for the country if one does or
tries to?
How would you feel if you were part of a state that wanted to
secede (leave the US) but didn’t want to?
Nullification Crisis
South Carolina declares federal
tariff illegal and cancelled
Jackson threatens use of force
State backs down but still feel
the states have right to “nullify”
federal laws
Native American Issues
Indian Removal Act (1830) –
requires tribes to move west of
the Mississippi River so that
whites could settle their lands
Trail of Tears – Jackson has
troops force/escort Cherokee to
new land west of the Mississippi;
thousands die of cold, hunger
and disease
National Bank
Jackson feels bank is
corrupt and wants to “kill”
it
Pulls all the government’s
money out of the bank to
force it to close
Bank closes and money
put into “pet” banks