Advance Reading Handout
pp. 370-374
Advance reading handout chapter 12 An Era of Expansion section 3 A New Crisis
1.
2.
Invitation
a. President Jackson, in two separate crises, affirmed the power of the federal government, then defied federal law in
favor of a state.
Reading Questions
a. Explain the Tariff of Abominations
i.
Tariff of 1832, called the Tariff of Abominations by the South, placed a high restrictive tariff on foreign goods
coming in
b. Who supported and opposed it? Why?
1. North (industry, mfg) supported - it makes their goods more competitive
2. South (plantations, reliant on selling to foreign markets and buying foreign goods) opposed
c. Explain the Nullification Act
i.
Calhoun (SC) argued that the tariff was unconstitutional because it favored the North
ii.
If a federal law is unconstitutional, states have the right to declare it null and void
iii.
SC threatened to secede if they were forced to comply
d. What was Jackson’s response?
i.
Said secession was treason, the union must be upheld
ii.
Proposed a lower tariff (no dice)
iii.
Asked Congress to allow him to use federal troops to quell secession
e.
Describe the way of life of Native Americans living in the southeast
Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Seminole lived in SE. Hoped to live in peace with white neighbors
i.
What threatened this way of life?
1. Native land was fertile, good for growing cotton
2. Settlers wanted that land
3. AJ sided with settlers
4. Gov’t set aside lands W of Mississippi River, persuaded or forced natives to move there
5. Hoped it woud give land to settlers and protect natives from destruction (?)
ii.
How had Indian nations adapted to the United States?
1. Some, like Cherokee, had adapted. Created legal system and gov’t blending white and native
traditions.
2. Sequoyah created a written alphabet; Cherokee children could read and write
3. Cherokee published a newspaper
f.
Explain the legal battle surrounding the Cheroke
i.
What actions were taken by the state of Georgia?
1. Claimed the right to make laws for Cherokee (1828)
Cherokee went to court
ii.
What actions were taken by the Supreme Court?
1. Supreme Court sided w/Cherokee (1832 Worcester v GA)
iii.
What actions were taken by President Jackson?
1. Refused to enforce court decision
2. Said SC couldn’t stop GA from having authority over native lands
Explain the Indian Removal Act
i.
AJ Congressional supporters pushed through IRA in 1830
ii.
Forced many natives to move west of Mississippi
iii.
(whites thought that land was desert, didn’t mind giving it away)
iv.
Explain the Trail of Tears
i.
US Army drove >15,000 Cherokee to the west
1. 100s of miles in several months
2. 100s died, mostly children and elderly
3. Trail of Tears
What did the Seminole do:
g.
h.
i.
3.
i.
Seminole, led by Chief Osceola resisted and fought US army
ii.
First Seminole War 1817-1818
iii.
Second Seminole War 1835-1842
iv.
Seminoles defeated, Osceola and most Seminole forced to leave FL (though they never signed a surrender)
Discussion Questions
a. Who “won” the nullification crisis, in the short and long-term?
b. What should have been done in the crisis concerning the Cherokee?