The Election of Andrew
Jackson
March 24, 2010
Project History
Hard Times After the Panic of
1819
Estimated that 1/3 of population effected
 1819 New York Society for Prevention of
Pauperism estimated 8,000 paupers in city
of 120,000---1820--13,000
 1818 3.5 million acres sold---1819 .8
million
 1815 Pa land $150 an acre---1819 $35

Effects of Panic of 1819
Heighten sectionalism--each section
became more self-interested--South
became more opposed to protective tariff-manufacturing areas want greater
protection
 Sharpen class antagonisms--discredit
elites--engendered a kind of political
restiveness

John C. Calhoun in 1820

“There has been within these two years an
immense revolution of fortunes in every
part of the Union; enormous numbers of
persons utterly ruined; multitudes in deep
distress; and a general mass of
disaffection to the government, not
concentrated in any particular direction,
but ready to seize upon any event and
looking out everywhere for a leader.”
American Ambivalence
Moral note enters American politics--theme of
moral decay, corruption, dishonesty,
indolence and extravagance condemned
 Dual nature--attracted to speculative
enterprise--but feelings of guilt
 During pre-panic times latent fears and
suspicions of banks suppressed--seen as
creative engines of enterprise
 After economic collapse--many saw it as
God’s way of punishing errant people--people
who had expected riches without work

Benjamin Franklin
Franklin recommends frugality, thrift,
and hard work and promises results of
moral and material rewards
 Yet emphasis upon material values-equating wealth with moral rectitude
 Follower of Poor Richard might forget
necessary relationship between hard
work and riches
 Wealth based upon speculation, riches
without work considered sinful by most
Americans

Benjamin Franklin
Niles Register
 “It
seems to me that the
whole paper system is
nothing more than a
contrivance of knaves to
cheat honest men….”
Political Reaction to Panic
Most states passed stay laws or minimum
appraisal laws protected debtor from
having to sell property for debt at deflated
prices
 Some states establish state banks or loan
offices in order to expand money supply-paper money they issued had to be
accepted by creditors for debt

Kentucky
Election of 1820--majority of legislature
pledged to relieve people
 Legislature chartered Bank of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky--made loans
of paper money--received for taxes and
public debts
 If private creditor not receive bank paper-debtor could delay debt for 2 years

Kentucky 2
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Bank of Commonwealth of Kentucky notes worth 50%
face value---creditor forced to accept it at face value
Political battles in state between Relief and Anti-Relief
parties (comprised of planters, businessmen and most
powerful lawyers)
Kentucky Court of Appeals struck down relief legislation
Relief Party controlled legislature and dissolved court
and set up new court
Bitter fights in Kentucky between Old Court (anti-relief)
and New Court (relief) parties
Relief Party strong supporters of Andrew Jackson---Amos
Kendall and Frank Blair
Andrew Jackson 1767-1845
Born in S.C. ---captured by English during
American Revolution
 British officer demanded Jackson clean boots.
Jackson said: “Sir, I’m a prisoner of war, and
claim to be treated as such.” Officer slashed
him with a sword
 Jackson lost his brother and mother to
smallpox during war
 After war---life of dissipation and hell-raising-studied law in law office

Andrew Jackson 2
Moved to Nashville in 1787---held a
number of state offices in 1790s as well as
serving a short time in the House of Rep
and US Senate.
 But from early 19th century down to war
of 1812 lived life of planter
 Given command of Tennessee militia and
then made major general in U.S. forces

Battle of New Orleans
Jackson led forces that defeated British in
New Orleans in January, 1815
 2,057 English dead, 13 Americans
 Jackson voted thanks by Congress and
given gold medal
 Martin Van Buren of NY wrote leg
thanking Jackson “an event surpassing the
most heroic and wonderful achievements
which adorn the annals of mankind.”

Niles Register

“Glory be to God that the barbarians
have been defeated and that at Orleans
the intended plunders have found their
grave! Glory to Jackson…Glory to the
militia…Sons of freedom---saviors of
Orleans--benefactors of your country
and avengers of its wrongs, all hail!
Hail glorious people--worthy, thrice
worthy, to enjoy the blessing which
heaven in bounteous profusion has
heaped on your country.”
Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Election of 1824
Five candidates: Adams, Calhoun, William
Henry Crawford, Clay and Jackson
 Crawford caucus candidate
 Jackson’s nomination---fluke
 Once nominated Jackson’s candidacy
gained popular support

Election of 1824 2
Jackson only candidate with national
support---Crawford (South), Clay (West)
and Adams (Northeast) Calhoun withdrew
 Jackson won plurality of popular vote--but
no one had maj in electoral college
 Top three candidates forwarded to H of R-Jackson, Crawford and Adams
 Clay threw support to Adams and was
appointed Secretary of State

Dissolution of Jeffersonian
Republican Party
Jackson supporters charge “corrupt
bargain” between Clay and Adams
 Election of 1824 brought dissolution of old
Jeffersonian Republican Party
 After 1824--Adams supporters began
calling themselves National Republicans
and Jacksonians---Democratic Republicans

Why was Jackson so Popular

One historian has written a book--
Andrew Jackson: Symbol of an Age
Why was he so popular---man of
tremendous will, courage
 Indiana newspaper “There is not to be
found in this wide universe a man so
pure, spotless and exceptional in his
moral and political character as Andrew
Jackson. But he has no leading man in
his favor. This is his only crime.”

Why was Jackson so Popular 2
Seen as advocate of democracy, untainted by
corruption of old political system
 Second George Washington--and like
Washington represents certain virtues of the
old republic
 “Washington the people’s choice was
elevated to the Presidency by the people--the
prosperity of the country proved the wisdom
of his administration. Jackson, the people’s
choice is now before you--will you complete
the parallel.”

Campaigning for 1828
Martin Van Buren key figure--1826 “we will
support no man who does not come forward
on the principles and in the form in which
Jefferson and Madison were brought
forward.”
 Principles: states rights, strict construction of
the constitution---appeal to radicals of former
Crawford faction--Coalition of “plain
Republicans of the North with the planters in
the South”
 Establish Jackson Committees across country
and newspapers

Martin Van Buren
Election of 1828
Campaign one of most scurrilous in
American history
 Jackson and wife Rachel charged with
living in sin and bigamy
 “Ought a convicted adulteress and her
paramour husband to be placed in the
highest office of this free and Christian
land? What effect, think you, fellow
citizens, will it have upon the American
youth?”

Rachel Jackson
Election of 1828 2
Jacksonians charged Adams was a pimp
 “Why is Adams on ticklish grounds?
Because he stands of slippery Clay.”
 Results

– Jackson 178 electoral votes to Adams 83
– Popular vote Jackson 647,000 to Adams
508,000
– Jackson swept all states south of Potomac
and west of NJ
– 1,150,000 votes cast---increase of 800,000
over 1824
Washington in Jackson Era
Jackson’s Inaugural