The Rise of Andrew Jackson
John M. Sacher
University of Central Florida
jsacher@mail.ucf.edu
Political Parties
Federalists and Republicans 1790s-1815
Republicans 1815-1820s
Republicans divide into:
– National Republicans
– Democrats/Jacksonians/Jacksonian
Democrats
National Republicans
Henry Clay
John Quincy Adams
American
System
Martin Van Buren
Coffin Handbill
Jackson’s Marriage
Electoral Votes—1828
1828 Election is “Between J.Q. Adams, who can write.
And Andy Jackson, who can fight.”
Jacksonian Democracy
(The Age of the Common Man)
1. Increased opportunity to be
involved in politics
2. Rotation in office; Spoils System;
Reform
3. The President and the people
Jackson’s
Inauguration
Democratic Ideology
1. President is the representative of the
people.
2. States’ Rights/Strict Construction/Small
government (negative liberal state).
3. Do not welcome economic and social
change (or at least don’t believe
government should aid this change.)
4. People vs. Aristocracy, Moral view of
society.
Jackson’s Bank War
1832 Presidential Election
1832 Popular Vote
Candidates
Andrew Jackson 687,502 (55.0%)
Henry Clay
530,189 (42.4%)
John Floyd
33,108 (2.6%)
William Wirt
100,000 (?)
Assassination Attempt
Whig comment: It is appropriate “that the chief who violated the Constitution,
proscribed public virtue, and introduced high-handed corruption into public affairs
and debauchery into private circles” should have been a victim of such an attempt
Political Party Math
Whigs=
National Republicans +
Antimasons +
Disgruntled Democrats
Nullification
Enforcing the Tariff
1833 Tariff
“Our Federal Union, It Must be Preserved.”
Antimasonic Party
William Wirt
They found “a good enough Morgan until after the election.”
King Andrew I
We are the midst of a
revolution hitherto
bloodless but rapidly
tending towards a total
change of the pure
republican character of
the government and to
the concentration of all
power in the hands of
one man.”
Henry Clay
Executive Usurpation
Whig Ideas
1. Congress represents the people.
2. A strong federal government and a broad
reading of the Constitution (positive
liberal state.)
3. Welcome & encourage economic and
social change.
4. Organic view of society; cooperation not
conflict.