The Jacksonian Era
Topic Seven
Main Themes:
1. How mass participation became the hallmark of the American political system.
2. The growing tension between nationalism and states' rights.
3. The rise of the Whig party as an alternative to Andrew Jackson and the Democrats.
Objectives: [You should be able to explain each of these in some detail]
1. Andrew Jackson's philosophy of government and his impact on the office of the presidency.
2. The debate among historians about the meaning of "Jacksonian Democracy," and Andrew
Jackson's relationship to it.
3. The nullification theory of John C. Calhoun and President Jackson's reaction to the attempt to
put nullification into action.
4. The supplanting of John C. Calhoun by Martin Van Buren as successor to Jackson and the
significance of the change.
5. The reasons for the Jacksonian war on the Bank of the United States, and the effects of
Jackson's veto on the powers of the president and on the American financial system.
6. The causes of the Panic of 1837 and the effect of the panic on the presidency of Van Buren.
7. The differences in party philosophy between the Democrats and the Whigs, the reasons for
the Whig victory in 1840, and the effect of the election on political campaigning.
8. The negotiations that led to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty and the importance of the treaty
in Anglo-American relations.
9. The reasons John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster were never able to reach their
goal  the White House.
Vocabulary: [You should be able to define, describe and know the following words. They should
appear in your notes and be highlighted]
Jacksonian Democracy, "Old Hickory", "Reign of King Mob", "Era of the Common Man", Door
Rebellion, Second Party System, spoils system, "Kitchen Cabinet" Peggy Eaton Affair, WebsterHayne Debate, Tariff of Abomination (1828), Force Bill (1830), Black Hawk War (1832), "Five
Civilized Tribes" ; Indian Removal Act of 1830, Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1830), Worcester v.
Georgia (1831),Trail of Tears, Second Seminole War (1835-1842), Nicholas Biddle, "hard" or
"dear" money [specie], "soft" money [paper currency], Roger B. Haney, Maysville Road Bill, Second
National Bank of the U. S. ,Andrew”, Commonwealth v. Hunt 1842),Charles River Bridge v. Warren
Bridge (1837), Whigs, Freemasons, Anti-Masons, "Great Triumvirate", Locofocos Distribution Act,
(1836,) Specie Circular (1836,) "Old Kinderhook", Panic of 1837, sub-treasury system, "penny press",
"Log Cabin & Hard Cider" campaign, Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too! Caroline Affair, Aroostock War,
(1838), Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842), Treaty of Wang Hya (1842)
Assignments
Assignment 7-1 Textbook 256-265, Andrew Jackson PPT
1. Read/Outline Chapter 13 Introduction through the end of “Nullies” in South
Carolina
2. Print or take notes on Andrew Jackson PPT
Assignment 7-2 Web Quest, Supreme Court Analysis Sheet, Opinion of the Court
(http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/two/cherokee.htm and
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/two/worcestr.htm)
1. Supreme Court Case Analysis Sheet for Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
2. Supreme Court Case Analysis Sheet for Worchester v. Georgia
3. Begin Web Quest: Should Andrew Jackson be on the Twenty Dollar Bill?
Assignment 7-3 Textbook 265-275
1. Read/Outline The Trail of Tears
2. Read/Outline The Bank War through the end of Depression Doldrums and the
Independent Treasury
Assignment 7-4 Textbook 275-286
1. Read/Outline Gone to Texas through the end The Two Party System
2. Read/Outline Makers of America: Mexican or Texican?
3. Read/Outline Varying Viewpoints: What Was Jacksonian Democracy?
4. Print or take notes on 1840 Election