The Trial of President Andrew Jackson
Description:
In order to learn more about Andrew Jackson, we will put on a fictional trial of this
seminal figure.
Note: This assignment will count as a quiz (write-ups, exhibits, trial)
Basics of a Trial – how do trials work
 Role of prosecutors, defense, expert witnesses and jury
 Presumption of innocence
 Beyond a reasonable doubt
 Impeachment vs. criminal trial
 *fictional trial, President Jackson was never actually on trial
Roles
President Jackson – places himself, sees himself as a strong president interested in a
powerful presidency and obviously thinks he is innocent of all charges; works with
defense attorneys
Prosecutors – Have the job of proving that President Jackson is guilty of all four charges
 Should ask questions in a way that makes President Jackson look guilty
Defense attorneys – have the job of showing that there is insufficient evidence to find
President Jackson guilty of the four charges
John Quincy Adams
John Calhoun
 Nullification, states’ rights, 1828 Tariff of Abominations
 “The South Carolina Exposition”, role of South Carolina
 Secession, sectionalism
 The Force Bill (1833)
Expert Witnesses:
Cherokee leader John Ross
 Indian Removal Act
 Trail of Tears
 “five civilized tribes” (Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, Chickasaw)
 Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
 John Marshall
 Treaty of New Echota
Kevin Collins, poor man named postal inspector by Jackson’s administration
 Expansion of voting rights, opportunities
 Spoils system
 Democratic-Republican party
 Whig party (Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster)
Nicholas Biddle, War on the Bank
 Second Bank of the United States
 Charter, “Pet Banks”
1. Andrew Jackson +
2. Prosecutor 3. Defense +
4. Cherokee leader John Ross 5. Jacksonian democracy +
6. Sectional tension, nullification, states’ rights, John Calhoun 7. War on the Bank, Nicholas Biddle 8. Supreme Court Marshall John Marshall Upset the balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches by
stating that elected officials and not the Supreme Court had to judge the
constitutionality of the law (going against the idea of judicial review)
 Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
Order ofTrial
Prosecution: opening statement
Defense:
opening statement
First witness: Jacksonian Democracy, prosecution
Cross-examination by defense
Second witness: Native American Policies, prosecution
Defense
Third witness: Sectional tension, prosecution
Defense
Fourth witness: War on the Bank
Prosecution: Closing statement
Defense:
Closing statement
Jury Deliberation and decision
Discussion
Charges
1. Violated civil rights of Native Americans through the Indian Removal Act and
resulting Trail of Tears
2. Worsened sectional tensions by aggressively opposing John Calhoun’s Doctrine
of Nullification and the possibility of secession (states’ rights)
3. Weakened American government through Jacksonian Democracy and the spoils
system
4. Upset the balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches by
stating that elected officials and not the Supreme Court had to judge the
constitutionality of the law (going against the idea of judicial review)
Assignment (Class work Friday. and Homework –DUE Tuesday)
President Jackson – Write a typed two page statement as to why you acted the way you
did in these four areas and why you are innocent of each charge
Prosecutor
1. Write a typed two page opening statement that summarizes the four charges and
why President Jackson is guilty of each charge
2. Write a typed list of questions for expert witnesses, at least three questions per
witness in such a way to make President Jackson look guilty
Defense Attorney
1. Write a one page opening statement that summarizes the four charges and why
President Jackson is innocent of each charge
2. Write a typed list of questions for expert witnesses, at least three per witness in
such a way that President Jackson looks innocent
Expert Witnesses – typed two page summary of the charge
 Introductory paragraph summarizes charge
 One body paragraph explains President Jackson’s side (innocence)
 One body paragraph explains why President Jackson is guilty
 Note: be specific, you are the experts for this charge
2. Also, come up with two or three “exhibits” that might help your character make
his or her point. These might be statistics (number of Native Americans that died
on the Trail of Tears, growth in the number of men voting, images, maps, quotes,
etc.).
Events/Issues to Consider in Preparation of Trial











Jackson’s military background (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian battles)
Universal male suffrage
Indian removal
National Bank Veto
Pet banks
The Specie Circular
Nullification Crisis
Peggy Eaton Affair
Maysville Road
Spoil system
Rotation of office holders
Resources
Textbook 7.3 (The Age of Jackson), 7.4
ABC-CLIO
The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s family home) http://www.thehermitage.com/
Understanding Andrew Jackson http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/alife/
Cherokee.org
Primary Sources – Indian Removal Act
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Indian.html
Andrew Jackson: An Introduction http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/video/