ANDREW JACKSON
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/resources/graphic/xlarge/32_00018.jpg
“King Andrew”
Political Cartoon
Study the cartoon.
What images are
evident at first
glance? What
symbolic gestures
are drawn into the
cartoon?
CLIP
www.archives.gov
“King Andrew”
Political Cartoon
Study the cartoon.
What images are
evident at first
glance? What
symbolic gestures
are drawn into the
cartoon?
CLIP
www.archives.gov
Washington
Madison
Adams
Monroe
Jefferson
JQ Adams
www.americanpresidents.org
Preview Questions
• How will Andrew Jackson compare to the first
six U.S. Presidents?
• How is the nation changing in the late 1820s
and 1830s in terms of politics and
sectionalism?
• What will be the consequences of Jackson’s
“getting his way” in politics for the nation and
the role of future presidents?
A HARD LIFE FOR A YOUNG BOY
• Born 1767 in South Carolina, father died before birth
• Older brother died in American Revolution
• Jackson and brother Robert taken prisoner by British
during war. Andrew was
ordered to clean an officer’s
boots. He refused & was
struck by his sword.
• Mother has them released –
both had smallpox. Robert
and mother died shortly after.
• By age 14, Andrew was an orphan.
https://www.inspire4less.com/
Early Career and Marriage
• Andrew studied to become a lawyer, and bought an
estate, the Hermitage in Tennessee.
• He would struggle with debt often.
• He met Rachel Donelson and they married, but she,
apparently, was still unknowingly married
to her first husband. They
re-married in 1794.
• Later their marriage would be a
subject of scandal for the press
and politicians.
www.library.thinkquest.org
Jackson’s Career Begins
• Elected to U. S. Congress from TN
then the Senate, but resigned.
• In War of 1812, became Major
General of TN Militia – earned
nickname, “Old Hickory”
• Defeated Creek Indians at Battle of Horseshoe Bend
in AL in 1814 – Creeks cede 9 mil. acres
• Became hero after Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
• Led U.S. troops into Spanish Florida (controversial
because exceeded authorization) and became
Territorial Governor of FL in 1821.
www.reformation.org
Jackson Video – Personality and Legacy
3 minutes and 38 seconds
History.com: Andrew JacksonPersonality and Legacy
http://www.history.com/topics/andrewjackson/videos#jacksons-personality-andlegacy
www.americaslibrary.gov
Alabama became a state
in 1819. In 1820, the
eastern portion of the
state was dominated by
Creek Indians.
U.S. in 1820
www.learnnc.org
Jackson and the Presidency
• Jackson defeated in election of 1824 (Corrupt
Bargain) to John Quincy Adams
• Jackson runs in 1828 on a new Democratic ticket
against Adams and wins.
www.neatorama.com
Jackson 261 56%
Adams 178 44%
unitedstatespresidentialelection.blogspot.com
Voting Patterns Between 1800 and
1830 Interactive Map Activity
• http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/history/modules/
mod09/imap.htm
The Common Man as President
• Jackson’s popularity led to a crowd of app. 21,000 at
inauguration on March 4, 1829.
• Many even followed him back to the White House
where a party ensued.
* In spite of his popularity,
Jackson would remove
900 of 10,000 federal
employees as part of
the Spoils System. He
wanted to curb corruption.
www.historyteacher.net
http://www.history.com/topics/uspresidents/andrewjackson/videos/scandal-disruptsjackson-cabinet
The Inauguration Party at the White House
Key Leaders In Jackson Administration
Vice-President John C. Calhoun Secretary of State Martin Van Buren
www.senate.gov
www.americanhistory.about.com
Controversial Issues Arise
• Eaton Affair – Jackson appointed John Eaton to Sec.
of War. Eaton’s wife Rachel was ostracized by other
wives and Emily Donelson (Jackson’s niece) because
of scandalous marriage. Jackson tried to force
Cabinet to associate with her – to no avail.
Van Buren only member to
stand with Pres.
• Kitchen Cabinet – Jackson
came to rely on an informal
group of advisors and
Van Buren for advice.
www.academicamerican.com
www.xroads.virginia.edu
Jackson and American Indians
• Jackson’s base of support in 1828 was the South – he
received 8 of 10 votes
• In 1820s more settlers pouring into southern states
wanting land
• Jackson felt American Indians had two choices:
– Become industrious citizens – assimilate-as individuals
– Leave and go to area where they could retain their customs
• Approximately 46,000 Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw,
Choctaw and Seminole were removed during the Trail
of Tears.
www.alabamamoments.alabama.gov
Indian Land Cessions, 1814 to 1820
www.player.discoveryeducation.com
The Cherokee Nation
• In 1827, Cherokees in Georgia declared
themselves a sovereign nation with their own
constitution.
• Georgia declared Cherokee law null and void
• GA and other southern states wanted
authority to sell Indian lands to settlers
Indian Removal Act of 1830
• Jackson said he could not protect Indian tribes
in the Southeast unless they moved west of
Mississippi R.
• Indian tribes abandoned 100 million acres of
land to move to Indian lands (what is now
Oklahoma)
• The Choctaws were the first to move – but
suffered greatly – traveling in winter – many
deaths occurred.
• Indian agents swindled many Creeks for their
land and offered far below a fair price.
Video Clip on Indian Removal Act
image from: http://www.pbs.org/indiancountry/history/trail.html
http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/trail-of-tears
http://www.nacaschool.org/ajackson/IndianRemovalActMap.jpg
Alabama in 1831
www.alabamamaps.ua.edu
Cherokee Fight for Their Land
• Cherokees decide to fight through the court system
• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia 1831
– S.C. ruled they could not sue for land because they
were not a sovereign nation but dependents of the
federal government.
• Worcester v. Georgia 1832
– S.C. ruled the Cherokee to be an independent
political community and should be able to live in GA
• President Jackson and Georgia ignored the ruling.
• In 1835, a group of Cherokee signed the Treaty of New
Echota – $5 mil. for all lands East of Miss. River
https://eee.uci.edu/clients/tcthorne/Hist15/trtears.gif
Trail of Tears
• In 1838, app. 15,000 remaining Cherokee Indians were
forcibly removed by the army under General Winfield
Scott to Indian Territory.
• The journey
was
treacherousapprox. one in
four died
along the
way.
http://moberly.k12.mo.us/blogs/pashriver/files/2009/04/trail-of-tears.jpg
Consider the Preview Questions Again:
• How will Andrew Jackson compare to the first
six U.S. Presidents?
• How is the nation changing in the late 1820s
and 1830s in terms of politics and
sectionalism?
• What will be the consequences of Jackson’s
“getting his way” in politics for the nation and
the role of future presidents?