Age of Jackson
7 pages…
James Monroe
1817-1825
He is still president…
U.S. Territory
The United States in 1819 (the light orange and
light green areas were not then U.S. territory).
The Missouri Compromise prohibited slavery
in the unorganized territory of the Great Plains
(dark green) and permitted it in Missouri
(yellow) and the Arkansas Territory (lower blue
area).
The question of slavery
• Many Northerners opposed slavery, some
on moral grounds, others on political
grounds
• The Constitution allowed slaves to be
counted 3/5 when determining how many
representatives the Southern states could
have in Congress
• Many of the Southern states had more
representatives due to this.
Missouri Compromise 1820
• A major conflict arose when Congress considered the
application of Missouri to the Union
• At the time the Union consisted of 11 free states and 11
slaves states.
• The House proposed that Missouri was accepted as a
slave state with certain restrictions:
• Importing slaves into Missouri would become illegal.
• All children of Missouri slaves would be set free when
they reached 25.
• This proposal angered Southern politicians.
Missouri Compromise 1820
• Congress was almost torn in two by opinions
over slavery.
• To settle this dispute Henry Clay helped
Congress reach the Missouri Compromise:
• Missouri would enter the Union as a slave
state.
• Maine would join the Union as a free state.
• Slavery would be prohibited in any new
territories or states formed north of 36 degrees
30’ latitude (Missouri’s southern border)
Missouri Compromise
Impact of Slavery on Different Sections of the U.S.
• North –
• Illegal since the Revolution
• Abolitionist societies and newspapers and Underground
Railroad
• Many were ambivalent to the plight of slaves/free blacks
• South –
• Economic factor – Slaves viewed as property and labor
supply
• Needed to maintain the Southern way of life
• Considered a state’s right issue
• West –
• Fight over whether or not to extend slavery into territories
• Maintain balance of free vs. slave state in senate.
John Quincy
Adams
th
6 President
1825-1829
John Quincy Adams
• The election of 1824 – Henry Clay ran against John
Quincy Adams.
• Henry Clay lost the election but threw his electoral
college votes to John Quincy Adams who made him
Secretary of State.
• Democrats called this a “corrupt bargain”
• He was not very popular partially due to this act.
• Many people who backed John Quincy Adams began
calling themselves National Republicans.
• In the election of 1828 – John Quincy Adams (National
Republican) ran against Andrew Jackson (Democrat).
Age of Jackson
• Voting rights began to expand. Many more Americans
were gaining the right to vote. This became known as
Jacksonian Democracy named after the popular
politician.
• Removed property requirements for voting, allowing
many more white men to vote.
• Newly formed Democratic Party – wanted to make sure
Jackson got voted President
Democratic Party History
• Started off as Anti-Federalists factions opposed to
Alexander Hamilton’s economic policies.
• Thomas Jefferson and James Madison organized these
factions into the Democratic-Republican Party
• The party favored states’ rights and a strict interpretation
of the Constitution.
• Democratic-Republicans split over the successor to
James Monroe.
• The party that supported many of the Jeffersonian
principles became known as the Democratic Party – led
by Andrew Jackson
Andrew
Jackson
th
7 President
1829-1837
Democrat
Jackson was a military hero. He
was the first president to have a
humble background (not upperclass society member, elite)
Impact of the Election of
Andrew Jackson (8.5F)
• Andrew Jackson’s election signaled a shift in power to
the common man.
• This expanded suffrage rights.
• His views left a legacy to the modern Democratic Party
• Government by the people
• One of the first challenges President Jackson faces was
conflict over tariffs.
“Kitchen Cabinet”
• Most of Jackson’s Cabinet members resigned after a
scandal involving a Senator and his new wife.
• Jackson had been in support of the marriage.
• He appointed new Cabinet members full of long-time
political allies and close friends.
• The “Kitchen Cabinet” refers to a group of trusted friends
and colleagues.
• This was used for many future presidents.
The argument continues…
• Protective Tariffs –
• During the Jackson administration, a tariff debate
continued to develop
• Congress endorsed high tariffs on any goods
manufactured in Europe
• Many Americans welcomed these protective
tariffs, especially in the Northeastern states where
industry thrived.
• Tariffs encouraged Americans to buy cheaper
American-made goods.
The argument continues…
• Southerners were in disagreement with the tariffs
because Americans would not have to pay higher
prices for goods manufactured in the U.S.
• Southerners imported most of their manufactured
goods. Their economy depended on foreign trade.
• Under strong pressure from Northern states
Congress passed a tariff with very high rates.
• Southern states called the law the Tariff of
Abominations
Nullification Crisis
• Revolved around the ability of a state to declare federal laws
unconstitutional
• In 1828 the Tariff of Abominations was passed resulting in a
higher tariff.
• In 1832 a lower tariff was passed but this angered South
Carolina
• Led by Vice President John C. Calhoun
• He resigned from his Vice Presidency to support his home
state
• Martin Van Buren became the new Vice President
John C.
Calhoun
Nullification Crisis
• South Carolina declared the federal tariff null and
void within its borders
• Delegates to a special convention urged the state
legislatures to take military action and secede
from the union if the federal government
demanded the customs duties.
• To prevent civil war, Henry Clay, with John C.
Calhoun proposed the Compromise Tariff of
1833
• Government lowered tariffs and backed down.
• Significance of the time – federal taxes on imports
cannot be imposed if the state considers the action
unconstitutional.
McCulloch v.
Maryland
• Issue
• Maryland wanted to tax its branch of the national bank
• Maryland wanted a tax on all bank notes not drafted in
Maryland
• Decision
• States cannot claim to have power over the federal
government
McCullough v. Maryland
• Significance
• Federal government is upheld as
the supreme law of the land
• This case meant Maryland could
not tax or interfere with the
bank.
• States did not have rights to
collect taxes from federal
institutions.
John Marshall
Banking system
• The Bank of the United States was extremely
powerful and it controlled the nation’s money supply.
• Jackson viewed this bank as a bank made up of
elitists run by private wealthy bankers. He thought it
had too much power and favored the wealthy.
• When Jackson was given the option to sign a
renewed charter bank bill, he decided to veto it
instead.
• Congress could not get 2/3 vote to override the
Presidential veto.
• Political cartoon showing Andrew Jackson destroying the
National Bank.
Cherokee
Indians
Reasons for the Removal and
Resettlement of Cherokee Indians
• Early in the 19th Century, while the rapidly-growing
U.S. expanded into the lower South, white settlers faced
what they considered an obstacle.
• This area was home to Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw,
Chickasaw, and Seminole nations.
• These Indian nations, in the view of the settlers and
many other white Americans, were standing in the way
of “progress”.
• Eager for land to raise cotton, the settlers pressured the
federal government to acquire Indian territory
Reasons for the Removal and
Resettlement of Cherokee Indians
• Policies –
• Federal - Native Americans could occupy U.S. lands but
they couldn’t hold title to that land. (Supreme Court ruling in
1823)
• Under pressure from Jackson, Congress passed the Indian
Removal Act
• Removed Indians east of the Mississippi river (forced to
relocate)
• Congress established Indian Territory – most of Oklahoma
• Congress approved the creation of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs – to oversee federal policy toward the Indians
Indian Removal Act –
• Gave the president power to negotiate removal
treaties.
• Under these treaties, the Indians were to give up
their lands east of the Mississippi in exchange for
lands to the west.
• The removal was supposed to be “voluntary and
peaceful”. It was that way for tribes that agreed
to the conditions.
Indian
Removal
Act
• This was supposed to avoid conflict between white
settlers and southeastern American Indian tribes
• Cotton farmers needed more land
• It was also supposed to “protect” American Indian
governments and cultures
Worcester v. Georgia
• In response to the Indian Removal Act, the
Cherokee asked the Supreme Court to protect
their rights
• Georgia saw Native Americans as tenants
living on the land
• The Cherokee used legal means in their
attempt to safeguard their rights.
• They sought protection from land-hungry
white settlers.
• The Cherokee adopted a written constitution
declaring to be a sovereign nation.
Worcester v. Georgia
• They based this on U.S. policy; in former treaties, Indian
nations had been declared sovereign so they would be
legally capable of ceding their lands.
• The state of Georgia, however, did not recognize their
sovereign status, but saw them as tenants living on state
land.
• The Cherokee took their case to the Supreme Court,
which ruled in their favor.
• Andrew Jackson and John Marshall conflicted in the
decision
• Clash between presidency and the Supreme Court
Worcester v. Georgia
• Presidential Response to the case- The Court ruled in favor
of Worcester.
• The U.S. government and not the state of Georgia had the
authority to make treaties or any type of regulations with
Native Americans.
• President Andrew Jackson responded by enforcing the Indian
Removal Act. He ignored the Supreme Court decision.
• He also responded by siding with Georgia and chose not to
enforce the Supreme Court ruling.
• Presidency vs. Supreme Court – Separation of powers is
overlooked.
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
• In 1836, the Cherokee were given two years to migrate
“voluntarily”, at the end of which time they would be forcibly
removed.
• By 1838 only 2,000 had migrated
• 16,000 remained on their land.
• The U.S. government sent in 7,000 troops, who forced the
Cherokees into stockades at bayonet point.
• They were not allowed time to gather their belongings, and as they
left, whites looted their homes.
• Then began the march known as the Trail of Tears, in which 4,000
Cherokee people died of cold, hunger, and disease on their way to
western lands.
Trail of Tears
Election of 1836
• Jackson’s actions during his presidency had angered
members of Congress.
• A group of Jackson opponents formed the Whig Party.
• Martin Van Buren was the presidential candidate for the
Democratic Party.
• He won the election.
Martin Van
Buren
th
8 President
1837-1841
Democrat
Points of View of Political Parties
and Interest Groups (8.21A)
•
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•
•
Democrats
Limited national government – more states’ rights
Strict constriction of the Constitution
Opposed National Bank and Tariffs
Agricultural economy
Whig Party (1833-1860)
Newly formed party, supported a weak president and a
strong legislature
• Promoted internal improvements, such as roads, canals,
railroads, etc.
• Harrison elected President
A splitting country…
• Sectionalism and Civil War –
• North/Whigs – Supported the Union
• South/Democrats – Supported states’ rights
• Protective Tariffs
• Slavery
• States’ Rights
William
Henry
Harrison
th
9 President
1841
Whig
William Henry Harrison
• He was the first president to die in
office.
• He was president for 32 days
before dying from pneumonia
complications.
• His death sparked a constitutional
crisis on how to handle the death
of a president.
• This wasn’t officially addressed in
the Constitution until the passage
of the 25th Amendment.
Fought in the War of 1812
John Tyler
•
•
•
•
10th President
1841-1845
Whig
“Tippecanoe and
Tyler Too!”
• “His Accidency”