Adams’ administration and his supporters, who included many former
Federalists, began to call themselves “National Republicans” to show their
support for a strong national government that would promote commerce,
support education, and fund roads and canals. But Adams was not particularly
popular.
On the other hand……
Jackson was extremely popular, having won national fame as hero of the Battle
of New Orleans in the War of 1812, later in wars against American Indians in
Florida. He was also backed by a well-orchestrated political organization.
Jackson’s followers (Jacksonian) formed the Democratic Party, claiming to be
the true successors of (Thomas) Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party. The
Democrats believed in small, decentralized government.
Andrew Jackson’s policies spoke for the
common people…..but violated Native
American rights.
Starter
The Jacksonian Period (1824-1848) has
been
characterized as the era of “the common
man.” To what extent did the period live
up
to its characterizations?
Consider the following:
Politics, economic development, Federal vs.
state
power, treatment of Native Americans
Objectives:
*Describe tensions between Adams and
Jackson
*Explain Jackson’s spoils system and his appeal
*Summarize the effects of the Indian removal
Act of 1830
Jackson’s opponents in
1824
Henry Clay
[KY]
John Quincy Adams
[MA]
William H. Crawford
[GA]
John C. Calhoun
[SC]
Election of 1824
*Andrew
Jackson won by popular vote
- popular vote: the vote for a U.S.
presidential candidate made by the
qualified voters, as opposed to that made
by the electoral college.
*But lacked the majority electoral vote…..
- electoral vote: the vote cast in
the electoral college of the U.S. by the
representatives of each state in a
presidential election.
• Because of his power in the House
• Clay could swing the election either
way
Clay disliked Jackson personally and
mistrusted his lack of political
experience……
John Quincy Adams
Adams agreed with Clay’s
American system. Adams
was elected by a majority of
the states represented in the
House.
(6th President)
Jackson’s New Presidential Style
Expansion of Voting rights….
Concerns of the “ordinary people”
• Jackson won presidency by a landslide
• He was so popular, that record
numbers of people came to
Washington to see “Old Hickory”
Jackson’s Spoil System
Jackson used powers of the presidency
upon gaining office.
He announced that his appointees to
federal jobs would serve a maximum of 4
year term
Jackson practiced the spoil system……
“To victor belong the spoils of the enemy”
Spoil system
-Incoming officials throw out
former appointees and replace
them with their own friends.
President Andrew Jackson outlined his Indian
removal policy in his Second Annual Message to
Congress on December 6, 1830. Jackson's comments
on Indian removal begin with the words….
"It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the
benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for
nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians
beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy
consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the
provision made for their removal at the last session of
Congress, and it is believed that their example will induce the
remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages."
Congress passed the Indian removal Act in 1830
-federal government provided funds to negotiate treaties that
would force the Native Americans to move west.
-90 treaties were signed
For Jackson, the removal policy “not only liberal, but generous”
But this was based on the rights of states to govern within their
own boundaries.
Why did Jackson think that Native
Americans should be moved west of
the Mississippi?