Andrew Jackson and the Growth of American Democracy

1. Andrew Jackson and the Growth of American Democracy • Campaign of 1828 was a dirty campaign. • Both sides participated in mudslinging by making reckless accusations against each other. • Jackson was not the choice of the rich and well-born such as planters, merchants, bankers, and lawyers. • Jackson was a controversial president. King Andrew the First

2. The Inauguration of Andrew Jackson • Until 1820 only the rich and well-born could vote. • New states west of the Appalachian Mts. challenged this. • Believed they should also share the same rights, including voting. • With the western states leading the way, voting laws were changed. • Now the “common man” could vote but didn’t include slaves, Indians, or women. • Because the “common man” could vote, three times more people voted in 1828 then in 1824. • New voters felt the national government had been taken over by the rich. • Jackson promised to return the government to the “people”. • He was supported by the farmers, shopkeepers, and small business owners. Everyone have a slice of cheese

3. From the Frontier to the White House *Jackson was considered the “people’s president”. • Showed courage, even as a young man. The Frontier Lawyer: • “the most roaring, rollicking, game-cocking, horse-racing, card-paying, mischievous fellow” in town. • Earned enough money to buy land and slaves and become a gentleman farmer. The Hermitage Dueling over an insult about wife, Rachel.

4. The People’s Choice Henry Clay • Battle of New Orleans made “Old Hickory” a national hero. • Ran for president against Henry Clay in 1824. • Clay made a “corrupt” bargain with John Quincy Adams so that Adams could be president. • Jackson supporters built a new political organization called the Democratic Party. • They promised the party would represent ordinary farmers, workers, and the poor. • Sang the nation’s first campaign song “The Hunters of Kentucky”. Hero of the Battle of New Orleans Determined leader. Supported by the “common man” of the West. John Quincy Adams

5. Jackson’s Approach to Governing The Kitchen Cabinet: • Listened to others but did exactly what he wanted to do. • Made his decision with the help of trusted friends and political supporters • Rich and well-born felt the men around the president were not the proper sort to be running the country.

6. The Spoils System * Some civil servants saw their posts as lifetime jobs. * Jackson wanted to give more people a chance to serve their government. * He wanted to rotate people in office. • He could put patriotism above party loyalty. • He rewarded his supporters with government jobs. Jackson rewarding his followers (as seen by the Republicans)

7. The Nullification Crisis • In 1828 Congress passed a tariff. • Favored by the northern states, but opposed by southerners. • Southerners felt the tariffs would discourage trade with other countries and hurt their cotton trading. • John C. Calhoun called for southern states to declare the tariff “null and void”. • Southerners called it the Tariff of Abominations • Southern states threatened to secede. • Jackson passed the Force Bill. John C. Calhoun

8. Jackson Battles the Bank of the United States • Felt the Bank favored the rich and not the farmers or workers. • Felt the Bank stood in the way of opportunity. • Distrusted the Bank’s president, Nicholas Biddle. • Henry Clay got Congress to renew the Bank’s charter. • Jackson had all federal deposits removed from the Bank and put into small state banks. Henry Clay