Age of Jackson Unit Guide

Flashcards based on the Key Terms and Essential Questions from the Age of Jackson Unit Guide.

What military battle during the War of 1812 elevated Andrew Jackson to national prominence?

Battle of New Orleans

What popular nickname was given to Andrew Jackson?

Old Hickory

What controversial outcome occurred during the Election of 1824 involving John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay?

Corrupt Bargain

What political term in the unit guide refers to negative or malicious political campaigning?

Mudslinging

When was Andrew Jackson's 1st Inauguration held?

March 1829

What was the Tariff of 1828 called by its southern critics?

"Tariff of Abominations"

What debate in the United States Senate focused on sectionality, nullification, and states' rights?

Webster-Hayne Debate

What law passed during the Nullification Crisis allowed federal enforcement of tariffs?

Force Act

What practice involves rewarding political supporters with government jobs?

Spoils System

What was the informal group of advisors to President Andrew Jackson called?

Kitchen Cabinet

Which Native American tribes are listed as the 5 Civilized Tribes in the unit guide?

Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw

Which two Cherokee leaders are included in the unit guide key terms?

John Ross and John Ridge

What federal legislation authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands?

Indian Removal Act

Which Chief Justice presided over the Cherokee vs. Georgia Supreme Court case?

John Marshall

What legal case involving Native American rights in Georgia is listed in the unit guide?

Cherokee vs. Georgia

What was the forced relocation route of Southeastern indigenous nations to the West known as?

Trail of Tears

To which present-day state were indigenous nations relocated along the Trail of Tears?

Oklahoma

Who was the president of the Bank of the United States who fought Andrew Jackson in the War with the Bank?

Nicholas Biddle

Which President succeeded Andrew Jackson and continued his political policies?

Martin Van Buren

What severe financial downturn occurred in 1837 during Martin Van Buren's presidency?

Panic of 1837

What economic policy listed in the guide advocates for minimal government intervention in economic affairs?

Laissez faire

What term means to formally withdraw from a union or alliance?

Secede

What method of selecting presidential candidates replaced caucus systems as listed in the unit guide?

Nominating Conventions

How did Jackson's childhood and young adulthood shape his later beliefs and actions?

1. Frontier Upbringing and Poverty: Born into a humble frontier family and orphaned by age 14, Jackson developed strong self-reliance and a distrust of wealthy, established eastern elites. This experience fueled his political persona as a champion of the "common man."

2. Revolutionary War Scars: During the Revolutionary War, Jackson served as a young courier and was captured by the British. When he refused to clean a British officer's boots, the officer slashed him with a sword, leaving permanent physical scars and a deep, lifelong anti-aristocratic hatred.

3. Frontier Law and Military Service: Moving to the Tennessee frontier as a young lawyer and army officer reinforced his belief in decisive executive power, national authority, and forceful action, which later influenced his presidential policies, including his stance during the Nullification Crisis and Indian Removal.

What was the controversy over the Election of 1824?

1. No Electoral Majority: Although Andrew Jackson won the plurality of both the popular and electoral votes, none of the candidates secured the majority needed to win. Consequently, the election was thrown to the House of Representatives pursuant to the 12th Amendment.

2. The "Corrupt Bargain": Speaker of the House Henry Clay threw his crucial support behind John Quincy Adams, enabling Adams to win the presidency in the House vote. Shortly after taking office, Adams named Clay as his Secretary of State, leading Jackson and his allies to accuse them of a corrupt political deal.

3. Political Fracture: The perceived injustice deeply angered Jackson's supporters, splitting the Democratic-Republican Party and fueling the political movement that swept Jackson into the presidency in 1828.

Did Jackson support states' rights or the increased power of the federal government?

1. Support for States' Rights:

   • Indian Removal: Jackson supported southern states (like Georgia) in taking indigenous lands, refusing to enforce the federal Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v. Georgia that protected Cherokee sovereignty.

   • Limited Economic Role: He opposed federal overreach in the economy, vetoing federal spending on local roads (Maysville Road Veto) and dismantling the Second Bank of the United States.

2. Support for Federal Power:

   • Nullification Crisis: When South Carolina attempted to declare federal tariffs null and void, Jackson firmly rejected state sovereignty, stating that nullification was treasonous.

   • The Force Act: He persuaded Congress to pass the Force Act of 1833, authorizing military force to collect federal tariffs and enforce national law.

   • Strong Executive Authority: Jackson expanded federal power by using the presidential veto more than all prior presidents combined.

Summary: Jackson championed states' rights when they aligned with his political goals, but he decisively used federal power to preserve the authority and unity of the United States.

In what ways did democracy or democratic institutions expand by 1830?

1. Expansion of Voting Rights (Suffrage):

   • Elimination of Property Requirements: Most states removed property-ownership and tax-paying qualifications for voting, granting universal white manhood suffrage.

   • Increased Voter Turnout: Popular participation in elections surged dramatically, particularly during the Election of 1828.

2. Rise of Nominating Conventions:

   • The traditional, closed legislative caucus system ("King Caucus") was replaced by national nominating conventions. This gave party members and local delegates a direct voice in selecting political candidates.

3. Direct Election of Presidential Electors:

   • Instead of state legislatures choosing presidential electors, almost every state shifted to choosing electors by direct popular vote.

4. Popular Campaigning and Political Engagement:

   • Political parties adopted modern campaigning techniques—such as rallies, parades, public dinners, and mudslinging—to appeal directly to common citizens rather than political elites.

5. The Spoils System and "Rotation in Office":

   • Andrew Jackson championed opening government administration to ordinary citizens rather than maintaining a permanent class of bureaucrats, operating on the belief that any intelligent citizen could hold public office.

What is Essential Question 6 in the Age of Jackson Unit Guide?

How did Van Buren continue the policies of Jackson?

What is Essential Question 7 in the Age of Jackson Unit Guide?

Why is Jackson still viewed as a controversial leader?