APUSH - Chapter 10

Indian Removal Act

Forced resettlement by Jackson of many Native American tribes to leave their homelands and resettle west of the Mississippi in order to take over their land

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

Ruled that Cherokees were not a foreign nation with the right to sue in federal court

Worchester v. Georgia

Ruled that Georgia laws had no force within Cherokee territory; Jackson sided with states and Court could not enforce its decision

“Trail of tears”

US Army forced 15,000 Cherokees to leave Georgia, and the hardships on the journey westward caused the deaths of 4,000 natives

Bank of the United States

Privately owned but received federal deposits and attempted to serve a public purpose by cushioning the ups and downs of the national economy; believed by Jackson to be unconstitutional but supported by his opponent Henry Clay

Nicholas Biddle

Effective but arrogant manager of the Bank of the United States; widespread suspicion that he abused its power and only served the interests of the wealthy

Roger Taney

Secretary of the Treasury who assisted Jackson with transferring federal funds to “pet banks”

“Pet banks”

Jackson opposed the Bank of the United States, and withdrew all federal funds and deposited them into state banks

Specie Circular

Required that all future purchases of federal lands must be made in specie (gold and silver) instead of paper banknotes

Panic of 1837

Financial crisis after Jackson left office due to loss in value of banknotes and plummeting land sales; economic depression

Martin Van Buren

Jackson’s second Vice President, President during Panic of 1837, opposed by Whigs

Universal White male suffrage

All white males could vote regardless of their social class or religion, and political offices could be held by middle and lower class white men

Party nominating convention

Party politicians and voters would gather in a large hall to nominate party candidates for elections

“King Caucus”

closed door meeting of a political party’s leaders in Congress; common folk could not participate

Popular election of president

In 1832 election, most states (besides SC) adopted Democratic method of allowing voters to choose a state’s slate of potential electors

“Common man”

The average American man; working class, not one of the “elites”

Anti-Masonic Party

Attacked secret societies of the Masons and accused them of belonging to a privileged, anti-Democratic elite

Workingmen’s Party

Sought to improve the social and economic status of skilled craftsmen and laborers

Popular campaigning

the practice of candidates campaigning directly to the public; became a form of local entertainment

Spoils system

Dispensing government jobs in exchange for party loyalty, practiced by Andrew Jackson

Rotation in office

Jacksonian belief of limiting a person to one term to appoint another “deserving Democrat”; affirmed the Democratic ideal that one man was as good as another and ordinary people could hold office

John Quincy Adams

Internal improvements, aid to manufacturing, national university and astronomical observatory, opposition of Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

7th US President, war hero, Democrat, championed the “common man” and presidential power, state authority, controversial actions like Trail of Tears

“Corrupt bargain”

Statement made by Jackson supporters; Henry Clay gave John Quincy Adams the votes to win the election, and he was in turn appointed his Secretary of State

Revolution of 1828

Jackson’s party smeared John Quincy Adams and his wife, Adams retaliated, attracted lots of voter interest and turnout, Jackson won in a landslide

Presidential power

Jackson was a frugal Jeffersonian, presented himself as representative of the people and protector of the common man against the privileged and wealthy

Peggy Eaton affair

Wife of Jackson’s secretary of war, gossip target of other cabinet wives; Jackson tried to get them to accept her, and most of the cabinet resigned; VP John C. Calhoun resigned, and replaced with Martin Van Buren due to his loyalty

Nullification crisis

Theory by John C. Calhoun (Jackson’s first VP) stating that each state had the right to decide whether to obey a federal law or declare it null and void; South Carolina conflicting with federal government on the right to void federal tariffs

States’ rights

Supported authority of states, but not disunion

Tariff of 1828 (“tariff of abominations”)

Raised taxes on foreign goods to protect northern industries, hated by Jackson; sparked Nullification Crisis

John C. Calhoun

Jackson’s first VP, advanced the theory of nullification, resigned after Peggy Eaton affair

Webster-Hayne debate

Daniel Webster vs. Robert Hayne: Webster attacked the idea that any state could defy or leave the union

Proclamation to the People of South Carolina

Issued by Jackson, stating that nullification and disunion were treason

Two-party system

Democrats: Jackson, similar to Jeffersonian Republican Party

Whigs: Henry Clay, similar to Hamiltonian Federalist Party

Democrats

Similar to Jeffersonian Republican Party, South and West and urban workers, supported white male opportunity, free trade, state rights, local government

Whigs

Similar to Hamiltonian Federalist Party, New England and Mid-Atlantic and English Protestants and urban professionals, supported Clay’s American System

“Log cabin and hard cider” campaign

Whig campaign for William Henry Harrison’s presidency with public parades to symbolize his humble origins, opposing Martin Van Buren