4.8 Jackson and Federal Power

what was the “Corrupt bargain”

Henry Clay convinced congress to provide John Adams with enough votes to win the election. Jackson stated that the will of the voters had been overtaken by secret political maneuvers, as he had won the popular vote.

How did President Adams alienate the followers of Jackson

when he asked congress for money for internal improvements, aid to manufacturing and even a national university: Jacksonians view this as a waste of money and going against the constitution

Tariff of abominations

in 1828, during the Adams presidency, Congress passed a tariff which greatly benefitted northern manufacturers but negatively impacted southern planters, which they called the tariff of abominations

What type of man was Jackson known as

a rugged man who never forgot his life on the frontier, since Washington, he was the first president to be elected without a college education. He was a self-made man with a violent temper

what was special about Jackson

he vetoed more bills (12) than all presidents before him combined

what did Jackson oppose

increased federal spending and the national debt

Indian Removal Act of 1830

Jackson sympathized with the land-hungry Americans who wanted to settle on Indian lands. He thought the most humane option would be to make the natives leave their ancestral homes and push them beyond the Mississippi. He signed the Indian Removal Act, which displaced many thousands of American Indians

Cherokee V Georgia

Georgia passed laws requiring the Cherokee to move to the west. The Cherokee challenged Georgia in the courts and it was determined that the Cherokee were not a foreign nation, and thus had no right to sue in court.

Worcester V Georgia

high courts ruled that state laws had no force within Cherokee territory

Who did jackson side with

the states

Nullification crisis

South Carolina deemed the Tariff of Abominations to be unconstitutional, and they affirmed the nullification theory which was advanced by Jackson’s VP. This theory stated that each state had the right to either support a federal law or deem it null and void. Jackson believed in preserving the union, and ultimately decided to prepare the military to march on south Carolina. He also issued a Proclamation to the People of South Carolina, stating that they were committing treason. Ultimately, the military did not march on south carolina, and Jackson suggested they lower the tariff, which led to South Carolina backing down.

why were people suspicious of the Bank of the United States

its owner, Nicholas Biddle, was a very arrogant man, leading people to believe that the bank served the interest of only the wealthy elites.

What did Jackson do concerning the national bank

He vetoed its recharter because he saw it as a private monopoly that enriched the wealthy and foreigners at the expense of the common people

1. supporters of Jackson

2. supporters of Henry Clay

1. democrats (resembled old democratic republican party)

2. whigs (resembled federalist party)

What did Jackson do after destroying the national bank

he disbursed funds into various Pet Banks or state banks

How did Jackson stop Antislavery efforts

he used executive power to stop antislavery literature from being sent through the US mail

specie circular

required all land to be bought in specie, or gold and silver rather than paper banknotes