Topic 4.7: Jackson and Federal Power (1829 – 1837)

When did Andrew Jackson serve as president?

From 1829 to 1837, a period often called the Age of Jackson, marked by the expansion of executive authority and the rise of the “common man.”

How did Jackson view himself politically?

He saw himself as a representative of ordinary Americans against wealthy elites and entrenched interests.

What nickname reflected Jackson’s populist appeal?

“Old Hickory,” symbolizing his toughness, resilience, and connection with frontier voters.

How did Jackson expand presidential power?

He used the veto more frequently than all previous presidents combined, asserting the president’s independent authority to represent the people’s will.

How many times did Jackson use the presidential veto?

He issued 12 vetoes, more than any prior president, often for political rather than constitutional reasons.

What controversy best illustrated Jackson’s broad use of federal power?

The Nullification Crisis of 1832 – 1833.

What caused the Nullification Crisis?

Southern opposition to high protective tariffs—especially the Tariff of 1828 (“Tariff of Abominations”)—which they believed unfairly favored Northern industry.

Who led the nullification movement?

Vice President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.

What argument did Calhoun make in the South Carolina Exposition and Protest (1828)?

He asserted that a state had the right to nullify or void any federal law it deemed unconstitutional.

What did South Carolina do in 1832?

It declared the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within the state and threatened secession if the federal government tried to enforce them.

How did Jackson respond to South Carolina’s actions?

He issued a Proclamation to the People of South Carolina denouncing nullification as treason and threatening to use military force to preserve the Union.

What law authorized Jackson to use the army against South Carolina?

The Force Bill of 1833.

Who helped broker a peaceful resolution to the crisis?

Henry Clay, who proposed the Compromise Tariff of 1833 to gradually reduce tariff rates.

What was the outcome of the Nullification Crisis?

South Carolina repealed its nullification ordinance but symbolically nullified the Force Bill; the crisis ended without bloodshed.

What principle was reinforced by the outcome?

Federal supremacy over the states.

How did Jackson’s handling of the crisis affect his image?

It enhanced his reputation as a strong national leader and defender of the Union.

What other major issue defined Jackson’s presidency?

The Bank War, his battle against the Second Bank of the United States.

Why did Jackson oppose the national bank?

He viewed it as an unconstitutional monopoly that benefited the wealthy elite at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Who supported the Second Bank of the United States?

Henry Clay and Nicholas Biddle (the bank’s president), who argued it stabilized the economy and provided reliable currency.

What happened when Congress passed a bill to re-charter the Bank in 1832?

Jackson vetoed it, declaring the Bank dangerous to liberty and to the Republic.

What did Jackson do after vetoing the Bank recharter?

He ordered federal deposits withdrawn from the Bank and placed in various state “pet banks.”

What was the economic consequence of Jackson’s attack on the Bank?

It destabilized credit, led to speculation in western lands, and contributed to future economic downturns.

What measure did Jackson issue to curb land speculation?

The Specie Circular (1836), requiring payment for public lands in gold or silver rather than paper money.

What was the result of the Specie Circular?

It caused a sharp contraction of credit and helped trigger the Panic of 1837 shortly after Jackson left office.

Who succeeded Jackson as president?

Martin Van Buren, a close political ally and organizer of the Democratic Party.

What economic crisis did Van Buren inherit?

The Panic of 1837, a severe depression marked by bank failures, unemployment, and collapsing prices.

How did Jackson’s policies contribute to the Panic of 1837?

The destruction of the Bank and the Specie Circular restricted the money supply and undermined financial stability.

What controversial federal policy toward Indigenous nations did Jackson enforce?

The Indian Removal Act of 1830.

What did the Indian Removal Act authorize?

The president to negotiate treaties forcing Native American tribes east of the Mississippi to relocate to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Which Indigenous nations were most affected by the Indian Removal Act?

The Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole.

What Supreme Court case challenged Georgia’s attempt to remove the Cherokee?

Worcester v. Georgia (1832).

What did the Supreme Court rule in Worcester v. Georgia?

That the Cherokee Nation was a distinct political community and that Georgia had no authority to enforce state laws there.

How did Jackson reportedly respond to the Worcester decision?

He allegedly remarked, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it,” refusing to uphold the ruling.

What was the consequence of Jackson’s defiance of the Supreme Court?

It undermined judicial authority and led to the forced removal of the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears (1838).

What was the Trail of Tears?

The forced march of about 16,000 Cherokee to Indian Territory (Oklahoma), during which thousands died from exposure, disease, and starvation.

What did Jackson’s Indian policy reveal about his approach to power?

He prioritized federal authority and westward expansion over legal protections for Indigenous peoples.

How did Jackson’s critics describe his use of executive power?

They called him “King Andrew I,” accusing him of acting like a monarch by ignoring other branches of government.

How did Jackson’s supporters defend his strong executive leadership?

They argued he used presidential power to defend democracy and the common man against privileged interests.

What long-term impact did Jackson’s presidency have on the federal government?

It greatly expanded executive authority and set the precedent for a strong presidency with direct appeal to the people.

What were the contradictions of Jacksonian Democracy?

While claiming to empower ordinary citizens, it excluded women and people of color and displaced Indigenous nations for white expansion.

How did Jackson’s presidency shape the Democratic Party’s identity?

It cemented the party as the voice of states’ rights, limited government, and popular sovereignty—while also embracing a strong executive when it served those ends.

What did the Age of Jackson reveal about American politics?

That democracy and federal power could expand simultaneously—blending populism with strong central leadership.