Jacksonian Democracy Test Terms

US1 Honors 3/31/26

democrats

• Previously called Jacksonians

• Believed the ordinary man should have political power in order to protect himself against the superior man

“King Mob”

A name for Jacksons’ mass of supporters created by the elite which found their position in politics in danger

Election of 1828

• Election between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, Jackson won

• Led to creation of mass democracy and included the ‘common man’ in politics.

Spoils system

• The practice where the winning political party(president) replaced all government employees with their own campaign supporters and friends.

• created/popularized by Jackson

kitchen cabinet

Undistinguised cabinet that consisted of Martin Van Buren and a few of Jackson’s close friends.

Martin Van Buren

• Andrew Jackson’s Secretary of State and the only distinguished member of the ‘kitchen cabinet’

• later becomes the president

Senator Robert Hayne

• Senator from South Carolina, 

• spokesperson for VP Calhoun during the Wenster-Hayne debate

Webster-Hayne Debate

• Debate between Daniel Webster and Senator Robert Hayne over states’ rights vs. federal power

• Strengthened idea of national unity over nullification

McCulloch v. Maryland

• Supreme court case led by Marshall that ruled congress culd create a national bank and states cant tax it

• Second Bank of the US is constitutional

Nicholas Biddle

• Head of the Second National Bank-wanted to control economy

• Main opponent of Jacksons’ in the Bank War

National Republicans

• Also known as the Whig Party led by Henry Clay and JQA supporting a strong federal government and economic development

• Opposed Jackson

Roger B. Taney

• Jackson’s secretar of Treasury

• Helped dismantle the national bank and supported states rghts

pet banks

• Small banks that supported jackson

• Received federal deposits after national bank was dismantled- risky lending and inflation

Peggy Eaton Affair

• Social scandal involving Peggy Eaton (wife of secretary of war)

• Divided Jackson’s cabnit and let to Jackson relying on his Kitchen Cabnit more

Maysville Road Veto

• Jackson’s veto of a bill to fund a road in Kentucky

• Showed opposition to federal funding of local project

Alexis de Tocqueville

• French observer that wrote Democracy in America

• Provided key insights into American democracy, equality, and political culture

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

• Supreme court case wherer Cherokee Nation sought protection from Georgia laws

• Ruled Cherokee werent a foreign nation, limiting legal standing

Worcester v. Georgia

• Case ruling that georgia laws had no authority over Cherokee lands

• Upheld tribal sovereignty but Jackson reduced to enforce it

Trail of Tears

• Forced relocation of Native Amercans (Cherokee mainly) west of the Mississippi

• Thousands died, indian removal cruelty

Specie Circular

• Law made by Jackson stating that you must buy land in gold or silver (bc he didn’t like paper money)

• Reduced paper money circulation and led to panic of 1837

Whigs

• Political party formed in opposition to Jackson- led by Henry Clay and others

• Supported congress over the president, activist government

Panic of 1837

• Major economic depression marked by bank faliures

• Result of Jacksonian polcies (pet banks, specie circular)

Independent Treasury Act

• Law creating a system where federal funds were kept in government vaults instead of banks

• Separated gov funds from unstable banks

Log Cabin Campaign

• Whig campaign portraying William Henry Harrison as common man (just like Jackson)

• First modern mass political campaign using slogans and imagery to appeal to voters

William Henry Harrison

• Whig president that won election of 1840

• Died after one month in office

John Tyler

• Was VP but became president after Harrison died

• Set precedent that a VP becomes president if the president dies in office