andrew jackson

The election of 1824 was pivotal for the Federalist Party and the emergence of Andrew Jackson.
Four federalists ran for president: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Miles Paul, and one other candidate.

No candidate won a majority (50%) of the electoral college vote.
Andrew Jackson received the most electoral votes at 38%, followed by John Quincy Adams at 32%.
As no majority was achieved, the decision was passed to the House of Representatives, which ultimately elected John Quincy Adams as president.
- Each state had one vote in the House of Representatives to decide the outcome.

Andrew Jackson was outraged by his loss, feeling it was a 'stolen election'.
This set the stage for a four-year period of grievance from Jackson and an economic downturn during Adams's presidency.
Illustrates the decline of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Only 26% of white males voted in 1824; this doubled by 1828, reflecting a significant change in public participation.
- This was part of a broader trend related to the common man's increased influence in politics.

In 1828, Andrew Jackson ran against John Quincy Adams again.
- Jackson won, showcasing his appeal among the common man, especially in the West and South.
This election marked a significant shift, as Jackson was the first president from a poor background and less formal education, contrasting with previous elites from the East.
- Represents the decline of the Democratic-Republican Party and the rise of the Democratic Party.

Jackson aimed to return to Jeffersonian ideals: states' rights, individual liberty, and westward expansion.
- However, he enhanced the power of the presidency contrary to Jefferson's vision of limited executive power.
The conflict between these ideals contributed to the formation of the second party system (Democrats vs. Whigs).

Jackson's presidency establishes the Democrats, while Henry Clay and others form the Whigs.
Key Democratic values included opposition to monopolies, emphasis on local governments, lower tariffs, and support for small farmers.
Whig values comprised support for strong central government, the US Bank, and high tariffs to protect northern interests.

As Jackson took office, he implemented the spoils system, replacing long-term bureaucrats with his loyal supporters to bring fresh perspectives.
- Initially praised, this system resulted in inefficiencies and corruption within the government.
- The phrase "To the victors belong the spoils" encapsulated this approach.

As Americans expanded westwards, conflicts arose with Native American tribes, notably the Five Civilized Tribes: Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole, Choctaw, and Cherokee.
Jackson sought to remove these tribes to facilitate agricultural expansion, fueled by the cotton economy.
- The Supreme Court case Cherokee Nation v. Georgia ruled in favor of the Cherokee, stating that Georgia could not encroach on their lands.
Jackson defied the Supreme Court ruling, promoting the Indian Removal Act of 1830, leading to mass displacement westward, resulting in the Trail of Tears — a devastating journey causing significant loss of life among the Cherokee.

Conflict arose again over a high protective tariff favored by northern industrialists but opposed by southern states, particularly South Carolina.
Jackson's vice president, John C. Calhoun, argued for the doctrine of nullification, suggesting states could reject federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.
Tension heightened as Jackson prepared to use military force to enforce federal law, ultimately leading to Henry Clay's Compromise of 1833, which reduced tariffs and alleviated immediate tensions.

The Bank of the United States, championed by Hamilton and reestablished under Monroe, became a contentious issue during Jackson's presidency.
Jackson viewed the bank as unconstitutional and wielding too much power, deciding not to recharter it in 1832, leading to his veto.
To further diminish the Bank's influence, he relocated federal funds to state banks, known as ‘pet banks’, effectively dismantling the central banking system before its charter expired by 1836.
The absence of a national bank led to significant economic fluctuations and challenges from 1833 until the establishment of the Federal Reserve in 1913.

Andrew Jackson's presidency marked a transition in American democracy as he championed the common man and employed strategies that intensified executive power.
His actions precipitated the rise of the Whig Party as opposition to his policies fostered a second party system that shaped future political dynamics in the United States.

The relationship between Jackson's policies and the eventual sectional conflicts leading to the Civil War underscores the long-term effects of his presidency.
The examination of the spoils system and its implications on governance efficiency provides an essential case study for political science students.