Untitled Flashcards Set

Front: Expansion of Voting Rights

Back:

  • Why? In the early 1800s, many states removed property ownership as a voting requirement, expanding the electorate to more white men. This was part of a shift toward greater democracy.

  • Who benefited? White men who did not own land could now vote, which increased participation from the working class. However, this excluded women, Native Americans, and African Americans.

Front: Election of 1828

Back:

  • A rematch between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams.

  • Jackson campaigned as a champion of the "common man," appealing to farmers, laborers, and frontiersmen.

  • His victory was partly due to expanded voting rights, allowing more people to participate.

  • Jackson's presidency marked the rise of a more populist political style.

Front: Tariff of Abominations (1828)

Back:

  • A high tariff on imported goods designed to protect Northern industries from foreign competition.

  • Southern states, especially South Carolina, called it the "Tariff of Abominations" because they relied on imported goods and saw the tariff as unfair.

  • The tariff widened the economic divide between the industrial North and agricultural South.

Front: Indian Removal Act (1830)

Back:

  • A law signed by Jackson to relocate Native American tribes (like the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole) to lands west of the Mississippi River.

  • Why? Jackson and many settlers wanted Native lands for farming and settlement.

  • The act faced opposition, but Jackson pushed it forward, claiming it would "protect" Native Americans from conflicts with settlers.

Front: Trail of Tears

Back:

  • The forced removal of the Cherokee Nation and other tribes under the Indian Removal Act.

  • They were marched hundreds of miles to designated territory in present-day Oklahoma.

  • Conditions: Brutal weather, disease, and lack of supplies caused the deaths of thousands of Native Americans.

Front: “Our Hearts are Sickened”

Back:

  • A letter or speech by Chief John Ross, leader of the Cherokee Nation.

  • He expressed sorrow and anger over the treatment of his people during the forced removal.

  • It highlighted the suffering and injustice experienced by the Cherokee.

Front: Nullification Crisis

Back:

  • South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, declared the Tariff of Abominations unconstitutional and refused to enforce it, claiming states could "nullify" federal laws.

  • Jackson’s Response: He strongly opposed nullification, viewing it as a threat to national unity. He threatened military action through the Force Bill and worked with Henry Clay to pass a compromise tariff, which resolved the crisis.

Front: Mandate

Back:

  • A mandate refers to the idea that Jackson believed he had overwhelming public support to carry out bold actions, especially because he won elections by large margins.

  • He used this belief to justify controversial policies like vetoing the National Bank and removing Native Americans.

Front: Use of the Veto

Back:

  • Jackson redefined the use of the presidential veto, using it not just to block unconstitutional laws but also to stop policies he personally disagreed with.

  • He saw himself as a direct representative of the people and used the veto to protect their interests, especially against elites and institutions like the National Bank.

Front: Bank War & Bank Veto

Back:

  • Jackson believed the National Bank gave too much power to wealthy elites and hurt ordinary Americans.

  • He vetoed the recharter of the bank in 1832, calling it corrupt and unconstitutional.

  • After the veto, he moved federal funds to "pet banks" (state banks), which destabilized the economy.

Front: Whig Party

Back:

  • A political party formed in opposition to Jackson’s policies and leadership style.

  • Beliefs: Wanted a stronger Congress, weaker presidency, and government investment in infrastructure (like roads and canals).

  • They viewed Jackson as acting like a king, calling him “King Andrew.”

Front: Jackson and Slavery

Back:

  • Jackson was a slave owner who supported the expansion of slavery into new territories.

  • His policies and personal beliefs aligned with the Southern plantation economy, which relied heavily on enslaved labor.

Front: Panic of 1837

Back:

  • An economic depression caused by factors including Jackson’s decision to dismantle the National Bank and issue the Specie Circular (requiring land to be purchased with gold or silver).

  • Banks failed, businesses collapsed, and unemployment rose.

  • Martin Van Buren, Jackson’s successor, had to deal with the crisis.