Midterm exam took place and students were provided with answers for preparation.
Review of Key Topics for Final Exam
Topics from the midterm will be included in the final exam.
James Madison
Notable figure discussed in class.
Election of 1824 Overview
Four candidates running for the presidency:
Andrew Jackson: A war hero.
John Quincy Adams: Former secretary of state.
William Crawford: Secretary of the Treasury with medical issues affecting eligibility.
Henry Clay: Speaker of the House; architect of the Missouri Compromise.
No candidate wins a majority of Electoral College votes due to vote splitting among competent candidates.
Twelfth Amendment Impact
Henry Clay drops out because he lacks enough electoral votes.
The final choice is between Adams and Jackson.
Jackson had more popular votes, but Adams wins through political maneuvering by Henry Clay, which Jackson condemned as a "corrupt bargain."
Political Landscape Post Election
The Democratic-Republican Party fractures:
Adams and Clay align forming a national faction.
Jackson leads the Democratic wing.
Political dynamics were characterized by tensions between the factions, with Jackson's supporters opposing Adams.
Tariff of 1828
Raises critical political and economic issues that will impact the next election.
Jackson seeks to support northern manufacturing interest while maintaining southern support by promising to raise tariffs but secretly instructing allies to vote against it.
Resulted in heightened tensions and fallout leading to the election of 1828.
Election of 1828
Andrew Jackson defeats John Quincy Adams in a highly tumultuous election.
Describes Adams as a "tax-wasting pimp" and Jackson as a "philandering murderer."
Jackson’s controversies included his wife’s scandal over marital status.
Adams faced criticism over personal expenditures, framed negatively by Jackson’s campaign.
Election highlights the role of personal scandal and negative campaigning.
Political Scandals and Personalities
John Eaton and Margaret Eaton's marriage causes a scandal due to social dynamics and perceptions of propriety.
SOCIAL function between Jackson’s kitchen cabinet and the wives; Calhoun's wife, Floride, rejects Peggy Eaton, leading to a rift in Jackson’s cabinet.
Tensions lead to political implications for Calhoun’s ambitions for the presidency.
Nullification Crisis
Sparked by the Tariff of 1828, which South Carolina deemed unfair.
Calhoun champions the state compact theory arguing states could nullify federal laws impacting their economy negatively.
Jackson’s response centers on the national theory: governance by the consent of the people, overriding state sovereignty claims.
Outcome of the Nullification Crisis
South Carolina attempts to nullify federal tariff laws, leading to a standoff with the federal government.
Jackson threatens to use military force to enforce federal law, highlighting constitutional conflicts about state versus federal power.
Resolves through federal compromise brokered by Henry Clay, leading to gradual tariff reductions over ten years.
Indian Removal Act
In 1830, the Indian Removal Act is passed, leading to enforced relocation of Native American tribes east of the Mississippi.
Forced relocations begin in 1835, leading to conflicts and wars between U.S. Army and various tribes over 55 years.
Notable Legal Cases
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia: Supreme Court case where the court ruled that Georgia could not seize Cherokee lands, recognized Cherokee's status but still did not take the case against Indian Removal.
Worcester v. Georgia: Missionaries' right to enter Cherokee lands upheld.
Both cases celebrated by the Cherokees as victories but not leading to any actual protective action against removal.
Trail of Tears
The forced marches of the Cherokee and other tribes result in significant suffering and loss of life, historically called the Trail of Tears.
Closing Remarks
Students encouraged to study over the weekend in preparation for the final.
Instructor expresses a sense of pride in student engagement during the class and emphasizes the importance of understanding these historical complexities for the exam.