The Age of Andrew Jackson

Past Actions

  • Once had a duel with Governor Sevier of TN

  • Shot and killed a man named Charles Dickinson

  • Nicknamed “Old Hickory”

  • A man of principle

    • wouldn’t budge on issues as he believed he was always right

Jackson’s Core Beliefs

  • Contradictory

    • strict constructionist and believed in state’s rights, but believed federal power was supreme

  • Vetoed internal improvement bill - believed state funds should be used to pay for this

The Spoils System

  • People put Jackson in office to get stuff done

    • rewarded loyal supporters with government jobs

The Bank War

  • Most opposition to the second national bank came from Southerners and Westerners

    • wanted greater supply of money to be in circulation

  • Jackson believed the bank was for the rich elite and unconstitutional

  • According to Jackson and his followers, Second Bank symbolized privilege and power of northern interests

    • in 1832, Jackson vetoed a bill to recharter the bank

    • withdrew federal money from bank and placed that money in state banks

    • Jackson effectively killed the national bank

    • lead to Panic of 1837, which was a financial depression

The Tariff Issue

  • Southern states opposed Tariff of 1828

    • would favor northern manufacturers

  • Jackson signed this into law when he became president. VP reacted with S. Carolina Exposition & Protest to state his ideas about nullification

  • S. Carolina nullified the tariff → Jackson threatned military intervention to enforce tariff

    • stated that S. Carolina’s actions were treasonous

  • Compromise tariff was enacted in 1833. S. Carolina backed down with its threat, VP resigned

Force Bill

  • Gave the president the power to use military power to enforce tariffs

  • Federal government lowered tariff

    • S.C. didn’t want to nullify

Political Divisons - Whig Party

  • Whigs were opposed to Jackson

  • Supported National Bank, Protective Tariff, and use of federal funds for internal improvements

  • They felt that Jackson increased his power beyond that of the Constitution

Historical Context (Indian Removal)

  • Settlers who moved west needed internal improvements to move their goods to eastern markets

  • Eastern manufacturers needed to sell their products west

  • Southern cotton planters depleted soil in the east, needed to move west to firtle soil

Jackson’s Indian Removal Policy

  • Cherokee had complied with federal government to have their tribes become an independent nation

  • Jackson’s Indian Removal Act (1830) led to displacement of 60,000 Native American tribes

  • 1832: Cherokee went to court to prevent Georgia form taking their land

  • Worcester vs Georgia: Cheif Jusitce John Marshall ruled that GA had to authority over Cherokee territory

  • Jackson said that Marshall ruled, now let him enforce it

  • Georgia ignored the ruling

Oklahoma Territory

  • Present-day Oklahoma was used by Indians after removal form GA

    • idea was to use territory as one large reservation

  • Territory was divided on basis of tribal affiliation