Age of Jackson and Jacksonian Democracy

Candidate Statistics: During the presidential election of $1824$ , no candidate was able to secure a majority of the electoral votes.
Role of the House of Representatives: Due to the lack of a majority, the responsibility of selecting the president fell to the House of Representatives.
Henry Clay's Influence: Henry Clay, who was serving as the Speaker of the House, withdrew his candidacy and utilized his influence to convince other House members to cast their votes for John Q. Adams.
Election Outcome: John Q. Adams emerged as the winner and subsequently appointed Henry Clay to the high-ranking position of Secretary of State.
Jacksonian Backlash: Andrew Jackson and his supporters believed the political maneuvering between Adams and Clay was fundamentally unfair and corrupt. They famously labeled the incident the "Corrupt Bargain."

Party Realignment: In the wake of the previous election, the Democratic party split off to form a distinct political entity.
Jackson's Candidacy: Andrew Jackson campaigned for the presidency as a Democrat, aiming to unseat Q. Adams.
Inauguration of Modern Campaign Tactics: Jackson utilized several new and energetic methods to mobilize voters, including:
- Public rallies.
- Parades.
- The use of nominating conventions.
The "Common Man" Persona: Jackson's victory was largely attributed to his image as a "Common Man." He garnered deep respect and support from farmers and laborers who saw him as one of their own.
White House Celebration: After his inauguration, Jackson opened the White House to the general public for a celebration. The crowd became so rowdy that the executive mansion ended up being trashed.

Expansion of Voting Rights: Many states began to eliminate property ownership requirements, allowing a much larger percentage of white males to vote regardless of whether they owned land.
Selection Process Reform: The practice of using nominating conventions began to take hold as the standard method for selecting presidential candidates.
Political Engagement: Candidates increased their visibility by holding public dinners, rallies, and meetings to connect directly with the electorate.

Citizen Participation: Jackson was a proponent of ordinary citizens playing a more active and direct part in the political and governing process.
Perception of Corruption: Jackson believed that many established government officials were corrupt and served their own interests rather than the public's.
The "Spoils System": Upon taking office, Jackson fired many long-time government officials and replaced them with his own political supporters. He defended this practice with the concept of the "Spoils System," where the victor of an election is entitled to the "spoils" (government jobs).

The Tariff of $1828$ : Congress passed a high tariff in $1828$ that had a significantly negative economic impact on the Southern states.
Economic Consequences: The South found it increasingly difficult to trade or exchange their agricultural crops with foreign countries due to the new trade barriers.
Southern Resentment: Southerners were so outraged by the law that they referred to it as the "Tariff of Abominations."
The Nullification Argument: John C. Calhoun argued that individual states possessed the sovereign right to nullify (cancel or ignore) federal laws they considered unfair.
South Carolina's Defiance: The state of South Carolina passed the Nullification Act, officially declared the tariff nullified within its borders, and threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government tried to enforce it.
Jackson's Response and the Force Bill: President Jackson prepared for a military confrontation and secured the passage of the Force Bill from Congress to authorize the use of the military to enforce federal law.
The Compromise of $1833$ : The crisis was eventually resolved when Henry Clay proposed a compromise that would gradually reduce the tariff over the next $10$ years, leading South Carolina to back down.

Motivations for Land Acquisition: Jackson and his core supporters, the "common man," desired the land occupied by Native Americans for two main reasons:
- Expanding agricultural farming.
- Prospecting for gold resources.
Legislative Action: Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law in $1830$ .
Judicial Conflict: In the landmark Supreme Court case Worcestor v. Georgia, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the state of Georgia had no legal authority to remove the Cherokee people from their ancestral lands.
Executive Defiance: Jackson ignored the Supreme Court's ruling and allowed the state of Georgia to proceed with the forced removal of the Native Americans.

Forced Relocation: Native Americans were forcibly moved from their homes to Indian Territory, which is located in present-day Oklahoma.
Seasonal Hardships: The journey took place during the arduous fall and winter months.
High Mortality Rate: The conditions were so severe that $1/4$ (one-fourth) of the approximately $15,000$ Cherokees died during the migration.
Legacy: This tragic event in American history became known as the "Trail of Tears."

Opposition to the Bank: Jackson sought to destroy the National Bank, viewing it as an institution that unfairly favored the wealthy elite over the common citizen.
Introduction of "Pet Banks": He ordered that all federal funds be removed from the National Bank and placed into various state banks, which were nicknamed "pet banks." These banks were expected to be more willing to lend money to farmers.
Veto of the Charter: When the time came to renew the National Bank's charter, Jackson utilized his presidential veto to prevent its continuation.

Rising Global Recognition: During this period, American literature began to achieve international fame and respect.
Herman Melville: Wrote Moby Dick, which is widely regarded as the greatest American novel.
Washington Irving: Famous author of the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
Edgar Allan Poe: Renowned for writing dark and eerie short stories.
The Hudson River School: Founded by Thomas Cole, this artistic movement focused on the majestic portrayal of American nature.
John James Audubon: Published "Birds of America," which is recognized as the most significant and important book ever produced on the subject of birds.