andrew jackson and rhode island

1. Andrew Jackson: The seventh president of the United States (1829–1837). A polarizing figure, he represented a shift in American politics towards a more populist approach, with strong opposition to the elite, especially in areas like banking and tariffs.

2. Rachel Jackson: Jackson's wife, whose background and personal life were the subject of political scandal, especially surrounding her marriage and the accusations of adultery that were used against Jackson during his political campaigns.

3. War of 1812: Jackson became a national hero during the War of 1812, especially due to his victory at the Battle of New Orleans, where he defeated the British forces in 1815.

4. Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814): Another of Jackson’s significant military victories during the War of 1812, where he defeated the Creek Nation, a group of Native American tribes allied with the British.

5. Election of 1824 & the “Corrupt Bargain”: Jackson won the most popular votes in the 1824 presidential election, but no candidate had an electoral majority, so the decision went to the House of Representatives. John Quincy Adams was chosen as president, and Jackson's supporters accused Adams and Henry Clay of a "corrupt bargain" after Clay, who was Speaker of the House, threw his support behind Adams.

6. Martin Van Buren: A key ally of Jackson, Van Buren served as Jackson’s Secretary of State and later as his vice president. He was instrumental in the development of the Democratic Party.

7. Development of the Democratic Party: The Democratic Party solidified under Jackson, representing a coalition of populist, states’ rights, and agrarian interests, opposed to the more elitist, business-friendly National Republicans.

8. Modern Campaigns: Jackson's election in 1828 is often seen as the start of modern political campaigning, characterized by mass rallies, newspapers, and appeals directly to the "common man."

9. Push for Universal Male Suffrage: Jackson’s rise coincided with expanding suffrage rights, as many states eliminated property qualifications for voting, which helped to solidify Jackson’s populist support.

10. 1828 Election: Jackson ran against John Quincy Adams again and won in a landslide, fueled by popular support from the working class and frontier settlers.

Jackson's Presidency

1. National Republicans vs. Democrats: In the 1830s, the political scene became polarized between Jackson’s Democrats and the opposition, the National Republicans, who later evolved into the Whigs. The National Republicans favored a strong central government, while Jackson's Democrats advocated for states’ rights and limited federal intervention.

2. Spoils System: Jackson implemented the spoils system, rewarding political supporters with government jobs. While this helped solidify his political base, it also led to corruption and inefficiency.

3. Petticoat Affair (Peggy Eaton Affair): A social scandal involving Peggy Eaton, the wife of Jackson's Secretary of War, John Eaton. The affair divided Jackson's cabinet, and Jackson’s defense of the Eatons angered many, especially his vice president, John C. Calhoun.

4. Nullification Crisis: A confrontation between Jackson and South Carolina over the issue of tariffs. South Carolina, led by Calhoun, argued that states could "nullify" federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, particularly the Tariff of 1832, which South Carolina viewed as harmful to its economy.

5. Indian Removal and the Indian Removal Act (1830): Jackson supported the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River. This policy led to the Trail of Tears, a brutal forced march in which thousands of Native Americans died. The Five Civilized Tribes—Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole—were particularly affected.

6. Bank War: Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States, seeing it as a symbol of elite control over the economy. Henry Clay's recharter effort in 1832 was defeated when Jackson vetoed the bill, and he moved to dismantle the bank by withdrawing federal funds and depositing them in state-chartered "pet banks."

7. Specie Circular: A decree issued by Jackson requiring land purchases to be made in gold or silver, which exacerbated the economic downturn.

8. Panic of 1837: A financial crisis caused by the collapse of the banking system and the Specie Circular, leading to a severe recession that persisted throughout Van Buren’s presidency.

Rhode Island Suffrage Movement

1. Dorr Rebellion: In the 1840s, Thomas Dorr led an effort in Rhode Island to extend suffrage to white men without property, challenging the state's restrictive voting laws under its colonial Royal Charter.

2. Benjamin Hazard, Seth Luther, Roger Williams: Key figures in the Rhode Island Suffrage Association, advocating for democratic reforms in the state. They challenged the conservative, aristocratic leadership in Rhode Island and demanded a broader franchise.

3. Suffrage in Colonial Rhode Island: During the colonial period, voting was restricted to property owners, largely excluding working-class men and all women. This contributed to the push for reform in the 19th century.

4. Royal Charter: The 1663 Royal Charter granted Rhode Island autonomy but was also a barrier to extending suffrage rights. The Dorr Rebellion ultimately failed, but it contributed to reform, with Rhode Island adopting a more democratic state constitution in 1843.

5. Tactics of the RI Suffrage Association: The suffrage movement used petitions, conventions, and protests to push for a new constitution, which eventually resulted in the enfranchisement of a broader segment of white men in Rhode Island.

6. Charter Government's Resistance: The Charter government used various tactics to maintain power, including imprisoning Dorr and his supporters, trying to suppress dissent, and refusing to recognize the new constitution proposed by reformers.