Chapter 9 Quiz

1. Andrew Jackson’s Military Career

• Andrew Jackson gained fame as a military leader during the War of 1812, particularly for his victory at the Battle of New Orleans (1815). He also led campaigns against Native American tribes, including the Creek War (1813–1814), where he earned the nickname "Old Hickory" for his toughness. His military success boosted his political career and image as a champion of the common man.

2. Jacksonian Democracy

• Jacksonian Democracy refers to the political philosophy of Andrew Jackson and his supporters, emphasizing:

  • Expansion of suffrage to all white men (not just property owners).

  • Opposition to aristocracy and elitism.

  • Support for the common man and westward expansion.

  • A strong executive branch.

• It marked a shift toward greater popular participation in politics but often excluded women, Native Americans, and African Americans.

3. Spoils System

• The Spoils System was Jackson’s practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs. He argued it promoted democracy by rotating officeholders and preventing a permanent bureaucratic class. Critics, however, saw it as corrupt and inefficient.

4. Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations)

• This protective tariff was designed to shield Northern industries from foreign competition but hurt the South by raising the cost of imported goods. Southerners, led by John C. Calhoun, viewed it as unfair and unconstitutional, leading to the Nullification Crisis.

5. Nullification Crisis

• South Carolina, inspired by John C. Calhoun’s doctrine of nullification, declared the Tariff of 1828 and 1832 null and void within its borders. Jackson responded firmly, threatening to use military force to enforce federal laws. The crisis was resolved with the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which gradually reduced tariffs.

6. Jackson vs. The Bank of the U.S.

• Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States, believing it concentrated too much power in the hands of elites and favored the wealthy over the common man. He vetoed the recharter of the bank in 1832 and withdrew federal funds, effectively destroying it. This led to the creation of "pet banks" and contributed to economic instability.

7. Second Seminole War (1835–1842)

• This was the longest and costliest of the Seminole Wars, fought in Florida as the Seminole tribe resisted forced removal under the Indian Removal Act. The U.S. government struggled to defeat the Seminoles, and many were eventually relocated to Oklahoma, though some remained in Florida.

8. Trail of Tears

• The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of Native American tribes (including the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, and others) from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to present-day Oklahoma. Thousands died from disease, starvation, and exposure during the journey. This was a direct result of Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830.

9. Panic of 1837

• A financial crisis that occurred during Martin Van Buren’s presidency but was rooted in Jackson’s economic policies. The destruction of the Bank of the U.S., the Specie Circular (requiring payment for federal land in gold or silver), and reckless lending by state banks led to a collapse in credit, bank failures, and a severe economic depression.

10. John C. Calhoun and Nullification

• John C. Calhoun was a prominent politician and Vice President under Andrew Jackson. He advocated for the doctrine of nullification, which argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. This was particularly tied to the Tariff of 1828, which hurt Southern economies.

11. Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)

• This Supreme Court case involved the Cherokee Nation’s fight against Georgia’s attempts to seize their land. The Court ruled that the Cherokee Nation was not a foreign state but a "domestic dependent nation," meaning they could not sue in federal court. However, the case highlighted the struggle of Native Americans against forced removal.

12. Soft and Hard Money Advocates

• Soft money advocates supported the use of paper money and favored easier credit policies to help farmers and small businesses. Hard money advocates, including Jackson, favored gold and silver (specie) and opposed excessive paper money, which they believed led to inflation and economic instability.

13. Subtreasury System of Van Buren

• After the Panic of 1837, President Martin Van Buren proposed the Subtreasury System to stabilize the economy. It aimed to separate federal funds from private banks by creating independent treasuries to hold government money, reducing the influence of banks on the economy.

14. Territorial Expansion

• During the Jacksonian era, the U.S. expanded westward, often at the expense of Native Americans. Manifest Destiny became a driving ideology, and territorial disputes (e.g., with Mexico and Britain) intensified. Both Jacksonians and Whigs supported expansion, but they differed on how it should be managed.

15. John Tyler Administration

• John Tyler became president in 1841 after William Henry Harrison’s death. He was a Whig in name but often clashed with the party, earning the nickname "His Accidency." His administration saw the annexation of Texas (1845) and tensions over states’ rights and slavery.

16. Democracy in America (French Book)

• Written by French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835, 1840) analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy. Tocqueville praised the U.S. for its equality of conditions and vibrant civil society but warned of potential dangers like the "tyranny of the majority."