Andrew Jackson McNuggetuhhhhh

Biography & Background

• Born: Son of Scots-Irish immigrants in the Carolinas

• Career: Lawyer, land speculator, politician, and plantation owner

• Personality: Known for strong conviction and determination; bulldozed through challenges.

• Nickname: "Old Hickory" – symbolizes his toughness, like the strong hickory tree.

• Education: Second president without a college education.

Early Life and Key Events

• Revolutionary War: Jackson was scarred by a British officer during the Revolution for refusing to shine the officer’s boots.

• Personal Life: He killed Charles Dickinson in a duel to defend his wife’s honor.

• Indian Fighter: Led the Seminole Campaign in Florida, violating international boundaries.

• Battle of New Orleans: Jackson became a national hero.

The Age of Jackson (1820s-1830s)

• Expansion of Voting Rights: Before the 1820s, voting was restricted to white male property owners or taxpayers. After the 1820s, it was extended to all white males.

• Election of 1828:

  • Jackson defeated John Quincy Adams.

  • Popular Vote: Jackson 56% to Adams 44%

  • Electoral Vote: Jackson 68% to Adams 32%

  • Symbolized the rise of the "common man."

Jackson’s Government Remake

• Spoils System: Jackson rewarded his political supporters with government positions, leading to incompetent individuals in office.

• Kitchen Cabinet: Jackson’s group of trusted friends who influenced decisions more than his official advisors.

Jacksonian Democracy: Political Policies and Views

• “Tariff of Abominations”:

  • Aimed to protect American industries from European competition.

  • Led to higher prices for Americans, causing unrest, especially in the South.

• Southern Anxiety:

  • Fear of interference with slavery and the growing influence of abolitionists.

  • South Carolina Exposition: Written by John C. Calhoun, it denounced tariffs as unconstitutional and proposed nullification.

The Nullification Crisis (1832)

• South Carolina protested the Tariff of Abominations and threatened to nullify it.

• Jackson opposed nullification, threatening military force to ensure compliance.

• Force Bill: Authorized Jackson to use the military to collect tariffs.

• Compromise: Henry Clay helped craft a compromise that lowered tariffs and ended the crisis.

Indian Removal & the Trail of Tears

• Jackson aimed to open up Indian lands for white settlement.

• Indian Removal Act (1830): Forced relocation of tribes to present-day Oklahoma, leading to the Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee died.

• Supreme Court Ruling: The Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee, but Jackson ignored the ruling.

The Bank War

• Jackson distrusted monopolies and the Bank of the United States (BUS), seeing it as a corrupt institution with too much power.

• Bank War of 1832: Jackson vetoed a bill to renew the BUS charter, causing a rift between him and the wealthy elites.

• McCulloch v. Maryland: Confirmed that monopolistic banks were constitutional.

• Jackson’s victory over the Bank led to its demise in 1836. He removed federal deposits, and the Bank died out, creating a financial vacuum.

Election of 1832

• Jackson defeated Henry Clay with overwhelming support, despite the Bank War.

• Popular Vote: Jackson 687,502 vs. Clay 530,189

• Electoral Vote: Jackson 219 vs. Clay 49

Economic and Political Shifts

• Pet Banks: State banks that received federal funds after Jackson dismantled the Bank of the United States.

• Specie Circular: Required that public land be purchased with gold or silver, which led to an economic recession.

Rise of the Whig Party

• Opponents of Jackson formed the Whig Party, led by Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun.

• Whigs: Advocated for internal improvements (canals, railroads, telegraph lines), public institutions, and a stronger federal government.

Mass Democracy & King Andrew I

• Whigs accused Jackson of becoming a tyrant, especially during the Nullification Crisis and his battle with the Bank of the US.

Election of 1836

• Jackson’s chosen successor, Martin Van Buren, won the presidency.

• Popular Vote: Van Buren 50.9% vs. 49%

• Electoral Vote: Van Buren 170 vs. 113

Van Buren Presidency

• Panic of 1837: Caused by the Specie Circular, leading to bank failures, high unemployment, and a depression lasting until 1843.

Election of 1840

• Whigs chose William Henry Harrison, who defeated Van Buren.

• Harrison’s slogan: “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”

• Electoral Vote: Harrison 234 vs. Van Buren 60

• This marked the end of the Jacksonian era.

Texas and Mexican Provinces

• Mexico offered land grants to Americans in Texas, but settlers had to obey Mexican laws and become Catholic.

• By the 1830s, American settlers outnumbered Mexicans 10 to 1, leading to tensions over control of Texas.

• Mexico restricted immigration in 1830, but the American settlers continued to challenge Mexican authority.

Key Themes & Concepts:

• Jacksonian Democracy: Expansion of voting rights, the rise of the common man, and the reshaping of American political institutions.

• Conflict with the Bank: Jackson’s war against the Bank of the United States significantly altered America’s financial system.

• Indian Removal: The forced relocation of Native American tribes remains one of the most controversial aspects of Jackson’s presidency.

• Nullification Crisis: A critical moment in U.S. history, where state vs. federal power was tested.

Important Terms:

• Spoils System

• Kitchen Cabinet

• Tariff of Abominations

• Nullification

• Indian Removal Act

• Trail of Tears

• Bank War

• Whig Party