Andrew Jackson and Reform Themes

Andrew Jackson's Impact on US Politics

  • Transformative Figure: Andrew Jackson profoundly changed US politics.

  • Presidential Power Expansion: He significantly expanded the power of the presidency.

  • Democratic Party Embodiment: Jackson embodied the principles of the Democratic Party.

Veto Power

  • Veto Happy: Jackson was known for vetoing legislation frequently.

  • Record: He vetoed more legislation than all six preceding presidents combined.

Jackson as a War Hero

  • War of 1812: Jackson gained fame during the War of 1812.

  • Battle of New Orleans: His victory in the Battle of New Orleans was particularly significant.

Expanding Electorate

  • State Control of Voting: Voting laws were controlled by individual states.

  • Property Requirement: Many states dropped the property requirement to vote, tripling the number of eligible voters.

Corrupt Bargain of 1824

  • Election Outcome: Jackson won the most votes (popular and electoral) in the 1824 election but did not secure a majority of the electoral vote.

  • Congressional Decision: Congress chose John Quincy Adams over Jackson.

  • Jackson's Reaction: Jackson claimed a corrupt bargain between Adams and Henry Clay cheated him out of the presidency.

  • Campaign: Jackson started campaigning for the 1828 election immediately after the 1824 election.

Jackson as a Common Man

  • Poor Orphan: Jackson was born a poor orphan on the frontier.

  • Frontier Upbringing: He embodied the image of the common man.

Spoil System

  • Patronage: Jackson implemented a spoil system, granting jobs to political supporters.

  • Political Bribery: Critics viewed this as political bribery, strengthening the Democratic Party's power and money.

  • Corruption: The spoil system led to governmental corruption and unqualified individuals holding positions.

  • Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883: This act replaced the spoil system with civil service exams, aiming to reduce corruption and increase government effectiveness.

Tariff Crisis

  • Nullification: South Carolina threatened to nullify a tariff passed by Congress.

  • Jackson's Response: Jackson threatened to enforce the tariff law, ultimately leading to a compromise with a reduced tariff.

Bank War

  • Killing the Bank: Jackson dismantled the national bank, despite its acceptance by both parties and the Supreme Court's approval.

  • Economic Crisis: This action contributed to an economic crisis after his presidency due to the lack of a central stabilizing bank.

Native American Removal

  • Forced Removal: Jackson forced the removal of Native Americans, leading to the Trail of Tears.

  • Indian Removal Act: This act caused significant suffering, especially for the Cherokee.

  • Genocide: He was accused of committing genocide.

  • Dawes Act of 1887: The Dawes Act occurred during the Gilded Age after the Civil War.

Economic Impact of Wars

  • War of 1812: It Helped kick start the American economy.

  • Civil War: Boosted the US economy due to massive industrial output.

  • World War II: Helped the US become a global economic power.

How Jackson Changed US Politics

  • Political Campaigning: He changed political campaigning strategies.

  • Common Man: Emboldened the common man.

  • Populist Policy: Embraced populist policies.

  • Spoil System: The spoil system changed political campaigning.

  • Party Conventions: Introduced party conventions to nominate political leaders.

  • Democratic Convention: He initiated the Democratic convention.

How Jackson Expanded Presidential Power

  • Veto Power: Jackson vetoed numerous laws, exceeding his predecessors.

  • Ignoring SCOTUS: Jackson ignored the Supreme Court ruling on Indian removal in Georgia v. Worcester.

  • Executive Orders: He increased the usage of executive orders.

How Jackson Embodied Democratic Party Principles

  • Common Man Representation: Jackson represented the common man.

  • Bank Opposition: He ended the national bank.

  • Pro-Slavery Expansionist: Jackson was pro-slavery expansionist.

Populism

  • Populist Policy: A political means of appealing to a broad group of people.

  • Examples: Immigration policies and land acquisitions from Native Americans reflect populism.

Evaluating Jackson's Policies

*To truly grasp Jackson, consider the period, with majority Americans being impoverished white farmers. He stood as their champion because, prior Jackson, the authority was essentially held by affluent elites.

Second Great Awakening

  • Time: 1820's, religious revival.

  • New Religions: Several new American-made religions came to the fore.

  • Mormonism: Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in Rochester, NY.

  • Reform Movements: The Second Great Awakening incited reforms regarding slavery, women's rights etc.

  • Burned Over District: Western New York was burned over, and every preacher preached about how we were all in hell.

  • Focus: Reform movements for abolitionism and women's rights.

Reform Movements

  • Abolitionism: Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, as well as Frederick Douglass, who was an eloquent former black slave/ speaker.

  • Women's Rights: Women were very active in reform, and women were wanna be more involved in abolitionism. That's Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

  • Temperance: Refers to the movement to reduce drinking.

  • Public schools: Refers to the movement to increase education.

  • Prison Reform: Refers to the movement to Reform prisoners by reforming them.

  • Transcendentalism: Act on your beliefs to be a better person.

  • Utopias: Creating ideal societies.

Important Abolitionists

  • Garisson - Wants immediate abolishment, just get rid of it.

  • Harriet Beacher Stowe - Uncle Tom's Cabin.

  • Federick Douglas - Most convincing argument for why slavery is wrong and evil.

  • John Brown - Radical who wanted to use violence to end slavery.

  • Garrett Smith - Gave land to the Adirondacks, financed john browns raid on harpers ferry.