Andrew Jackson and the Growth of American Democracy

1
Andrew Jackson and the Growth of American
Democracy

1. Campaign of 1828 was a dirty campaign.
2. Both sides participated in mudslinging by making
   reckless accusations against each other.
3. Jackson was not the choice of the rich and
   well-born such as planters, merchants, bankers,
   and lawyers.
4. Jackson was a controversial president.

King Andrew the First
2
The Inauguration of Andrew Jackson

• Until 1820 only the rich and well-born could
  vote.
• New states west of the Appalachian Mts.
  challenged this.
• Believed they should also share the same rights,
  including voting.
• With the western states leading the way, voting
  laws were changed.
• Now the common man could vote but didnt
  include slaves, Indians, or women.
• Because the common man could vote, three times
  more people voted in 1828 then in 1824.
• New voters felt the national government had been
  taken over by the rich.
• Jackson promised to return the government to the
  people.
• He was supported by the farmers, shopkeepers, and
  small business owners.

Everyone have a slice of cheese
3
From the Frontier to the White House

• Jackson was considered the peoples president.
• Showed courage, even as a young man.
• The Frontier Lawyer
• the most roaring, rollicking, game-cocking,
• horse-racing, card-paying, mischievous
• fellow in town.
• Earned enough money to buy land and
• slaves and become a gentleman
• farmer.

The Hermitage
Dueling over an insult about wife, Rachel.
4
The Peoples Choice
Henry Clay

• Battle of New Orleans made Old Hickory a
  national hero.
• Ran for president against Henry Clay in 1824.
• Clay made a corrupt bargain with John Quincy
  Adams so that Adams could be president.
• Jackson supporters built a new political
  organization called the Democratic Party.
• They promised the party would represent ordinary
  farmers, workers, and the poor.
• Sang the nations first campaign song The
  Hunters of Kentucky.

Hero of the Battle of New Orleans Determined
leader. Supported by the common man of the West.
John Quincy Adams
5
Jacksons Approach to Governing

• The Kitchen Cabinet
• Listened to others but did exactly what he wanted
  to do.
• Made his decision with the help of trusted
  friends and political supporters
• Rich and well-born felt the men around the
  president were not the proper sort to be running
  the country.

6
The Spoils System

• 
  Some civil servants saw their
• 
  posts as lifetime jobs.
• 
  Jackson wanted to give more
• 
  people a chance to serve
• 
  their government.
• 
  He wanted to rotate people
• 
  in office.
• He could put patriotism above party loyalty.
• He rewarded his supporters with government jobs.

Jackson rewarding his followers (as seen by the
Republicans)
7
The Nullification Crisis

• In 1828 Congress passed a tariff.
• Favored by the northern states, but
• opposed by southerners.
• Southerners felt the tariffs would
• discourage trade with other countries
• and hurt their cotton trading.
• John C. Calhoun called for southern states to
• declare the tariff null and void.
• Southerners called it the Tariff of Abominations
• Southern states threatened to secede.
• Jackson passed the Force Bill.

John C. Calhoun
8
Jackson Battles the Bank of the United States

• Felt the Bank favored the rich and not the
  farmers or workers.
• Felt the Bank stood in the way of opportunity.
• Distrusted the Banks president, Nicholas Biddle.
• Henry Clay got Congress to renew the Banks
  charter.
• Jackson had all federal deposits removed from the
  Bank and put into small state banks.

Henry Clay