Download Student Study Guide – Unit 6: The Age of Jackson, 1824 – 1849

Student Study Guide – Unit 6: The Age of Jackson, 1824 – 1849
MAJOR ERAS AND EVENTS IN THIS UNIT

The Age of Jackson
o The End of the Era of Good Feelings
o The Election of 1824 and the “Corrupt Bargain”
o The Election of 1828 and the Beginning of Jacksonian Democracy
o The Indian Removal Act and the Journey Into the West
o The Origins of Secession and Civil War: The Nullification Crisis of 1832
o President Jackson’s War Against the Bank of the United States
THE IMPACT OF THE ELECTION OF ANDREW JACKSON

The End of the Era of Good Feelings – The Democratic-Republican Party (started by Thomas Jefferson) was the
only functioning political party in the USA during the Era of Good Feelings (1815 – 1824). The Federalist Party
had fallen apart due to its general lack of support for the War of 1812. By 1824, the presidential election of that
year had reignited political party rivalry and the Democratic-Republican Party split into two new parties: The
Democrats and the National Republicans. The National Republicans will quickly lose legitimacy due to “the
Corrupt Bargain of 1824,” and the Whigs will rise in their place

The Corrupt Bargain of 1824 – When none of the candidates win a clear majority of votes in the presidential
election of 1824, the House of Representatives is given the job of selecting the president. Henry Clay, the
Speaker of the House and candidate for president, decides to give his support to John Quincy Adams, the
Secretary of State under James Monroe and candidate for president. Meanwhile, Andrew Jackson, a popular
senator from Tennessee and presidential candidate, claims that he should win the presidency because he
received the highest number of votes (that were actually counted) and a slight majority of electoral votes. But
the House chooses Adams, who in turn nominates Clay as his Secretary of State (a position seen as a “gateway
to the presidency”). Jackson and his supporters become infuriated and claim that Adams and Clay made a
“corrupt bargain” to gain power and shut him out of the White House. They consistently attack and hound
President Adams and his administration for the next four years as Jackson prepares another run at the
presidency. Adams and Clay are never able to shake the accusation of wrongdoing while they are in power from
1825 until 1829

“The Age of the Common Man” – Andrew Jackson's election signaled a shift of power to the common man; for
example, property ownership for voting was eliminated around this time, which allowed far more people to vote
than ever before. This created a greater access to democracy for the common people because of the expanded
suffrage (voting) rights
o
His views left a legacy to the modern Democratic party
o
It was the idea that democracy should be a part of every aspect of our culture - Social, Economic, and
Political life – “Government by the people – A Victory for the Common Man” (the regular, everyday
American citizen should take part in politics, regardless of wealth, perceived talents, or formal
education)
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS IN “THE AGE OF THE COMMON MAN”


The Former Democratic-Republican Party
o The Democrats (formerly part of the Democratic-Republicans, or Republicans)
 Supported and funded Andrew Jackson’s campaign for president in 1828 and 1832
 Wanted a Federal Government with LIMITED POWER
 Strict Constructionist View of the Constitution
 Opposed National Bank and tariffs
 Supported a more agricultural economy
o The Whigs (made up of National Republicans, Anti-Jacksonians, and politicians who identified with the
old Federalist Party)
 Strongly opposed Andrew Jackson for president
 Wanted a STRONGER Federal Government with MORE power
 Loose constructionist view of the Constitution
 Favored the National Bank and tariffs
 Supported an economy based on manufacturing and the shipping industry in cities
The Rise of Sectionalism (and the Potential for Conflict Regarding Slavery)
o The Northern Point of View – Supported the Federal Government, or the Union, over the states (the
Whig Party)
 The Whigs and most Northerners usually saw slavery as a national issue – “Political balance
must be maintained to keep peace”
o The Southern Point of View – Supported States' Rights over Federal Government power – (The
Democratic Party)
 The Democrats and most Southerners usually saw slavery as a sectional issue – “Slavery is not an
issue the national government should involve itself in”
REASONS FOR THE REMOVAL AND RESETTLEMENT OF CHEROKEE INDIANS DURING THE JACKSONIAN ERA

Reasons for the Removal and Resettlement of the Cherokee Indian Tribe
o

Early in the 19th Century (1800’s), while the rapidly-growing United States expanded into the lower
South, white settlers faced what they considered an obstacle. This area was home to several American
Indian nations. These Indian nations, in the view of the settlers and many other white Americans, were
standing in the way of “progress.” Eager for land to raise cotton, the settlers pressured the federal
government to acquire more territory from native tribes.
Federal Policies Regarding the Cherokee
o
Native Americans could occupy U.S. lands, but they could not hold title to that land (Supreme Court
ruling in 1823).
o
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 – This act gave the president power to negotiate removal treaties with
Indian tribes living east of the Mississippi. Ideally, this act was meant to help keep the peace and avoid
conflict between the various American Indian tribes and “white” American settlers moving into western
lands. Under these treaties, the Indians were to give up their lands east of the Mississippi in exchange
for lands out in the American West. Those wishing to remain in the east would become citizens of their
home state and needed to assimilate into modern American culture. This act affected not only the
southeastern nations, but many others further north. The removal was supposed to be voluntary and
peaceful, and it was that way for the tribes that agreed to the conditions. The southeastern nations
resisted, and Jackson believed he needed to force them to leave to maintain peace.
o
Worcester v. Georgia (1832) – The Cherokee used legal means in their attempt to safeguard their rights.
They sought protection from land-hungry American settlers. The Cherokee adopted a written
constitution declaring themselves to be a sovereign nation. They based this on United States policy; in
former treaties, Indian nations had been declared sovereign so they would be legally capable of holding
their lands. The state of Georgia, however, did not recognize their sovereign status, but saw them as
tenants living on state land. The Cherokee took their case to the Supreme Court, which originally ruled
against them.

However, the Cherokee went to the Supreme Court again in 1831. This time they based their
appeal on an 1830 Georgia law, which prohibited white Americans from living on Indian territory
after March 31, 1831, without a license from the state. The state legislature had written this
law to justify removing white missionaries who were helping Indians resist removal. This time,
the Court decided in favor of the Cherokee. It stated that the Cherokee had the right to selfgovernment, and declared Georgia's extension of state law over them to be unconstitutional.
The state of Georgia refused to abide by the Court decision, however, and President Jackson
became frustrated with the decision and refused to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Essentially, he ignored the Supreme Court’s decision!

o
Unfortunately, at the time, most Americans did not agree with the Supreme Court’s
ruling, and therefore did not get upset or seek to impeach President Jackson when he
refused to abide by the Court’s decision. If a modern president refused to follow a
Supreme Court ruling today, he would be impeached
The Trail of Tears – In 1836, the Cherokee were given two years to migrate voluntarily, at the end of
which time they would be forcibly removed. By 1838, only 2,000 had migrated and 16,000 remained on
their tribal lands. Martin Van Buren, the president elected after Jackson, decided to enforce the Indian
Removal Act and ignore the Worcester v. Georgia ruling as well. The U.S. government sent in 7,000
troops, who forced the Cherokees into stockades at bayonet point. They were not allowed time to
gather their belongings, and as they left, some white Americans looted their homes. Thus began the
march known as the Trail of Tears, in which 4,000 Cherokee people died of cold, hunger, and disease on
their way to their new western lands beyond the Mississippi River.
IMPACT OF SLAVERY ON DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES


The Northern Stance on Slavery
o
Illegal in many places, or at least seen as morally wrong, since the American Revolution
o
Abolitionist societies and newspapers thrived in the North and many Northerners would become
involved in the Underground Railroad
o
Many were ambivalent (or hesitant to get involved) to the plight of slaves and mistreated free blacks in
the North (Just because slavery was seen as wrong did not mean racism did not exist)
The Southern Stance on Slavery
o
Economic Reasons: Slaves were viewed as property and labor supply

o
Slavery allowed the “Southern way of life” (culture) to continue; slavery was seen as vital to maintaining
the South’s economic prosperity
o
Southerners considered slavery a “States’ Rights” issue and became very angry when the Federal
Government ever attempted to address the issue
The Western Stance on Slavery
o
There was constant fighting between Northern and Southern politicians and settlers over whether or
not to extend slavery into the territories out west.
o
It was politically awkward and frustrating for politicians to attempt to maintain a constant balance of
Free and Slave states in the US Senate.
ARGUMENTS REGARDING PROTECTIVE TARIFFS, TAXATION, AND JACKSON’S WAR WITH THE BANKING SYSTEM

Protective Tariffs – During Andrew Jackson’s time as president, a debate over tariffs (taxes on imports) that had
started years before he took office continued to develop. Congress had endorsed high tariffs on any goods
manufactured in Europe to protect American industries. Many Americans welcomed these protective tariffs,
especially Americans living in the Northeastern states where industry thrived. The Northern factory workers
believed that tariffs would increase the demand for American-made manufactured goods. Southerners were in
disagreement with the protective tariffs because all Americans would now end up paying higher prices for goods
manufactured in the USA, instead of cheaper (and sometimes superior) imported goods.

Taxation – Andrew Jackson opposed a strong central government and opposed unreasonable taxation exercised
by the federal government. Jackson believed that taxation could quickly lead to an abuse of power and control
over the American people. Therefore, he tended to oppose higher tariffs (except when his supporters tried to
manipulate a political situation and pass the extremely high Tariff of 1828 in order to attempt to make Northern
tariff supporters look like hypocrites . . . but it did not work! The tariff passed through Congress and hurt the
entire nation. It was soon called the “Tariff of Abominations” by Southerners.

Jackson’s War with the National Bank – The Bank of the United States was extremely powerful and it controlled
the nation’s money supply. Jackson viewed this bank as a corrupt organization made up of elitists run by private
bankers (what he saw as “the aristocracy” of America). Jackson believed that he had to personally stop this
bank from gaining too much power over the economy and from favoring the only the wealthy people of the
nation. When Jackson was given the option to sign a renewed charter bill for a Second Bank of the United
States, he decided to veto it instead, which caused the bank to close in the coming years and played a role in the
Panic of 1837, which began an economic recession that lasted almost a decade.
THE EFFECTS OF CONGRESSIONAL CONFLICTS AND COMPROMISES OVER SLAVERY PRIOR TO THE CIVIL WAR

The Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves of 1807 (End of the Transatlantic Slave Trade w/ North America) –
When the Constitution was being written and debated in 1787, the delegates compromised on the issue of
slavery through the Three/Fifths Compromise. They also agree to not discuss or attempt to prohibit slavery in
any way for a period of 20 years. By 1807, those twenty years were almost up and Congress, led by Northerners,
sought to make the importation of new slaves into the USA illegal. This officially happened on January 1st, 1808
and it ended the Atlantic Slave Trade in the USA, but did nothing to decrease the population of slaves in the
country.


A Really Bad Situation: The Nullification Crisis of 1832
o
How It Began – This event revolved around the perceived ability of a state to declare certain federal
laws unconstitutional. In 1828, a tariff known as “the Tariff of Abominations” was passed by Congress,
which resulted in Southerners having to pay even more for goods they were used to getting cheaper
from England. In 1832, Andrew Jackson oversaw efforts to pass a lower tariff to replace the Tariff of
Abominations, but South Carolinians did not want any more tariffs to be passed by Congress. Led by
Senator John C. Calhoun, South Carolina declared the new, lower federal tariff to be null and void within
its borders based on the idea of States’ Rights, which Calhoun said the Constitution protected.
o
How It Got Worse – According to John C. Calhoun, Federal actions (such as tariffs) cannot be imposed if a
state considers the actions to be unconstitutional. They chose delegates to attend a special convention
to decide on further action and Calhoun also urged the state legislature to take military action and to
secede from the union if the Federal Government demanded that the tariff be enforced. President
Jackson responded by urging Congress to pass the Force Bill, which would give the president the power
to close South Carolina’s ports and harbors if they did not pay the tariff, making it very difficult for South
Carolina to fight back.
o
How It Got Better (For Now) – To prevent a civil war, Henry Clay found a way to get Congress to
compromise on the issue. He proposed the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which passed and lowered
tariffs significantly. South Carolina and Calhoun decided to back down and settle for the lowered tariff.
“The Great Triumvirate” – The Key Players in the Events of the Nullification Crisis of 1832
o
The Great Triumvirate refers to the three most dominate politicians of the Age of Jackson

John C. Calhoun – South Carolina Senator, who was know for his fiery speeches and passionate
leadership, stood for the rights of the states to determine their own tariff rates. He also wanted
to expand slavery into the western territories and used the Nullification Crisis to further that
agenda.

Henry Clay – Kentucky Senator called “the Great Compromiser,” who was known for his skills at
getting rival politicians to work together and accept compromises. He worked hard to keep the
political balance of power between the Free states and Slave States equal, so that slavery would
never lead to violent conflict. He was the founder of the Whig Party (a precursor to the
Republican Party) as a rival party to Jackson’s Democratic Party (the Whig Party believed in
protecting American industries with tariffs, but also believed in a less powerful federal
government)

Daniel Webster – Massachusetts senator, Northern opponent of Jackson, and passionate antislavery politician. He joined forces with Jackson and Clay (though he rarely agreed with either of
them) to help defeat Calhoun’s Doctrine of Nullification in 1832 for various reasons, including to
keep any potential precedents Calhoun sought to create though the Doctrine of Nullification
from ever allowing a state to rebel against the United States and attempt to secede from the
country

The Pinckney Resolutions of 1836 (The Gag Rule) – Beginning in 1831, during John Quincy Adams
administration, Northerner abolitionists began writing petitions to Congress asking for the abolition or
restriction of slavery in the USA, which were read while Congress was in session. Southerners were outraged
about these petitions and asked their elected leaders to silence these petitions. Senator Henry Pinckney of
South Carolina presented three resolutions that called for the silencing of anti-slavery petitions on constitutional
grounds. Northerners said the resolutions were a violation of free speech and Southerners claimed the
resolutions affirmed what the Constitution already stated. The resolutions passed and were adopted, but
ironically, the “gag rule” only offended more Northerners (not just abolitionists) which generated even more
anti-slavery petitions to Congress!
CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSES TO JUDICIAL REVIEW IN THE AGE OF JACKSON

Presidential Response to Worcester v. Georgia: In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Supreme Court ruled in
favor of the Cherokee. The U.S. Government (not the state of Georgia) had the authority to make treaties with
and determine any regulations involving the Cherokee. However, President Andrew Jackson responded by
enforcing the Indian Removal Act, even though the Court decided that it did not apply to the Cherokee tribe
(meaning that part of the Act was unconstitutional)! He also responded by siding with Georgia and chose not to
enforce the Supreme Court ruling, making this act of judicial review ineffectual.
ADDITIONAL SUPREME COURT CASES OF SIGNIFICANCE DURING THE AGE OF JACKSON
Case
Issue
Decision
Significance
McCulloch v.
Maryland
Maryland wanted to tax its own States do not have the right to
branch of the National Bank
collect taxes from institutions
created by the Federal government;
states cannot claim to have power
over the federal government
According to the Constitutional
Principle of Federalism, the
Federal government is upheld as
the supreme entity over the
state governments, angering
certain states, especially in the
South
Gibbons v.
Ogden
Steamship operators fought
Only the Federal government has
over shipping rights on the
power to regulate interstate
Hudson River in both New York commerce
and New Jersey
Federal government’s power
reinforced over the states’ power
once again, further angering
many states (particularly in the
South)
Key Vocabulary Terms


Assimilation – the process by which a person or group of people give up aspects of their own culture to learn
and begin practicing aspects of another culture; also means the decision to engage in this process, slowly or
quickly
Nullification – the idea that states can refuse to follow federal laws
Sectionalism – loyalty to the interests and desires of one’s own section of the country, rather than to the
country as a whole. Sectionalism was a common political mode of thinking throughout the USA before the Civil
War began in 1861
Spoils System – the practice of public officials given jobs or favors to supporters
States’ Rights – powers given to the states as interpreted in the U.S. Constitution, generally seen as a check to
federal powers
Suffrage – the right to vote
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Related Vocabulary
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o
“Common Man”
o
Policy
o
Resettlement
o
Tariff