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Review Guide:
Jacksonian
Democracy
1824 - 1848
By Alyssa Bond and Kadee Johnson
APUSH
Overview
The period between 1824 and 1848 is often classified as the Jacksonian Era. When it
began in the year 1824, John Adams, William Crawford, Henry Clay, and Andrew Jackson, a
military hero from the War of 1812, ran against one another in the Presidential election. This also
marked the failure of the caucus system which would ultimately result in the return of the second
party system in the election of 1828.The House of Representatives had the responsibility of
choosing between Crawford, Adams and Jackson, though Clay was still in a strong position to
affect the outcome. Though Jackson received the majority of electoral votes, Clay gave his
support to Adams. In return, Adams promised to make Clay his Secretary of State if he were to
win. In the end, he did while Jackson and his followers, the “Jacksonians”, dubbed the deal a
“corrupt bargain”.
In the next presidential election in 1828, Jackson once again ran against Adams. Still
fuming over the corrupt bargain accusations from four years earlier, their arguments became
intensely personal. In the end, Jackson won the election, which was in large part due to his ally
Martin Van Buren’s campaigning efforts. Less than thirty percent of the population that was able
to vote had done so in the 1824 election. However, it increased to over 50% in 1828, making the
election one of the first to involve relatively large campaign projects.
After Jackson was elected, he was praised and known as a man of the common people by
his supporters, while his opponents considered him a tyrant. After the open celebration held at
the white house in honor of his inauguration, critics contemptuously referred to him as “King
Mob”. Their dislike for him continued into his presidency as well. They were often perturbed by
his aggressive political style and personality.
During this time, voting rights expanded; most states repealed property requirements for
voting, resulting in universal white male suffrage and increasing the impression that the
Jacksonian era was a time of opportunity for the “common man”. However, women and
minorities were still denied the right to vote, which soon resulted in a series of reform
movements. Also, Andrew Jackson became known for his implementation of the spoils system.
Instead of the most qualified people, his supporters were rewarded with positions within the
administration.
In 1830, the Webster-Hayne debate broke out over the sale of western lands but
eventually developed into an argument on states’ rights versus national power. Webster
responded to the argument with his two-day “liberty and union” speech. President Jackson
expressed his favor of Webster’s position and the preservation of the union. Another significant
even that year was the Maysville Road Veto. Jackson chose not to fund Kentucky’s intrastate
road project because it was only a local matter and he believed that funding it would be
unconstitutional.
In 1832, Calhoun resigned from his position of Vice President to serve as senator of
South Carolina. In the same year, Calhoun and his followers enacted Calhoun’s theory of
Nullification and declared the Tariff of 1828, or Tariff of Abominations, unconstitutional. The
state threatened the government with secession to enforce their position and hoped that other
Southern states would join them in their attack on the Tariff. However, no other states followed
them. In 1833, Congress passed a Force Bill, allowing Jackson to use military force to uphold the
tariff. As a result, South Carolina agreed to the Compromise Tariff created by Clay. Military
action was prevented.
During Jackson’s reign, antipathy toward Native Americans conspicuously accrued. For
instance, a battle known as the Black Hawk War took place in the years of 1831 and 1832, and it
was known for the savageness of the white military. Even when the natives attempted to
surrender, many of them were slaughtered. Additionally, the government began the process of
relocating the “Five Civilized Tribes”. Among them were the Cherokee, who appealed to the
Supreme Court in a case known as Worcester v. Georgia. While the Court seemed to ally with
the tribes, Jackson refused to enforce its decision and sent troops to round up the Cherokee
Nation. The Cherokee endured a long trek to new territory that became known as the Trail of
Tears. By the end of the decade, nearly all major Indian societies moved west of the Mississippi.
Another significant point in Jackson’s term was the bank war. Jackson opposed the
National Bank, which he considered an institution of aristocrats and corrupt privileges. He
vetoed the bank’s re-charter, making the 1832 election revolved around that decision. However,
he still beat Henry Clay in the election. He proceeded by removing all government deposits from
the bank and placing them in “pet banks”, a variety of smaller state banks, instead. This began a
war between him and Nicholas Biddle, the president of the bank. Biddle began to raise interest
rates and simulate a country-wide state of financial distress. His plans were to pressure Jackson
into submission, but they only made the economy and his bank suffer. Biddle went too far and
was forced to go back on his decisions and admit his fault. This ended the bank’s hope of recharter.
In 1836, Jackson passed the Specie Circular, which required government-owned lands to
be paid for in gold or silver, not paper money. The bank war, combined with this act and
European investors withdrawing funds, helped trigger the Panic of 1837, the worst economic
downturn in America up to that point, which began shortly after Martin Van Buren took office
as president, earning him the nickname “Martin Van Ruin”.
In the election of 1840, the Whig party ran William Henry Harrison with William Tyler
against Martin Van Buren. Harrison won the presidency, but he died shortly after taking office,
allowing Tyler to succeed him.
Glossary
Adams’ Presidency
1. Election of 1824- This brought about the end of the caucus system. The candidates
included Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and William Crawford.
Adams won without a majority.
2. Corrupt Bargain- In the election of 1824 no candidate emerged with a majority so The
House of Representatives had the power to choose from the three leading candidates:
Jackson, Adams and Crawford. Clay influenced the vote in Adams favor and in return
Adams named him secretary of State. Adams opponents called this the Corrupt bargain.
3. John Quincy Adams- Won the election of 1824 and became president. However the ill
will from the Corrupt Bargain crippled his administration and prevented him from
accomplishing much.
Jackson’s Politics
4. Election of 1828- Andrew Jackson once again ran for president, against John Quincy
Adams. Jackson won in a landslide victory.
5. Andrew Jackson- Hero in the war of 1812. President of the United States. Considered a
man of the people.
6. “King Mob”- At Jackson’s inauguration an open reception was held at the white house.
Oponents of Jackson referred to it as “king mob”.
7. Spoils system- the practice, begun by Jackson, where elected officials appoint their
followers to public office.
8. Kitchen Cabinet- Jackson’s circle of unofficial political allies.
9. Two-Party System- During Jackson’s time the political party became the recognized
vehicle of democracy. A system of two competing parties emerged. At the time the two
major political parties were the Whigs and the Democrats.
10. Peggy Eaton Affair- Rumors spread that Senator Eaton was having an affair with the
married Peggy O’Neale. When her husband died they were married. Eaton was named
Secretary of War. The other cabinet members and their wives refused to accept the
Eaton’s into their social circle. Van Buren, however, befriended the Eatons thus
ingratiating himself with Jackson.
11. Dorr Rebellion- As more and more states got rid of the property restrictions for voting, a
people’s party in Rhode Island drafted a new constitution which was approved by popular
vote. When the state legislature refused to accept it the party, led by Dorr established
their own government. The Dorrites were deemed traitors and the rebellion quickly
ended.
12. Maysville Road Veto- Jackson vetoed an attempt by congress to provide funds for a road
in Kentucky. It was an example of Jackson distrust of Federal power.
13. Alexis de Tocqueville- A French aristocrat who visited America and stated that the key
to American equality was the lack of any rigid rank distinctions.
14. “American System”- Henry Clay proposed a system of internal improvements and
economic developments known as his American system. Jackson opposed this program.
Nullification Crisis
15. Tariff of Abominations- A tariff on goods passed in 1828. It was harmful to southerners
who deemed it the Tariff of Abominations.
16. John C. Calhoun- Jackson’s vice president. He supported the controversial theory of
nullification. He resigned from his position to become the South Carolina senator and
helped lead the state through the nullification crisis.
17. Nullification- The theory developed by Calhoun that if a state concluded that Congress
had passed an unconstitutional law, then it could hold a special convention and declare
the law null and void within the state.
18. Nullification Crisis- In 1832 South Carolina nullified the tariffs of 1828 and 1832.
Jackson declared this treason and proposed a force bill. No other states joined South
Carolina in the act. Henry clay proposed a compromise where the tariff would be
gradually lowered. The compromise and the force bill were passed.
19. Daniel Webster- A senator from Massachusetts and a nationalistic Whig. Involved in the
Webster-Hayne debate.
20. Robert Hayne- Senator from South Carolina and an advocate of State’s Rights. Involved
in the Webster-Hayne Debate.
21. Webster-Hayne Debate- Senators Webster and Hayne began a debate over the sale of
western land which eventually became a debate of States Rights versus National power.
Hayne defended the theory of nullification and Webster responded with his “Second
Reply to Hayne” which lasted two full afternoons and ended with “Liberty and Union,
now and forever, one and inseparable!” Jackson expressed his support for Webster.
Native Americans
22. Black Hawk War- Federal Government took action to remove the Sauk and Fox tribes
from Illinois. The tribes fought back led by the warrior Black Hawk. They were driven
into Iowa where most of them were killed and Black Hawk was caught.
23. Five Civilized Tribes- Most Native American tribes were seen as irreparably savage,
however five tribes, The Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw, were
considered civilized. These tribes had stable agrarian communities with successful
economies. In particular, the Cherokee’s had a written language and a constitution.
24. Removal Act- In 1830 Congress passed the Removal Act which gave money to federal
effort to negotiate relocation of Southern tribes.
25. Worcester v. Georgia- The Cherokees appealed to the Supreme Court to stop whites from
stealing their land. Marshall supported the tribes with his decision but Jackson challenged
him to enforce that decision (it was not enforced).
26. Trail of Tears- The federal government forced the Cherokee to march to Indian Territory
(what would become Oklahoma). Many perished on the journey. The path they took was
named the “trail of tears”.
27. Seminole War- The Seminole tribe agreed, under pressure from the government, to
removal. However a minority stayed and fought for their lands. From 1835 to 1842 the
federal government sent troops to try and force the removal of the Seminoles led by Chief
Osceola. By the time they gave up their efforts in 1842 most of the Seminoles had moved
west or died but a few remained.
The Bank War
28. Nicholas Biddle- the president of the Bank of the United States starting in 1823.
Opposed Jackson in the Bank war.
29. Recharter Bill- In 1832 Biddle requested a bill to recharter the national bank 4 years
ahead of schedule. Congress passed the bill but it was vetoed by Jackson. This pushed the
Bank to become a key issue in the 1832 election.
30. Pet banks- Jackson attacked the National bank by removing government deposits and
putting them into state banks. Jackson’s opponents called these pet banks.
Other Politics
31. Roger Taney- Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed in 1835. Urged on Jackson in His
fight against the National Bank.
32. Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge- Showed the new Chief Justice’s difference in
attitude from Marshall’s vigorous nationalism.
33. Martin Van Buren- Jackson’s chosen successor, the democratic presidential candidate
who won the election of 1836.
Economic Crisis
34. Panic of 1837- The worst depression up to that point in American history. Began during
the first months of Van Buren’s presidency and lasted five years. Caused by the
Distribution Act, Specie Circular and speculation.
35. Specie Circular- Jackson issued this in 1836 before leaving office. It provided that the
government would only accept hard currency for the sale of public lands.
36. Distribution Act- From 1835 to 1837, the Treasury was out of debt and had a surplus.
Congress passed a distribution act which gave the money out to states. The money was
spent on internal improvements. The withdrawal of this money put strain on the pet
banks.
37. Independent Treasury- Van Buren created a separate treasury for federal funds so that
no private bank would have federal money for speculation. This replaced the Bank of the
United States.
Whig Politics
38. Whigs- The political party that emerged in mid 1830’s. It supported federal power and
progressive establishments.
39. Anti-masonry- The Whigs sided with the Anti-masonry movement which opposed the
secret society known as the masons.
40. Log Cabin Campaign- The strategy used in the 1840 presidential election where both
parties presented their candidate as a man of the people. The Whigs were more successful
at this during that campaign.
41. William Henry Harrison- Won the Presidential election of 1840, died after a month in
office.
42. John Tyler- William Henry Harrison’s Vice President. A former democrat who joined
the Whigs party. Became President when Harrison died. Was later read out of the Whig
party.
43. The Caroline affair- Canadian forces were rebelling against Britain and chartered the
U.S. ship the Caroline to bring supplies across the Niagara River. British forces seized
and burned the ship, killing one American. This outraged the U.S. and brought countries
to the brink of war.
44. Aroostook War- A boundary dispute between Maine and Canada led to a violent brawl
between Americans and Canadians (mostly lumberjacks) in the disputed Aroostook
region.
45. The Creole affair- The slave ship Creole traveling to New Orleans was seized by
mutinying slaves and taken to the Bahamas. There British officials declared the slaves
free. This angered many Americans.
46. Webster-Ashburton Treaty- In 1842 Lord Ashburton and Secretary of state Daniel
Webster meet to resolve the tension created by the Caroline affair, the Creole affair and
the Aroostook war. This treaty created a firm boundary between main and Canada.
47. Treaty of Wang Hya- During the Tyler administration this treaty was signed with China
giving the U.S. trading privileges. This was the U.S.’s first diplomatic relation with
China.
Essays
How did TWO of the following contribute to the reemergence of a two party system in the
period 1820 to 1840?



Major political personalities
States’ rights
Economic issues
While the United States’ federal government provided many with new opportunities for
freedom and individual rights during its first few decades, much of the middle and lower class
remained unrepresented in politics. However, this changed when Andrew Jackson was elected
president in 1828. His reign became known as the “Era of the Common Man” because suffrage
for all white males was granted when before that only landowners could vote. He was also
against the growth of the federal government’s power in contrast to elites. Many supported
higher taxes and government-induced internal improvements on intrastate levels while Jackson
did not. For the most part, he believed in the separation of state and federal government
responsibilities. Those who opposed Jackson’s ideals eventually formed the Whig Party. Thus,
between 1820 to 1840, major political personalities and states’ rights were the paramount causes
for the reemergence of the two-party system.
The Whig Party’s main reason for existence was bringing opposition to Jackson and his
followers. Among the most famous Whigs were Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel
Webster, who formed the Great Triumvirate of the time. They did not like the idea of political
power resting in the hands of the common people, and some did not like Jackson as a political
entity in general. As a war hero of the War of 1812, Jackson was well known for his aggressive
nature and fixed opinions. They felt that he was unsuited for political life, especially after the
mobbing of the White House after his inauguration. “King Mob” was not an acceptable leader
for the country. Meanwhile, Jacksonians were advocates for transferring more power to the
lower and middle class citizens. Despite Jackson’s allowance of the spoils system, he did attempt
to decrease some of the corruption that the government faced in the 1830s. One of the main
entities he tried to eliminate was the Second Bank of the United States because it could loan
money to individuals and thus gave political officials it favored a financial advantage over their
competitors. This was one of the several issues that he and members of the new Whig party
disagreed on. Jackson’s strong opinions and efficient means of carrying out his policies
continued to rival his opponents throughout the rest of his presidential term.
While the Whigs favored increased power for the state governments, the federal
government under Jackson often exercised its power over them. Many Whigs supported the
American System, a policy introduced by Clay earlier on in the nineteenth century. It made way
for a national bank as well as internal improvements, including a national road. However,
Jackson, a strict interpreter of the constitution, believed that Congress did not have the power to
do so. He wanted to leave all roads and their funding up to the states they resided in. For instance,
when the state of Kentucky asked the president to finance the Maysville road project, he vetoed
the proposition because it was not interstate commerce and was unconstitutional. Also, South
Carolina’s nullification of the Tariff of Abominations is another instance that shows the
contrasting principles of the Whigs and Democrats. Under Calhoun, Jackson’s previous Vice
President, South Carolina declared the tariff unconstitutional, which greatly angered Jackson and
his followers. He did not agree with Calhoun on the belief that states could exercise such powers
over the federal government, so he and Congress passed the Force Bill. Although military force
was now allowed to be used to persuade South Carolina into revoking its nullification of the
tariff, the Compromise Tariff made by Clay resolved the issue before such actions were
necessary. Overall, the nullification crisis exemplified the contrasting beliefs of the Democrats
and Whigs on states’ rights over the national government’s.
Clearly, the controversy over the political power of states and differing personalities led
to the return of a two-party system. With Jackson’s election as President came a new era for the
common people, who had been underrepresented for much of the country’s history. Now with
greater influence in the hands of commoners, the elite, who were previously in control, were
outraged. They deemed Jackson a man unfit to rule a nation and his opposition grew into what
became known as the Whig Party.
Analyze the extent to which TWO of the following influenced the development of
democracy between 1820 and 1840:
 Jacksonian economic policy
 Changes in electoral politics
 Second Great Awakening
 Westward movement
America was conceived as a democratic nation. However, early on there were a number
of limits to this democracy. Only a select few, white males owning property, could vote and even
those who could did not have direct control over elections. Entrenched officials and institutions
or aristocratic privilege also served to restrict democracy. Jackson, praised as a president for the
common man, and his followers contributed to the expansion of democracy. Between 1820 and
1840, people were given greater control over the government, through changing electoral politics
and Jacksonian economic policies.
Starting in the 1820’s democracy was further developed by an expansion of suffrage and
the end of the caucus system. During the election of 1824 four presidential candidates ran for
office and all failed to obtain a majority of votes. This led to John Quincy Adams gaining the
presidency through what became known as the “Corrupt Bargain”. This election represented the
failure of the caucus system and it was soon widely replaced by party nominating committees.
This meant that the rather than a few powerful individuals deciding the course elections would
take, a larger number of voters could influence elections from the very beginning. This also
contributed to the growing opinion that rather than hindering democracy, political parties
provided useful vehicle for aiding democracy. Prior to the Jacksonian Era relatively few people
could vote, only white men who fulfilled the property requirements. However, over the course of
this period most states did away with the property requirements and eventually universal white
male suffrage was achieved. This was a step forward for democracy, as a greater amount of the
public had a say in government, however, there were still many denied the right to vote: women,
Native Americans, blacks and other minorities. The Dorr Rebellion provided an example of the
challenges sometimes presented to such changes. Additionally, Jackson introduced the spoils
system, where an elected official granted political offices to their supporters. This helped do
away with entrenched officials. The Jacksonian period saw changes in electoral policies which
aided democracy by giving the public greater control over the government.
Jacksonian economic policy attempted to help increase democracy by attacking
aristocracies and corrupt privilege, however at times the people it meant to help were actually
harmed. Jackson stood for the common man. He worked to give power to the poor by taking
away from the elite upper class. Jackson’s primary method of doing so was attacking the
National bank. Jackson saw the bank and its president, Nicholas Biddle, as symbols of corrupt
privilege, aristocracies and federal power. He took government funds out of the bank and divided
them up between pet banks. Eventually Jackson destroyed the bank entirely. This led to the
creation o fan independent treasury so that no private institution would be favored. The
destruction of the bank was a strike against the upper class. All of Jackson’s economic policy
attempted to support the common man by expanding democracy so that the general public was
favored rather than just the upper class. However, The Bank War was a major contributor to the
Panic of 1837, along with actions such actions as the Species Circular and the Distribution Act
which were meant to increase prosperity. This economic downturn was the most severe in
American history up to that point and was especially harmful to the poorer people whom
Jackson’s economics were trying to benefit. Thus, while Jackson tried to defend the common
people in his economic policy, he ended up causing them significant harm.
The electoral and economic policies of the Jacksonian era favored the “common man”.
They helped ensure that no rigid rank distinctions, as Alexis de Tocqueville had noted was so
key to American democracy. Jackson expanded American democracy by ensuring that all had
equal opportunity to participate in government.
Multiple Choice
1 . An important political change of the 1820s was that
A. presidents began choosing their own cabinet
B. most states removed the property qualification for voting from their constitutions
C. issues became the key subjects of political campaigns rather than personalities
D. senators began to be elected by popular vote rather than by state legislatures
E. free blacks and women were allowed full political freedom
2. The Nullification crisis was resolved by all these actions EXCEPT
A. the Ordinance of Nullification was repealed
B. other southern states refused to support nullification
C. the U.S. Army temporarily occupied South Carolina and collected the tariffs
D. concessions of the North and West in the interest of national harmony
E. the 1832 tariff rates were gradually reduced
3. After his reelection in 1832, President Jackson weakened the second Bank of the United states
by
A. removing government deposits from it
B. firing its president, Nicholas Biddle
C. revoking its existing charter
D. appointing William J. Duane as its president
E. moving its headquarters from Philadelphia to New York
4. Andrew Jackson's popularity as a presidential candidate in 1828 was in large part due to his
A. dislike for political parties and popular campaigning
B. devotion to reason and expert advice in the making of public policy
C. image as a strong-willed self-made man of the people
D. determination to take a clear and consistent stand on controversial issues
E. ability to marshal public support on specific issues
5.
In the Webster-Hayne debate, Daniel Webster
A. urged Jackson to veto the Maysville Road Bill
B. decried the abuses of slavery
C. blamed Jackson for the suffering along the Trail of Tears
D. attacked the doctrine of states' rights
E. introduced the possibility of distributing federal treasury surpluses to the states
6. Of the following, the best example of Jackson’s advocacy of limited federation government
was his
A. action during the Nullification Crisis.
B. issuing the Specie Circular.
C. veto of the Maysville Road Bill.
D. adoption of the rotation system of federal appointment.
E. decision to ignore the Supreme Court’s decision in Worcester v. Georgia.
7. The Jacksonian charge of a “corrupt bargain” to gain John Quincy Adams the presidency arose
A. because William Crawford threw his electoral votes to Adams in exchange for a
Senate seat.
B. because Adams was charged with having bribed members of the House to vote for
him.
C. because Adams ended his previous opposition to Clay’s American System.
D. because Clay was named secretary of state after throwing his support to Adams.
E. because Adams paid Crawford for his support
8. One unfortunate consequence of the spoils system was
A. the weakening of political parties.
B. a growing lack of interest in politics.
C. a growing conflict between the executive and legislative branches of government.
D. an increase in incompetence and corruption in government.
E. an increase in obese politicians
9. The Eaton affair contributed to the bitter, personal political conflict between
A. Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun.
B. John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay.
C. Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
D. Martin Van Buren and John C. Calhoun.
E. Senator Eaton and Andrew Jackson
10. The Nullification Crisis in South Carolina ended when
A. Andrew Jackson used military force to crush the nullifiers.
B. Henry Clay pushed through a compromise tariff that enabled South Carolina to save
face.
C. Jackson was forced to back down and accept the basic principle of nullification.
D. South Carolina Unionists seized power within the state and repealed the nullification
act.
E. South Carolina was the first state to secede from the union.
11. Jackson’s veto of the recharter bill for the Second Bank of the United States represented
A. a bold assertion of presidential power on behalf of western farmers and other debtors.
B. an attempt to assure bankers and creditors that the federal government would back their
interests.
C. a concession to Henry Clay and his National Republican followers.
D. a gain for sound banking and a financially stable currency system.
E. a personal attack on Nicholas Biddle
12. One of Jackson’s weapons in his war against Nicholas Biddle’s Bank of the United States
was
A. seizing bank branches and operating them under direct federal control.
B. bringing criminal charges against Biddle for corruption and mismanagement of funds.
C. removing federal deposits from the bank and transferring them to “pet” state banks.
D. urging all Jackson supporters to withdraw their deposits from the bank.
E. his passing of the Specie Circular Act
13. One important result of President Jackson’s destruction of the Bank of the United States was
A. the economic stability that was maintained by his successor, Martin Van Buren.
B. a sound financial system resting on thousands of locally controlled banks.
C. the American banking system’s dependence on European investment and control.
D. a dramatic period of economic prosperity
E. the lack of a stable banking system to finance the era of rapid industrialization.
14. In theory, the United States government treated the Native Americans east of the Mississippi
as
A. wards of the federal government to be confined to reservations.
B. sovereign nations with whom the government negotiated and signed binding treaties.
C. foreign enemies to be attacked and exterminated.
D. ordinary American citizens to participate in the democratic political process.
E. savages that should be civilized
15. In promoting his policy of Indian removal, President Andrew Jackson
A. defied rulings of the United States Supreme Court that favored the Cherokees.
B. admitted that the action would destroy Native American culture and society.
C. acted against the advice of his cabinet and his military commanders in the Southeast.
D. hoped to split the Cherokee apart from their allies such as the Creeks and Seminoles.
E. Declared war on the Cherokee nation
16. The Panic of 1837 and subsequent depression were caused by
A. the stock market collapse and a sharp decline in grain prices.
B. a lack of new investment in industry and technology.
C. the threat of war with Mexico over Texas.
D. overspeculation and Jackson’s financial policies.
E. federal deposits given to pet banks
17. Andrew Jackson’s remark, “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it,”
refers to the president’s intention to
A. destroy the Bank of the United States despite the Supreme Court’s ruling it was
constitutional.
B. use force, if necessary, to make South Carolina obey federal laws they thought
unconstitutional.
C. move the Cherokees west of the Mississippi River, regardless of the Supreme Court’s
rulings.
D. disregard Chief Justice Marshall’s ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden.
E. nullify colonial land agreements against Marshall’s federal rulings on the sanctity of
contracts.
18. The most obvious indicator of the supremacy of democracy in the United States was
A. the high percentage of people who voted.
B. the widespread use of the “spoils system.”
C. the absence of any kind of social or economic classes.
D. the development of universal manhood suffrage.
E. the increase in the number of appointed officials.
19. Martin Van Buren’s administration was troubled by
A. his lack of personal popularity.
B. tensions between the U.S. and Great Britain
C. widespread scandal and corruption in the executive branch.
D. antislavery agitation prompted by the Missouri Compromise.
E. a serious economic depression.
20. The Whig Party drew its support from
A. Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
B. opponents of the American System.
C. southerners and states’ rightists.
D. large northern industrialists and merchants.
E. John Adams and William Tyler
Multiple Choice Explanations
1. B: Up until this point only a small percentage of Americans had been able to vote. For
most states only the white males who owned property and/or paid taxes could vote. New
states in the West included universal white male suffrage in their constitution and older
states began amending their constitutions to avoid losing their populations to the west.
2. C: On the same day that Jackson’s Force Bill was passed, so was Henry Clay’s
Compromise Tariff, which South Carolina accepted. Thus, military force was not
necessary to pressure the state into revoking its nullification ordinance.
3. A: Jackson removed federal funds from the bank and placed them in state banks, also
known as “pet banks”. Nicholas Biddle remained president of the bank for some time
afterwards, trying to renew the banks charter.
4. C: The public considered him a common man due to his well known rise to power and
fame during the War of 1812.
5. D: In the Webster-Hayne Debate, Hayne used the issue of western land sales as a way of
attracting attention so that he could argue for the lowering of the Tariff of 1828. Calhoun
coached him and he moved on to promote the theory of nullification. This led Webster to
respond with a two day speech supporting national power which ended with the phrase,
“Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!”
6. C: Jackson did not fund the Maysville road in Kentucky because it was only an intrastate,
not interstate, project and did not benefit the country as a whole.
7. D: The election of 1824 did not produce any candidate with a majority, therefore it fell to
the House of Representatives to decide the election. The three remaining candidates were
Adams, Jackson and Crawford, though Crawford was not a real contender. Clay however
had strong influence over the decision. As an opponent of Jackson, Clay gave his support
to Adams, who, in return named Clay secretary of state after becoming president.
8. D: Instead of placing the most qualified figures in high political and government
positions, those most loyal to Jackson were.
9. A: Andrew Jackson supported Senator Eaton and his wife but many of the cabinet
members, urged by Calhoun and his wife, refused to associate with them because of
scandalous allegations in their past. Van Buren befriended the Eatons, gaining Jackson’s
favor, but Calhoun resisted attempts at reconciliation.
10. B: South Carolina repealed their nullification doctrine with the passing of the
Compromise Tariff before any military action took place.
11. A: Jackson saw the Bank as a symbol of an abuse of federal power and aristocratic
privilege. He did all that he could to destroy the institution. His attack on the bank put
him into opposition against Henry Clay and bankers like Nicholas Biddle. It was a part of
Jackson’s stance as being for the common man.
12. C: Jackson didn’t wish to wait for the bank’s charter to expire before he caused its
demise. He believed that its ability to loan money to individuals could be used as a
corrupt political power, so he withdrew all of the government’s money and placed it in
smaller banks that did not exercise great financial power over the country.
13. E: Jackson destruction of the Bank left the country with a fragmented economy,
dependent on a variety of smaller banks, which eventually led to the Panic of 1837.
14. B: The United States recognized the Cherokee Nation because it had its own established
constitution and system of government.
15. A: The federal government was making efforts to relocate all Native American tribes into
reservations. The Cherokees appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of retaining their
lands. In the case of Worcester v. Georgia the Supreme Court ruled in their favor.
However, Jackson defied the court and proceeded with the removal of the Cherokees.
16. D: The Specie Circular Act Jackson created helped cause the panic because only gold and
silver could be used, not paper money.
17. C: The federal government was making efforts to relocate all Native American tribes into
reservations. The Cherokees appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of retaining their
lands. In the case of Worcester v. Georgia the Supreme Court ruled in their favor.
However, Jackson defied the court and proceeded with the removal of the Cherokees.
18. D: Previously, only white male landowners could vote, leaving much of the population
without representation in government.
19. E: In 1837, a few months into Van Buren’s presidency, the Panic of 1837 began. This
was the worst economic depression up to that point in American history. It lasted five
years and earned Van Buren the nickname “Martin Van Ruin”.
20. D: The Whigs were highly opposed to Jacksonian democracy. While Jackson represented
the common people, the Whigs often supported more wealthy citizens.