Andrew Jackson

“was widely acclaimed as the symbol of what the new American thought himself to be--a self-made man, son of the frontier, endowed with virtue and God-given strength because of his closeness to nature, and possessed of indomitable will and moral courage.”

Andrew Jackson• The Age of the Common

Man• The Symbol of New

America• The leader of the Age of

Democracy • Hero of the Common

Man

Jackson the Boy and Man• Andrew Jackson was the 7th

President • Born: March 15, 1767 in

Waxhaw, South Carolina. • Third son of immigrant parents

from northern Ireland, Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth Hutchinson

• Wanted their son to become a Presbyterian minister

• His father died in a logging accident a few weeks before he was born

Was six feet one inches tall, slender of build

Described as having a self-

assured bearing and a commanding

air.

Was in pain much of his

adult life from bullets left in

his body and

from dysentery which

frequently drained his

strength

As a child, Jackson had a penchant for drooling, which continued all his life. He would often spit excessively when he spoke.

He was violent and aggressive

He dislike school and book learning

• Uninterested in returning to school he gambled away an

inheritance• Briefly taught school

• At age 17 began to study law• At age 21 moved to TN

– Started a law practice– Accumulated land and

slaves– And became a wealthy

self-made man

Jackson the Hero of New Orleans• A major general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a

national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815.

• Earned the name “Old Hickory for his toughness

In 1814 took a little trip….

Election of 1824 Jackson/Adams/Crawford/Clay

no one won the majority of the electoral vote/Jackson had won the popular vote

No majority the election went to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Henry Clay lobbied for John Quincy Adams Adams won the required vote and became the 6th president of the United States of AmericaAdams makes Clay his Sec of State

Jackson fans claim “corrupt bargin”

Jackson First attempt at the Presidency 1824

Jackson tries again in the Election of 1828

• Trend in the country – more democratic– Moved from caucus to nominating

convention – Expanding suffrage

• Adams (Whig) v Jackson (Democrats)

• Jackson easily won• His inauguration is famous for

the party he threw. • “motley concourse of people”

Jackson’s Presidency• The National Bank • Hated for several reasons

– Unconstitutional• Only states had right to charter

banks– Favored the rich– Bank did not give the common man

equal economic opportunity• National bank gave state banks

money to loan to the people• When the national bank thought

the state banks were making too many loans they limited the amount the banks could lend

• Jackson veto charter of national bank• Did not hurt Jackson popularity won the

1832 election

Nicholas Biddle and Andrew Jackson

Jackson said "is trying to kill me, but

I will kill it!"

Jackson’s PresidencySpoils System• Jackson believed the common man

could hold office without experience, so he advocated

Rotation in office/The Spoils System:

rewarding political supports with public office

• Number of supports got gov. jobs only one Sec of State Martin Van Buren was qualified

• Seldom meet with “true” cabinet meet with group of unofficial advisors – meet with them in the White House kitchen

Became known as the Kitchen cabinet

This cartoon illustrates a perception of Jackson’s unofficial "Kitchen Cabinet," a group of close friends who advised him. 

Jackson’s Presidency• Tariff Problems

– High tariff that would protect manufactures from foreign goods was passed in 1828

– Hurt the South – pay more for imports– Could a state nullify (declare invalid) a

federal law it considered unconstitutional?– “Absolutely” said John C. Calhoun (VP)

• In essay “South Carolina Exposition and Protest” took ideas from Jefferson

• Called it the Tariff of Abominations• State has a right to judge whether a

law passed by Congress is Constitutional

• John C. Calhoun was arguing for states’ rights

Jackson’s Presidency• Webster – Hayne Debate• Daniel Webster of MS vs

Robert Hayne of SC• Debated who supreme

power belonged to; the federal gov or the state gov

• Jackson agreed with Webster’s strong defense of national sovereignty

• Many expected Jackson (born in the South lived in the West) would agree

• But…………• At a Jefferson Day dinner in

April 1830• Jackson gave a toast to

national sovereignty, “Our Union: it must be preserved.”

• Calhoun toasted state sovereignty, “The Union: next to our liberty most dear.”

• Calhoun resigned

Jackson’s Presidency• Nullification Crisis

– South Carolina nullified the new Tariff of 1832 that had been passed

– Threatened to secede (withdraw) from Union if challenged

– Congress passed the Force Bill which authorized military action to enforce tariff

– Jackson said he would lead army himself and hang Calhoun

– Civil War avoided when 1833 Compromise Tariff is agreed upon

– But just for spite South Carolina nullified the Force Bill

– Sectional tensions increase John C. Calhoun

Jackson’s Presidency• Indian Removal Act

– Passed in response to land-hungry white settlers– Under orders from President Jackson and in defiance of

the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Army began enforcement of the Removal Act.

– The Indians were rounded up in the summer of 1838 and forced to present day Oklahoma

– The Trail of Tears

Legacy of Andrew Jackson

More democracy for adult white males – but not anyone else, especially poor, immigrants, and women.

The emergence of a solid two-party system in the United States

The modern Democratic Party was founded under Jackson.

Politics for many men became a career

Decline of Native Americans in the West

History seems to remember Jackson as a symbol of the

New Age of Democracy, and as an example of the ”Age of the

Common Man."

He died June 8, 1845 at the Hermitage near Nashville, Tennessee.