Chapter Notes: The Jacksonian Period

Introduction

The Jacksonian Period, roughly from 1824 to 1840, was a time in American history when Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, had a big impact on the country. This era is known for changes in how democracy worked, major arguments over economic policies like tariffs and banks, and the sad events of Indian removal. Andrew Jackson was seen as a leader for the "common man," and his presidency brought new ideas about government, but it also caused conflicts and hardships for many people. These notes will cover three key parts of this period: Jacksonian Democracy, the Tariff, Nullification, and Bank War, and Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears.

Jacksonian Democracy

• Jacksonian Democracy was the idea of giving more power to ordinary people in government.
• Andrew Jackson, elected president in 1828, was called the "common man's president" because he came from a simple background, not a wealthy one.
• During this time, more white men gained the right to vote because many states removed rules that required people to own property to vote.
  • This meant more farmers, workers, and regular people could vote in elections.
  • By 1840, most white men over 21 could vote in the United States.
• Jackson believed the government should serve all people, not just the rich or elite.
• He introduced the "spoils system," where he gave government jobs to his supporters.
  • This was also called patronage, meaning loyal friends got important positions.
  • Jackson thought this made the government more open to regular people.
  • However, some said it led to unqualified people getting jobs just because they supported Jackson.
• Political parties became stronger during this period.
  • Jackson led the Democratic Party, which supported the common people and farmers.
  • The opposing party, the Whigs, supported business and a strong national government.
• More people got involved in politics through rallies, speeches, and campaigns, making democracy more active.
• Jackson's ideas made many Americans feel their voices mattered in government.

Tariff, Nullification, and Bank War

• The Tariff of 1828, also called the "Tariff of Abominations,"was a tax on imported goods.
  • It was meant to help American businesses by making foreign goods more expensive.
  • Northern states, with many factories, liked the tariff because it protected their businesses.
  • Southern states, which relied on farming and imported goods, hated it because it raised prices.
• The tariff caused a big argument called the Nullification Crisis.
  • South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, said states could ignore federal laws they didn't like, such as the tariff.
  • This idea was called nullification, meaning a state could cancel a federal law within its borders.
  • Jackson strongly disagreed and said the federal government was more powerful than any state.
  • In 1832, South Carolina threatened to leave the United States if the tariff wasn't changed.
  • Jackson got Congress to pass a law allowing him to use the army to enforce the tariff.
  • A compromise was reached in 1833 when Congress lowered the tariff, and South Carolina backed down.
• The Bank War was another big conflict during Jackson's presidency.
  • The Second Bank of the United States was a national bank that controlled the country's money.
  • Jackson thought the bank helped wealthy people and hurt farmers and workers.
  • He believed the bank had too much power and was unfair to ordinary people.
  • In 1832, Jackson vetoed (rejected) a bill to keep the bank running.
  • He took government money out of the bank and put it in smaller state banks, called "pet banks."
  • This weakened the national bank, and it closed in 1836.
  • Some people liked Jackson's actions because they thought the bank was too powerful.
  • Others said closing the bank caused economic problems, like inflation and financial instability.

Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears

• During the Jacksonian Period, the U.S. government forced many Native American tribes to leave their lands.
• Andrew Jackson supported removing Native Americans from the Southeast to open land for white settlers.
• In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act.
  • This law allowed the government to make treaties with Native American tribes to move them west of the Mississippi River.
  • The land west was called Indian Territory, in what is now Oklahoma.
  • Jackson said this would protect Native Americans from conflicts with white settlers.
  • Many Native Americans did not want to leave their homes and lands.
• The Cherokee Nation, one of the largest tribes in the Southeast, fought against removal.
  • The Cherokee had their own schools, newspaper, and government, and they wanted to stay on their land in Georgia.
  • They took their case to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case called Worcester v. Georgia (1832).
  • The Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee had the right to stay on their land.
  • Jackson ignored the court's decision and forced the Cherokee to leave anyway.
• The forced removal of the Cherokee and other tribes became known as the Trail of Tears.
  • In 1838-1839, about 15,000 Cherokee were forced to walk hundreds of miles to Indian Territory.
  • The journey was very harsh, with bad weather, little food, and diseases.
  • Thousands of Cherokee died during the journey-some estimates say about 4,000 people.
  • Other tribes, like the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole, were also forced to move west.
  • These tribes lost their homes, lands, and many lives during these removals.
• The Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears are remembered as a tragic part of American history.
• Many Americans at the time supported removal because they wanted land for farming and settlement.
• Others, including some missionaries and activists, spoke out against it, saying it was unfair and cruel to Native Americans.