The Jacksonian Era and Andrew Jackson's Presidency

Overview

• The Jacksonian era was a significant period of debate over the federal government's role and powers.
• Andrew Jackson's presidency (1829-1837) reshaped American politics.
• Established the Democratic Party as a dominant force.
• Generated opposition leading to the formation of the Whig Party.
• Shaped American politics for decades.

Jackson's Rise to Power

• Gained fame as a military leader:
  • War of 1812: Victory at the Battle of New Orleans (1815).
  • Expanded U.S. territory through campaigns against Native Americans.
  • Invaded Spanish Florida during the First Seminole War (1817-1818).
• Military background influenced his presidency.

The Election of 1828 and Democratic Vision

• Won the election of 1828 after losing the "corrupt bargain" election of 1824.
• Campaigned as a champion of the "common man."
• Benefited from expanded suffrage among white male voters.
• Established the Democratic Party as a national force, introducing mass campaign techniques.
• Democratic vision:
  • Limited federal government in economic affairs.
  • Opposition to national bank and federal internal improvements.
  • Support for states' rights, with exceptions.
  • Expansion of executive power through veto and appointments.
  • Western expansion and Native American removal.
  • Support for white male equality, maintaining racial hierarchies.

Key Conflicts of Jackson's Presidency

The Spoils System

• Revolutionized the federal bureaucracy:
  • Replaced officeholders with political supporters.
  • Justified as making government democratic and responsive.
  • Critics argued it led to corruption and incompetence.
  • Expanded presidential control over bureaucracy and established political patronage.

The Nullification Crisis

• Tensions over tariff policy:
  • Tariff of 1828: High protective tariff, called "Tariff of Abominations" in the South.
  • South Carolina Exposition: John C. Calhoun's doctrine of nullification.
  • Webster-Hayne Debate: Competing visions of federal power.
  • Nullification Ordinance (1832): South Carolina's direct challenge to federal authority.
  • Force Bill: Authorized military force to collect tariffs.
  • Compromise Tariff of 1833 resolved the crisis but left questions unresolved.
• Jackson defended federal supremacy when a state challenged federal law.

The Bank War

• Jackson's opposition to the Second Bank of the United States:
  • Viewed as unconstitutional and a threat to democracy.
  • Vetoed the Bank's recharter in 1832.
  • Removed federal deposits, placing them in state "pet banks."
  • Issued Specie Circular requiring land purchases with gold or silver.
  • Contributed to economic instability and the Panic of 1837.
  • Ended the national banking system until the Civil War.
• Reflected Jackson's suspicion of concentrated economic power.

Native American Removal

• Indian Removal Act (1830): Relocation of eastern tribes to lands west of Mississippi.
• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) and Worcester v. Georgia (1832): Defined tribal sovereignty.
• Jackson ignored Supreme Court rulings, leading to the "Trail of Tears" (1838-1839).
• Forced removal resulted in approximately 4,000 Cherokee deaths.

The Whig Opposition and Second Party System

• Whig Party formed in opposition to "King Andrew."
• Led by Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, advocating for a stronger federal role in economic development.
• Supported the "American System" of a national bank, tariffs, and improvements.
• Criticized Jackson's use of executive power.
• Created the Second Party System (1828-1854), featuring:
  • High voter participation and party loyalty.
  • Distinct regional and economic constituencies.
  • Regular alternation of power between parties.
  • Nationwide party organization and discipline.

The Legacy of Jacksonian Democracy

• Strengthened the presidency as an institution.
• Established political parties as essential to governance.
• Expanded political participation for white men.
• Advanced territorial expansion and Native American removal.
• Dismantled aspects of the early American economic system.
• Left unresolved tensions between federal power and states' rights.
• Set the stage for debates that would intensify leading to the Civil War.