Chapter 6, Lesson 1 : Jacksonian America Flashcards
Why did the elections become more democratic in the 1800s?
Expansion of Suffrage: Many states lowered or eliminated property ownership as a voting qualification
How did the expansion of suffrage impact the elections?
The volume of voters increased dramatically - from 355k in 1824 to 1.1 million in 1828.
What was the spoils system?
The practice of being people government jobs on the basis of party loyalty - Jackson fired many federal employees to appoint his own supporters.
Why was the spoils system considered democratic?
Because it ended the permanent, non-elected office holding class
What was the caucus system and why was it replaced?
The caucus system involved members of the party who served in the Congress (known as caucus) meet & choose the party nominee for President. It was replaced because it restricted nominations to the elite and well-connected
What was the national nominating convention?
The national convention was a gathering at which delegates from the states came together to choose the party’s presidential nominee
What was the nullification crisis?
The idea that states had a right to nullify, or declare invalid, a federal law. It centered on South Carolina, whose economy was declining due to the national tariffs on the manufactured goods from England. Despite Congress cutting tariffs significantly, South Carolina adopted an ordinance declaring the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 to be unconstitutional.
What happened to the Nullification Ordinance?
President Andrew Jackson considered the nullification ordinance an act of treason and sent a warship to SC. The Congress passed the Force Bill in 1833, authorizing the president to use the military to enforce acts of Congress. SC repealed the ordinance after a bill was passed by Congress to lover the nations tariffs gradually.
What was the Indian Removal Act?
Jackson wanted to move all Native Americans to the Great Plains, which was considered a wasteland that would never be settled (and end the nation’s conflict with them). The Indian Removal Act provided money for relocating Native Americans. Most moved, except for Cherokees of Georgia
How did the Cherokee’s resist the Indian Removal Act?
By suing the state of Georgia challenging the state’s attempt to take their land. The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia law did not apply to Cherokees as they were a sovereign nation. They stayed put. However, they were forced to move to Oklahoma by Jackson’s successor, and by 1838, all Native Americans living east of Mississippi had been moved to reservations
What was the Trail of Tears?
Jackson’s successor Martin Van Buren sent in the army to force them and march them to Oklahoma. This march killed more than 4k Cherokees, who died from starvation, disease and exposure on the journey, which came to be known as the Trail of Tears.
What was the Second Bank of the United States, and why did Jackson battle it?
During the 1830s, paper money was issued by private state banks. The Bank of United States collected bank notes and asked state banks to redeem them for gold and silver, forcing them to be careful about how much money they issued/lent. Jackson considered the Bank of United States was unconstitutional. He vetoed the bill to extend its charter for another 20 years. This led to financial woes for the economy.
What was the panic of 1837?
It was a crippling economic crisis during which many banks and businesses failed, thousands of farmers lost their land, and unemployment soared.
What was “Tippercanoe and Tyler Too”?
It was the Democratic campaign slogan for 1840, named after the Battle won by General Harrison (The Presidential Candidate) and and the Vice Presidential Candidate, Tyler. They won.
Why was General Harrison’s presidency short?
General Harrison delivered his inaugural speech on March 4, 1841, on a cold day without a hat or coat. He fell ill with pneumonia and died in a month (April 4), serving the shortest term any American president has served.
