Jackson Notes Flashcards
1
Q
Andrew Jackson
A
- One of the most important presidents in US history
- Does not have a typical upbringing b/c he was orphaned and not well educated
- Decided to run for president in 1824 which is the end of the era of good feelings
2
Q
Corrupt Bargain of 1824
A
- When Jackson runs for president for the first time, Adams was elected and Jackson becomes angry b/c he thinks the election was rigged
- He won the popular and electoral vote, but still didn’t become president
- Jackson says that Henry Clay wanted to be secretary of state so Adams’ supporters and Clay’s supporters joined together to conspire against Jackson
3
Q
Revolution of 1828
A
- In 1828, Jackson runs again
- He won this time
- Ties in with universal white male suffrage
4
Q
Universal white male suffrage
A
- Every state in the union by 1828 got rid of the property qualification to vote which stated that only people who owned land could vote
- Jackson has nothing to do with this, but he benefits from this
- This is significant b/c of the large democratic participation in this election as more people could vote
- Only adult white men could vote so Jackson won b/c JQ Adams’ dad was already president, so he was rich, but Jackson was not born rich so he appealed to the common white men
5
Q
The Spoils System
A
- Also called patronage/rotation of office
- Rotating people from one job to another
- A system where Jackson rewards his political supporters (white men) with government jobs
- Significant b/c Jackson thinks he will be making the government more responsive to the citizens as he will be filling the government with more people who represent America
- Problem is that it creates corruption b/c it led to the government hiring unskilled workers
6
Q
Reasons why Jackson hated the bank
A
- Elitist and only helps merchants and bankers
- Does not help the regular people
- Too big
- Only looking out for the interest of shareholders
- Owned and controlled by foreigners and they are making money off the American bank
- Does not like Henry Clay and Clay loves the bank
7
Q
Bank of the United States
A
- The Bank exists on a charter, which are rules for the bank
- These rules must be approved by Congress and a recharter is approved by Congress so the president signs it
8
Q
Renewal of the Bank in 1832
A
- Jackson vetoed the recharter of the Bank
- He uses the veto more than the previous six presidents combined and this is significant b/c it shows his assertion of authority, power, and influence
- This veto causes the Bank to die slowly
- Jackson wants the Bank to die faster so he withdraws all the money from the Bank and redistributes it to state banks
- State banks are also known as wildcats/pet banks
- The problem with this is that there is no regulation of these banks and thus, destabilizes the entire economy as the federal bank is gone
9
Q
Panic! of 1837
A
- Biggest economic collapse up to that point
- Caused by Jackson, however, his successor is blamed b/c Jackson’s president ends in 1837
10
Q
Tarrifs
A
- Tax on imported goods that are paid by consumers
- The purpose is to incentivize people to buy domestic products b/c they are cheaper than their foreign counterparts
- Not commonly used anymore since the government raises most of its revenue from income tax
- Since the economy is globally interconnected, tariffs just create retaliatory tariffs and everything becomes more expensive
- Popular in the 19th century
11
Q
Tariff of 1828
A
- Highest tariff ever in this point of US history
- South (esp South Carolina) hates tariffs b/c there are retaliatory tariffs on American cotton
- Nicknamed “Tariff of Abominations (Unholy)” by the South
- Jackson had nothing to do with the tariff since he was not president then
- Jackson does not love tariffs but does not have a passion against them
- Jackson does not like challenges to his authority and Henry Clay, however, Clay loves tariffs
- So he creates the nullification crisis
12
Q
Nullification Crisis
A
- South Carolina puts forward the idea that since the tariff hurts them, they should be able to nullify (get rid of) the tariff
- Proposed Ordinance of Nullification after a convention
- This is led by John C. Calhoun who was originally Jackson’s VP, but resigns to lead the charge to nullify federal law
13
Q
What would happen if the tariff cannot be nullified?
A
- If the tariff cannot be nullified, they threatened to secede the union (sign of disunion)
- If a state feels like a law is unconstitutional, they should be able to nullify the federal law
- This basically gets rid of federal power b/c supremacy clause in constitution states that federal law is above state laws, so this is a threat to the federal government’s legitimacy
- Jackson hates the challenge to his authority and passes the Force Bill, which gives him the authority to go to South Carolina to arrest participants of this and hang organizers of the nullification movement without a trial (technically unconstitutional)
- Does not happen because Clay proposes a compromise tariff
14
Q
Second Compromise (Tariff of 1833)
A
- Slowly lowering the tariff over a series of years down to pre-1828 levels
15
Q
Trail of Tears
A
- Jackson’s most consequential event and has devastating effects on Natives
- Forced march of Cherokee and other Native Americans out of the Southeast (specifically Georgia) to be forcibly resettled in Oklahoma
- Jackson is not the sole actor for this and he signs the Indian Removal Act for the Trail of Tears
