Jacksonian America Flashcards
Andrew Jackson: New National “Hero”
slides:
-Born in North Carolina & orphaned at 14.
-Moved to the frontier (Tennessee); became wealthy & a major slave owner.
-Jackson’s rise is closely connected to the expansion of slavery and the forced removal of Native Americans
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
-Andrew Jackson allied with Cherokee & Lower Creeks to defeat the Red Sticks
-Treaty of Fort Jackson: Andrew Jackson forced the Creeks to cede 23 million acres of land – much of Alabama and Georgia
-Jackson took half of the ceded lands & sold them to friends
Battle of New Orleans
-January 1815: Jackson’s forced defeated the British
-Victory made Jackson into a war hero
-Ruled over New Orleans for 2 months before word of the Treaty of Ghent arrived
-Accused of being a dictator; jailed his accusers
First Seminole War
-1816-9: Andrew Jackson began an illegal war with the Seminoles in Spanish Florida
-United States government had NOT given him authority to wage war
-Adams-Onis Treaty, 1819: Spain ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for Texas
In 1816-1819, Andrew Jackson waged an illegal war against the Seminole tribe in Spanish Florida, which was part of the broader conflict known as the First Seminole War. Jackson was not authorized by the U.S. government to take military action in Florida. However, he took matters into his own hands, leading a series of military expeditions into Florida, aiming to eliminate the Seminole threat and stop them from aiding runaway slaves and Native American resistance to U.S. expansion. His actions included the destruction of Seminole villages, the capture of Spanish forts, and the execution of two British nationals, which created diplomatic tensions.
Despite Jackson’s unauthorized actions, his military successes in Florida helped pave the way for the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, in which Spain ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for the U.S. renouncing any claims to Texas and agreeing to settle financial claims. The treaty effectively resolved the issue of Florida, and Jackson’s actions, though controversial, contributed to the U.S. acquiring the territory.
Expansion of Suffrage
-New Western States expand suffrage to more white men
—Kentucky (1792)
—Tennessee (1796)
—Ohio (1803)
-By 1820, most older states expanded suffrage to poorer white men
1824,
-By 1840, more than 90% of adult white men could vote
The expansion of suffrage in the early 19th century was a significant shift in American politics, particularly as the country moved westward. As new Western states were established, they expanded the right to vote to include more white men, particularly those without property, which had previously been a requirement in many states.
Kentucky (1792), Tennessee (1796), and Ohio (1803) were some of the first Western states to grant voting rights to a broader group of white men, including those without land. This move was part of a larger trend where new states in the West made suffrage more accessible in order to encourage settlement and population growth.
By 1820, many of the older Eastern states followed suit, expanding suffrage to include poorer white men, who had previously been excluded due to property requirements. This change was part of a broader democratizing movement across the United States, as the idea that political participation should not be limited by wealth gained traction.
By 1824, the majority of states had significantly expanded suffrage, and by 1840, more than 90% of adult white men could vote, a major leap from earlier periods when voting was largely restricted to landowners and wealthy elites. This expansion of voting rights was a key factor in the rise of Jacksonian Democracy, a political movement that emphasized the empowerment of the common man and greater participation in government. However, it is important to note that this expansion of suffrage applied primarily to white men, as African Americans, Native Americans, and women were still largely excluded from voting during this period.
Election of 1824
-Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford and Henry Clay run for President
-Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but John Quincy Adams won the election
-Jacksonians were outraged by the outcome of the election
In the election of 1824, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, and Henry Clay all ran for president. This election was highly contentious and is often referred to as one of the most disputed elections in American history.
Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, receiving more votes than any other candidate. However, because no candidate secured a majority of electoral votes, the election was decided by the House of Representatives, as mandated by the 12th Amendment. In this vote, John Quincy Adams was chosen as president, despite Jackson’s popular victory.
The outcome of the election sparked outrage among Jacksonians and his supporters, who believed that Jackson had been unfairly denied the presidency despite his clear popularity. They viewed the election as a “corrupt bargain” because Henry Clay, who had been the Speaker of the House and was a candidate himself, threw his support behind Adams, helping him win the presidency. In return, Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State, which many saw as a political deal to secure votes.
Election of 1828
—-Jackson’s Democrats v. John Q. Adams’ National Republicans
-Democratic Platform:
—Agrarian expansionists
—Pro-slavery
—Pro-Indian removal
—Small government
-Campaign of 1828
—First major “get-out-the-vote” campaign
—Huge political rallies
—Jackson portrayed as a “common man” and a hero
The Election of 1828 marked a turning point in American politics, as Andrew Jackson and his supporters launched a successful challenge against incumbent John Quincy Adams and his National Republican Party. Jackson’s Democratic Party promoted an agrarian-focused platform that supported westward expansion, the extension of slavery into new territories, and Indian removal—a policy Jackson championed, which led to the forced relocation of Native Americans. Additionally, the Democrats advocated for a small government, favoring states’ rights and minimal federal intervention. The 1828 election was also notable for being the first major “get-out-the-vote” campaign, with both sides organizing massive political rallies and engaging in intense efforts to mobilize voters. Jackson, portrayed as a “common man” who had risen from humble origins, became a symbol of the people’s power, in contrast to Adams, who was seen as part of the elite. The campaign was fiercely personal, with both sides launching sharp attacks on each other’s characters. In the end, Jackson won a landslide victory, signaling the rise of Jacksonian Democracy and a shift toward greater popular participation in politics, as well as the decline of the older, aristocratic political elites.
Cherokee Nation
-Adopted elements of white culture in order to preserve autonomy and sovereignty
—Established a constitutional republic
—Legislature & court system
—Newspaper
—Written language
—Christianity
—Altered gender roles
The Cherokee Nation made significant efforts to preserve its autonomy and sovereignty by adopting elements of white culture in the early 19th century. Faced with increasing pressure from the U.S. government to cede their land and relocate, the Cherokee aimed to prove they could coexist with American society and maintain their independence. To do this, they established a constitutional republic, modeled after the U.S. government, with a legislature, court system, and even a newspaper called the Cherokee Phoenix.
The Cherokee also developed a written language created by Sequoyah, which allowed them to preserve their history and communicate effectively within their community. Many Cherokee adopted Christianity as part of their integration into American society, with missionaries establishing churches among the tribe. Additionally, the Cherokee altered traditional gender roles, as women took on more active roles in the tribe’s economy, while men engaged in farming and other activities influenced by European settlers.
Despite these efforts, the U.S. government, under President Andrew Jackson, continued to push for the removal of the Cherokee from their ancestral lands, leading to the Trail of Tears in the 1830s. This forced relocation devastated the Cherokee people, but their adoption of aspects of white culture remains a testament to their resilience and determination to preserve their way of life.
Conflict in Georgia
-1828: Gold found in Georgia; rush on Cherokee lands
-Georgia declared that Cherokees were not a Indian nation, but tenant farmers; annulled the Cherokee constitution
-Cherokees challenge Georgia in the Supreme Court
-Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831): Declared that Indians were “domestic dependent nations” with a right to their lands.
-Jackson ignored the Supreme Court decision
In 1828, the discovery of gold in Georgia triggered a rush of settlers onto Cherokee lands, sparking intense pressure for the U.S. government to remove the Cherokee from their territory. In response, the state of Georgia declared that the Cherokee were not a sovereign nation but mere tenant farmers living on state land. Georgia annulled the Cherokee constitution and sought to assert control over their land, effectively disregarding the Cherokee’s attempts to govern themselves.
The Cherokee, led by their chief John Ross, challenged Georgia’s actions by taking their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831), the Court ruled that the Cherokee were “domestic dependent nations” and had a right to their lands, acknowledging their sovereignty to some extent. However, the Court did not explicitly grant the Cherokee the right to sue in federal court, which limited the immediate effect of the ruling.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, President Andrew Jackson famously ignored the ruling and continued to push for the removal of the Cherokee. Jackson’s administration, driven by the policy of Indian Removal, proceeded with plans to force the Cherokee from their ancestral lands, leading to the Trail of Tears in 1838, where thousands of Cherokee were forcibly relocated to present-day Oklahoma, resulting in significant loss of life.
Treaty of New Echota (1835)
-Disagreement among Cherokees about how to respond to Jackson’s actions
-Cherokee elected leader, John Ross, refused the govt’s offer of money for Cherokee lands
-Instead, U.S. signed a treaty with unelected members of the Cherokee Nation, led by Major Ridge
-Treaty of New Echota: ceded Cherokee territory in the SE for $5 million
Trail of Tears (1838) / Trail of Broken Treaties
-Most Cherokee refused to leave their lands
-1838: President Martin Van Buren sent 7,000 federal troops to evict the 18,000 remaining Cherokee
-Forced march to Oklahoma – 1200 miles
-4,000 Cherokee died en route
The Trail of Tears in 1838 was the tragic forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to what is now Oklahoma. Despite the Cherokee’s efforts to resist and fight against their removal, including legal challenges and the Supreme Court’s decision in their favor, most Cherokee were ultimately forced to leave.
In 1838, President Martin Van Buren sent 7,000 federal troops to evict the remaining 18,000 Cherokee from their lands. The Cherokee were made to endure a 1200-mile forced march to the designated Indian Territory, enduring harsh conditions, inadequate supplies, and brutal weather. The journey was marked by suffering, disease, and exhaustion. Over the course of the relocation, it is estimated that 4,000 Cherokee died due to illness, starvation, and exposure, making the Trail of Tears one of the darkest chapters in American history.
This event was part of a broader policy of Indian Removal, which aimed to clear Native American lands for white settlement and expansion, despite the Cherokee’s attempts to adapt to American culture and live peacefully on their lands.
