Andrew Jackson is a man of many titles:◦ President◦ War Hero◦ Indian Hunter
His presidency is conflicting because Jackson is seen as a hero and a villain◦Hero:: First common person to become
president, kept the nation together in time of nee
◦Villain: Responsible for the Trail of Tears: the removal of the Cherokee and other Native Americans from the SE United States
Introduction
Before the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson was unknown to the American people until several events occur:◦ 1. Battle of New
Orleans Jackson’s devastating
victory over the British makes him a national celebrity
Rise of Jackson
◦2. Invasion of Florida Without the Presidents
permission, Andrew Jackson ordered his men to invade Spanish Florida to attack the Seminole Indians
Unable to stop the invasion, Spain handed Florida over to the United States
Rise of Jackson
See YA!
Due to his popularity, Jackson runs for president.◦Will be different from
other presidents because… Jackson was uneducated Jackson grew up poor Jackson was from the
“west” (Tennessee) First politician to go town
to town campaigning for peoples’ support
Rise of Jackson
Nullification Crisis◦ Nullification: a constitutional theory that gives a
state the right to reject any law passed by the United States Congress
◦ The National Government passed a tariff that Southern states disliked. Made it harder to sell cash crops to Europe
◦ South Carolina threatens to secede (leave the United States) unless the government gets rid of the tariff
Nullification Crisis
Jackson’s response:◦ Threatens military force if
South Carolina does not enforce the treaty
A compromise is reached and things return to normal
Significance: South Carolina almost leaves the United States over States’ rights; foreshadows the Civil War.
Jackson’s Presidency
The Trail of Tears◦Conflict erupted between
Native Americans and American settlers in SE United States
◦ Jackson was being pressured to take Cherokee land Settling on Cherokee land
was illegal but still being done
Georgia grew impatient and took the Cherokees’ land Rumors of gold on the land
lead to faster settlement
To handle the issue, Jackson pushed for two things:◦ Created an Indian Territory
(Oklahoma) where the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw will be relocated
◦ Passed the Indian Removal Act: Law forcing the Native Americans off their land in two years.
The Trail of Tears
Worchester v. Georgia◦ The Cherokee sue the
government over their forced relocation; Supreme Court rules the Natives should not have to move
◦ Significance: Jackson ignores the Supreme Court, moves forward with the removal Only president to ever
directly defy the Supreme Court
Trail of Tears