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The Jackson Era (1824 - 1840)

Objective: To examine the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson.

The Early Years

• Andrew Jackson was born in a log cabin in the backwoods of the Carolinas in 1767.

• Jackson joined the Patriots during the American Revolution at the age of 13.

• At the age of twenty, Jackson moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he eventually becomes a wealthy

attorney.

Entering Public Service

• Jackson became the first person from Tennessee to serve

in the House of Representatives and he also served as

Senator before becoming President in 1828.

• As a young general in the army, President James Monroe

sent Jackson to protect the border of Florida against the

Seminole and Creek Indians.

• After defeating the Creeks battle, they began to refer to

Jackson as “Sharp Knife” after Jackson forced them to

give up lands that had been guaranteed to them in earlier

treaties with the U.S.

• Jackson also gained fame for his military achievements during the War of 1812 leading American forces to

victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

• Jackson earned the nickname, “Old Hickory” after a soldier said that he was “tough as hickory.”

Elections of 1824 and 1828

• While earning the most popular votes in the presidential election of 1824, Jackson did not receive enough

electoral votes to secure the victory.

• Choosing from the top three vote getters, the House of Representatives selected John Quincy Adams to be the

sixth president of the United States.

• However, Jackson easily defeated Adams in the election of 1828 to become the first President from a western

state.

Jacksonian Democracy

• Jackson was extremely popular with the “common man”, which he considered to be farmers, factory workers

and western frontiersmen.

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Depiction of Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans

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• Jackson’s belief in shifting the political power from the wealthy

and educated elite to the “common man” was part of what became

known as Jacksonian democracy.

• However, Jackson’s critics viewed his popularity as a danger sign

that his presidency was coming to resemble that of a king.

• As a result, Jackson earned yet another nickname. His opponents

called him “King Andrew”, fearing Jackson’s intentions of

strengthening the powers of the presidency.

The Spoils System

• Upon assuming the Presidency, Jackson fired over 200

government workers and replaced them with his own Democratic

supporters.

• A supporter of Jackson’s replied to criticism of the president by

stating, “To the victor belong the spoils.”

Spoils system – practice of rewarding supporters with government jobs

• Jackson appointed some of his most dedicated supporters with jobs

within his Cabinet, although few of them were qualified for the job.

• Instead of relying on his Cabinet for advice, Jackson relied on a small

group of unofficial advisors as the “kitchen cabinet” since Jackson

frequently met with them in the White House kitchen.

The Bank War

• Jackson believed that the Bank of the United States had too much

power and served the needs of the rich over those of average

Americans.

• For example, the Bank of the United States had the ability to limit the

amount of money state banks were allowed to lend to small business

owners such as farmers and merchants.

• Jackson felt particular anger towards the bank’s president, Nicolas

Biddle.

• Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, political enemies of Jackson, devised a plan to exploit Jackson’s hatred of the

Bank of the United States to help weaken him before the 1832 presidential election.

• Clay and Webster convinced Nicholas Biddle to submit his application to renew the charter for the Bank of the

United States earlier than required.

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• Clay, Webster and Biddle predicted that Jackson would veto the charter application, angering so many

Americans that he would eventually lose his bid for reelection in 1832.

• It turns out that Clay, Webster and Biddle underestimated Jackson’s popularity.

• Jackson defeated Clay in the election of 1832.

• Jackson also succeeded in destroying the Bank of the United States by having it shut down in 1836.

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