Unit 5 – A Changing Nation

Chapter 12

I. The Age of JacksonA. Jacksonian Democracy and States’ Rights

1. Sectionalism Changes Politicsa. the election of 1824 tore apart the Democratic-

Republican Party1) Adams defeats Jackson in this election because the House of Representatives

had to decide because there was no majority vote2) the charges of a “corrupt bargain”

followed Adams throughout his term in office

3) Democrats grew out of Jackson supporters – “common man”

4) National Republicans grew out of the Adams Campaign

2. Jackson Redefines “Democracy”a. he advocated for voting rights to be extended

to more of the populationb. the next election in 1828 was a fight again between Adams and Jackson

1) Jacksonian Democracy grew out of this2) it widened more political power to more

of the people through the extension of voting rights to ensure majority rule

3) women, the enslaved, and free African Americans still could not vote4) Jackson wins and his wife dies

c. Jackson’s term began a new political era1) spoils system – give jobs to political backers

3. Rising Sectional Differencesa. Legislatures from the Northeast, West, and South argued over

three economic issues:1) the sale of public lands in the West2) federal spending on internal

improvements (roads and canals)3) rising tariffs

4. Federal Government vs. the Statesa. tariffs fueled the fire between state and national government power – where was the balance?b. 1828 Congress passes a bill that raised tariffs on raw materials and manufactured goods – the south called it “Tariff of

Abomination”1) the south talked of leaving the union because

they could not afford the tax2) Calhoun introduced the “doctrine of nullification” which allowed the south to reject a federal law that they felt was unconstitutional3) this caused states’ rights debate which lasts

through the end of the Civil War4) Jackson believes in states’ rights, but does not

believe states should nullify a federal law5) Jackson asked Congress to lower the tariffs,

but South Carolina still was not happy and threatened to secede

B. Jackson’s Policy Toward Native Americans

1. Native Americans Forced Westa. the Natives living on the east coast were viewed as an obstacle

to progressb. whites wanted Natives to assimilate to the white culture and

others believed there were “uncivilized” c. Jackson imposed a removal policy

1) he believed they has two choices: assimilate and become a US citizen, or move west

2) the discovery of gold in the southern states also forced natives west

d. Jackson later passes the Indian Removal Act in 18301) the government must negotiate treaties that would

require Natives to relocate west of the Mississippi

2) many groups opposed this (Quakers)

2. The Trail of Tears

a. the harsh journey of the Cherokees from

their homes to Indian Territory in present

day areas of Oklahoma and Nebraska

b. this forced removal caused a lot of Native

American resistance

1) Osceola – leaders of the Seminoles

in Florida that attacked US troops in

the everglades

C. Prosperity and Panic

1. Jackson Targets the National Banka. Jackson declares war on the bankb. the bank needed a charter or written grant from the federal government in order to operatec. Mr. Biddle, the bank’s president asked Congress to renew the

charter

d. Jackson vetoes the renewal and after his re-election he sets out to destroy the bank before its charter ended.1) he had government funds deposited into state banks2) Biddle made it harder for people to borrow money3) the bank went out of business but Jackson’s war

brought about prosperity and panica) people could borrow money easier and this led

to inflation because the state banks issued too much moneyb) Panic of 1837 occurred after Jackson left office and people exchanged money for gold and silver leaving the country in a depression when there was none leftc) This left Martin Van Buren deal with the difficult times

2. The Birth of the Whigs

a. In the 1840 election the Whig Party

formed

b. It was named after a British Party that

opposed royal power

c. Whigs believed that Congress not the

President represented the will of the

people

d. Harrison won the election