Jacksonian Democracy and the Election of 1824

Jacksonian Democracy

• By the 1820s, the United States was developing a new identity, with a new generation of leaders and increased voting rights.
• Previously, only white, landowning men could vote, but by the 1820s, many restrictions were lifted, allowing all white men to vote.
• Andrew Jackson gained support from these new voters during the 1824 Presidential Election, marking the start of Jacksonian Democracy.
• Jacksonian Democracy was a new political climate that shaped the early 19th century, characterized by its emphasis on the common man.

The Election of 1824

• 1824 saw four candidates compete for the US presidency: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay.
• The Democratic-Republican Party was the sole existing political party, with each candidate representing distinct regions.
• No candidate secured a majority of electoral votes in the 1824 election, leading to a House of Representatives vote.
• Although eliminated as a candidate, Henry Clay, as Speaker of the House, remained influential in the process.
• Congress ultimately chose John Quincy Adams as the next president.

The Election of 1824: Candidates

• John Quincy Adams: Democratic-Republican
• Andrew Jackson: Democratic-Republican
• William Crawford: Democratic-Republican
• Henry Clay: Democratic-Republican

The Adams Presidency

• John Quincy Adams served as the sixth president of the United States.
• He attempted to reconcile divisions within the Democratic-Republican Party, but faced opposition from Jackson and his supporters.
• Adams's major projects, including national construction projects and economic reforms, faced strong resistance.
• The government invested in infrastructure, including canals, bridges, and railways, during his term.
• Adams' administration contributed to the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the nation's first major railway.

Domestic Policies:

• Adams proposed major national projects such as a national university and infrastructure improvements.
• The government funded road, canal, and bridge construction projects.
• The administration also invested in the emerging technology of railroads.
• Adams' administration contributed to the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first major railroad in the country.

Political Opposition

• Adams faced strong opposition from Jackson and his congressional supporters.

The Tariff of 1828

• The Tariff of 1828, signed by Adams, imposed high taxes on imported goods.
• This benefited Northern industries by giving them an advantage over foreign competitors but was opposed by the South and West, who relied on cheaper imported goods.
• The tariff was dubbed the "Tariff of Abominations" by Adams' opponents.

The Election of 1828

• Jackson and his supporters had been preparing for the 1828 election since the 1824 defeat.
• Jackson, with the support of the newly formed Democratic Party, presented himself as the candidate for the common man.
• Adams, facing criticism for the Tariff of 1828, his position on slavery, and his negotiation policies with Indigenous groups, struggled to rally his National Republican Party supporters.
• The 1828 campaign was marked by accusations from both sides.
• Jackson, gaining significant support from newly enfranchised voters, won the election convincingly.

Jackson's Political Beliefs

• Andrew Jackson, a key figure in 1820s and 1830s American politics, believed in states' rights and supported slavery.
• He implemented the "Spoils System," appointing supporters to government positions.

Jackson's Beliefs Summary

• Advocated for states' rights and federalism, respecting the rights of individual states.
• Strongly supported slavery as crucial for the US's well-being.
• Believed government positions should be filled with presidential supporters, known as the spoils system.

The Nullification Crisis

• John C. Calhoun, Jackson's Vice President, argued for the states' right to nullify federal laws, particularly the Tariff of 1828.
• Jackson maintained the tariff after becoming president, leading to frustration among southerners, particularly those who opposed the Tariff of Abominations.
• Calhoun, who opposed the tariff, published an anonymous pamphlet arguing for states' rights to nullify these laws.
• South Carolina leaders pushed for nullification, culminating in the 1832 Ordinance of Nullification, rejecting federal tariffs.
• Jackson, taking a strong stance against nullification, threatened military force to enforce federal law.
• He introduced a new, more lenient tariff and ultimately used force to enforce the law, ending the crisis.

Jackson's Indian Removal Policy

• The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a major policy enacted by President Jackson.
• It forced the relocation of Indigenous groups (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole) from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to west of the Mississippi River.
• This policy was driven by westward expansion and land acquisition for settlers and plantation owners.
• Jackson's personal hostility towards Indigenous peoples contributed to the implementation and expansion of this policy.
• The Cherokee legal fight against relocation and the subsequent forced march are key aspects of the Indian Removal Act.

Timeline of Jackson's Indian Removal Policy:

• May 1830: President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act.
• June 1830: Jackson sends officials to initiate relocation negotiations with Indigenous leaders.
• 1831: The Cherokee people fight for their rights in the courts to resist relocation.