The age of Jacksonian democracy was known as that age of the common man. Even before Jackson took office, there were originations of nationalism, sectionalism, and democratization that were shaping the nation.
After the War of 1812, there was a spirit of nationalism spreading throughout the country. By 1821, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, and Missouri joined.
Due to concern for the economic strength of the nation, Henry Clay proposed the American system. The first part of this system was the protective tariff. Since America served as a source of raw materials for Europe and as a market for finished goods, the protective tariff was designed to shield from potentially fatal foreign competition. The second part of the system was the Second National Bank. Financial problems created by inflation were only made larger by the war. In 1816, the Second Bank had a twenty year charter. The last part of the system was internal improvements. This consisted of funding for roads, canals, harbor developments, etc. This was the least successful aspect of the American system.
When good times went bad, the U.S. and W. were driven further apart. In 1819, across seas, there were two main events that caused panic. The first event was the Cotton Collapse. Not only did cotton fall, but it brought other goods down with it. The second event was the irresponsible action of state banks and the National bank. Banks, paper money, and loans all multiplied in a race for riches.
In 1818, Missouri applies for statehood; they are a slave state. There were already two free states and 11 slave states. This would clearly cause an imbalance in Congress. In 1820, there was the Missouri Compromise. It was a compromise that stated three things: Maine be admitted as a free state, Missouri be admitted as a slave state, and slavery would not be permitted north of the Missouri border.
When the openness of the political process grew, the average citizen had more voice in his government. Political expansions were seen in three areas: voting rights were given to all adult whit males, people had more voice in presidential elections, the rise of a two party system.
In the 1828 Election, Jackson destroys Adams by a landslide!
Born in Carolina backcountry in 1767. His parents were Irish-Presbyterian, and he was named after his father. At 13, he joined with the Patriots against the British, and he served as a messenger. In 1781, he and his brother were captured; he refused to polish a soldier's shoes and was beaten for it. After the war, he studied law. Landed a job as public prosecutor in Tennessee. Later on, he became a state judge and was admitted to Congress in 1796.
Jackson's cabinet was given their position as a reward for the political campaign, but they had little influence with the president. His real advisors were a close group of friends who critics called his "Kitchen Cabinet".
In 1828, Congress passed a new higher protective tariff called the "Tariff of Abominations." The North and South saw differently on the idea of Tariffs. The north favored high protection tariffs while the south depended on foreign imports.
Jackson's problem for reelection in 1832 was the future of the Bank. There were three political precedents of the 1832 election: a third party, First Party platform, and the first national nomination convention.
In 1833, Jackson appoints Taney as Secretary of Treasury. Taney moved deposits to state banks. The loss of federal deposits forced the Bank to tighten credit-hurt business expansion. To attempt to slow the spiraling inflation, the Specie Circular of 1836 was created. This prohibited the use of anything except gold or silver coins for purchase of land.
The U.S. wanted to move all tribes in the east to land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rockies. The tribes were not happy when Jackson came into office and made 94 treaties some of which were executed by force.
There was obvious resistance. The Black Hawk War was a war in which Indians tried to reclaim their land they lost. The Seminole War, 1835-1842, was where the Indians hid in swamp lands and marshes, resisted with armed forces, and many relocated but some stayed. The Cherokee built roads, schools, an alphabet, etc. They took their battle to court. The decision was in favor of the Cherokee, but the government ignored it. They were moved west by force, and their journey became known as the "Trail of Tears."
Between 1828 and 1840, two parties, Democrat and Whig, competed for the presidency and control of Congress. Martin Van Buren won and would be the last representative to be elected president until 1989.
In the Panic of 1837, the economy collapse, banks and businesses failed, and unemployment grew. This was caused by many events: Jackson's economic policies, irresponsibility of state banks, wheat crop failure, and the collapse of cotton prices.
Harrison would become the next president who died a month after taking the office. He was the oldest president elected who would be taken over by one of the youngest presidents, Tyler.
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