Transcript ANDREW JACKSON 1767 - 1845

ANDREW JACKSON 1767 - 1845
THE ANDREW JACKSON ERA
1830 - 1850
MILITARY CAREER
• Joined Continental Army at age 13 as a courier
• Major General of Tennessee Volunteers. Led troops to
victory in March 1814 against the Creek Indians at
Horseshoe Bend
• May 1814 appointed Major General of the Army during
the War of 1812. On January 8, 1815, he defeated the
British in New Orleans and was declared a hero.
• During the 1st Seminole War (1817-19) he overthrew the
Spanish Governor in Florida
MILITARY LEADER
PRESIDENCY
• 7th President. March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837
• Elected by newly formed Democratic Party
• Given nickname “Old Hickory” because of his toughness
and aggressive nature in battle
• Opponents referred to him as “Jackass”. Jackson liked
the name. Later became symbol for the Democratic
Party
• January 1835 Jackson paid off the entire National Debt,
the only time in history that has been accomplished
• First Presidential assassination attempt was against
Jackson on May 6, 1833 - it was unsuccessful
PRESIDENT JACKSON
Campaign Poster
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
• Jackson repeatedly called for the abolition of the
Electoral College
• Wanted to accomplish this by Constitutional Amendment
in his annual messages to Congress
• Believed that it should be the right of the people to
directly elect the President and Vice President
• He was never successful
SPOILS SYSTEM
• Largely responsible for what is known as “Spoils
System” which rewards voters with government jobs for
working toward the victory
• Dismissed 20% of Federal employees and replaced
them with political appointees from his party
• Led to corruption including the appointment of officials
with no experience related to their responsibilities
• Still practiced by both parties today
POLITICAL CARTOONS
OPPOSITION TO NATIONAL BANK
• Jackson opposed National Bank for the following
reasons:
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Concentrated financial strength in a single institution
Exposed government to control by foreign interests
Exercised too much control over Congress
Served mainly to make rich richer
• Succeed in destroying Bank by vetoing its 1832 recharter and withdrawing U.S. funds in 1833. Local and
state banks sprung up. Not long after banks collapsed
• Direct cause of Panic of 1837 which threw economy into
a deep depression
• Jackson was censured by the Senate for this action
DESTROYING NATIONAL BANK
Cartoon showing Jackson destroying
National Bank
NULLIFICATION CRISIS
• Also known as the “Secession Crisis” 1828 – 1832
• South Carolina voted to “nullify” (void) the Tax Tariff Of
1828
• Jackson said all states had to obey Federal Laws
• Tensions rose and both sides prepared for military action
• After much discussion and being close to starting a
battle, in 1832 Jackson signed a new tax bill and South
Carolina repealed their Ordinance of Nullification
• Supreme Court has always ruled that individual states do
not have the power to void or nullify Federal Laws
INDIAN REMOVAL ACT
• Jackson supported removing Indians from their land
• Signed Indian Removal Act on May 28, 1830
• Act authorized President to grant unsettled lands west of
the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within
existing state borders
• Many tribes moved peacefully some did not
• Cherokee Indians were forcefully removed and over
4,000 Cherokees died on the forced march which
became known as the “Trail of Tears”
INDIAN REMOVAL ACT
INTERESTING FACTS
• Joined Revolutionary War when he was 13
• Fought in War of 1812 and the Seminole War
• First President to invite the public to White House Ball to honor his
inauguration. It was a disaster
• Owned 44 slaves
• Fought and killed Indians but adopted two Indian children
• Had bullet lodged near his heart after being shot in a duel and a
musket ball in his lung that made him cough blood and made his
whole body shake
• First President to ever have assassination attempt. Assassin’s gun
misfired twice and Jackson attacked him with his cane
ANDREW JACKSON
Most famous Jackson image