U.S. History I - Jacksonian Democracy | History

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Study GuideU.S. History I–Jacksonian Democracy1. Jackson as PresidentWhen Andrew Jackson became president in1829, his inauguration was unlike any before. Arowdycrowd filled the White House, shocking Washington society. Many attendees were looking forgovernment jobs, and Jackson’s speech mentioned“rotation in office”, meaning the replacementof some officeholders with political supporters.•Critics called this the“spoils system.”•Jackson didn’t completely replace all officials, and most turnover during his two terms wasmodest.•He relied heavily onfriends, newspaper editors, and political alliesfor advice, forming aninformal advisory group called theKitchen Cabinet. OnlyMartin Van Buren, Secretary ofState, was a government official in this group.1.1Van Buren and Internal ImprovementsVan Buren worked to strengthen his political influence andweaken Vice President John Calhoun,especially over issues likeinternal improvements(roads, canals, etc.).•Van Buren drafted Jackson’sveto message on the Maysville Road bill, which would havefunded a road entirely within Kentucky.•Jackson argued the federal government shouldn’t fund projects benefiting just one state.•Despite the veto, federal spending on infrastructurewas higher under Jackson than underAdams.1.2The Eaton AffairJackson’s conflict with Calhoun became personal oversocial snubsin Washington:•Peggy Eaton, wife of Jackson’s Secretary of War, was shunned by other cabinet wives.•Jackson, still grieving the death of his wife Rachel, took the snubs personally.•This feud escalated, contributing to the growing rift between Jackson and Calhoun, especiallyduring thenullification crisis.

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Study Guide1.3The Nullification ControversyTheTariff of 1828angered Southerners, who felt it unfairly benefited Northern industries.•Calhoun argued states couldnullify(refuse to obey) federal laws they consideredunconstitutional.•In 1832, South Carolina passed an ordinancerefusing to collect tariffsin its ports.•Jackson responded firmly:oNullification was unconstitutional.oThe Constitution created asingle nation, not separate states.oHe threatened military force to enforce tariffs.Henry Clay’s compromisehelped avoid war:1.Compromise Tariff–reduced duties gradually over 10 years.2.Force Bill–authorized Jackson to enforce federal law with military action.South Carolina backed down, and both Jackson and Calhoun claimed victory.1.4The Bank CrisisJacksonhated banks and paper money, especially theSecond Bank of the United States:•The bank was privately controlled but held federal deposits and lent money to state banks.•Nicholas Biddle, the bank’s president, tried to recharter it early in 1832, supported by HenryClay.•Jacksonvetoed the recharter bill, calling the bank aprivileged monopoly.During his second term:•Jackson removed federal deposits from the Second Bank and put them into selectedstate“pet” banksloyal to the Democratic Party.•The pet banks lent money and issued paper notes, fueling speculation inpublic lands.•To curb speculation, Jackson issued theSpecie Circular (1836), requiring land to be boughtwithgold or silver, not paper money.

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Study GuideResults:•Speculation slowed, butwestern settlers criticized the policy, as hard currency wasscarce.•Jackson’s bank policies contributed to aserious economic crisis, which his chosensuccessor inherited.Jackson’s presidency was marked by:•Expandingpresidential power.•Using thespoils systemto reward allies.•Firmly confrontingstates’ rights challenges(nullification).•Taking on theSecond Bank of the United Statesand reshaping the nation’s financialsystem.2. Van Buren and New Political AlignmentsBy1834, a new political group called theWhigshad formed to oppose President Andrew Jackson.•Leaders includedDaniel Websterof Massachusetts andHenry Clayof Virginia.•They nicknamed Jackson“King Andrew I”because they felt he was abusing presidentialpower.•Whigs drew support fromNew England, the mid-Atlantic, the upper Midwest, and somesouthern planterswho disagreed with Jackson on issues like nullification, internalimprovements, and tariffs.•Their economic ideas appealed toindustrialists, successful farmers, and reformerswhowanted better public education and social change.Meanwhile, theDemocratswere strongest in theSouth and West, especially among middle-classpeople, small farmers, and recent immigrants. Many Democrats supported Jackson’s fight against theSecond Bank of the United States, which they saw as a tool of monopoly and privilege.Key difference:•Whigs wanted anactive national government.•Democrats wantedmore power for states and local governments.

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