JAckson

Essay text:

unimportance of the federal government symbolized by the character of Wash D.C. o appointed people who would be loyal to his ideas and his presidency ? US began to free itself culturally from Europe religion, art, and literature --> dreamed of huge cultural accomplishments ? Washington Irving (Ichabod Crane, Rip Van Winkle) was the leader of US literary life in the early 18th C. ? Jefferson saw Native Americans as "noble savages" ? Thomas Jefferson tried to eliminate the aura of majesty surrounding the President and became the leader of his party ? Jefferson easily wins second term vs. Charles Pickney - Republicans controlled the executive and legislative but remained suspicious of the judiciary still controlled by the Federalists ? 1801-1829: Jeffersonian Diplomacy - from the US State Department ? Jefferson reversed trends of Washington and Adams o debt --> reduces the debt by half o taxes --> abolished internal taxes o armed forces --> reduced, believed strong navy would promoted overseas commerce (Jefferson was not a pacifist however as he established West Point) The "Era of Good Feelings" ? reflected a rising spirit of nationalism in the US following the War of 1812 ? expansion of the economy, growth of white settlement and trade in the West, the creation of new states - all reflected the rising spirit of nationalism in the US ? The Virginia Dynasty ? End of the first party system (Federalists no longer a challenge to the Republicans) ? Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 Spain ceded all of Florida to the US and gave up its claim to all territory north of the 42nd parallel in the Pacific Northwest, in return the US gave up its claims to Texas ? The panic of 1819 revived many political dispute that the "era of good feeling" had supposedly settled ? Bank of US started calling in loans, tightening credit, and foreclosing on mortgages which resulted in financial panic and many state bank collapses ? Congress responded to the panic by raising tariff rates ? Six years of depression followed Jacksonian Democracy ? Andrew Jackson was a frontier aristocrat ? The Age of the Common Man ? Andrew Jackson and his followers were imperfect democrats (slavery, treatment of Indians, economic, social, and gender inequality) ? Jackson believed in forceful presidential leadership, and the supremacy of the Federal government over the individual states ? Jacksonians were aristocrats but not by birth --> wanted to ensure that others could to prominence on the basis of their talents and energies ? Some viewed Jackson's election :"The reign of King 'Mob' seemed triumphant" ? Voting rights extended to all white males ? The party came to be viewed as a desirable part of the political process (this increasing importance of the party started at the state level and spread to the federal level)--- Jackson's followers were called Democrats and their rivals were called Whigs ? Jackson believed in "equal protection and equal benefits" (to all white male citizens and favor no one region of class over another) ? Introduced the "spoils system" which he hoped would eliminate professional bureaucrats --> gave jobs in government to his political friends ? Introduction of the national convention to nominate Presidential candidates which it was hoped would lead to power in the party coming from the people rather that elite political institutions ? Vice President lost Jackson's favor because of his support of nullification and the Eaton affair ? Peggy Eaton (wife to John Eaton one of Jackson's friends) was being snubbed Calhoun's wife, not a political dispute but an etiquette dispute ? Martin Van Buren became the heir apparent to Jackson ? In 1835 when John Marshall dies Jackson appoints new Chief Justice Roger Taney who brings key Jacksonian idea to the Supreme Court: the key to democracy was an expansion of economic opportunity Succession, Nullification, and Sectional Conflict ? Nullification was seen as a moderate alternative to succession ? The Webster - Hayne debate showed the sectional rivalry within the US ? Northern view (Jackson, Daniel Webster) Webster "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable" Jackson "Our federal Union - It must be preserved" ? Southern view (Hayne, Calhoun) Hayne - South and West were victims of tyranny of the Northeast Calhoun "The Union, next to our liberty most dear" ? South viewed the 1828 tariff as the "tariff of abominations" and the source of economic problems ? Supporters of nullification won victories in 1832 in South Carolina and proceeded to "nullify" the act ? Jackson viewed this as treason and ordered warships to Charleston as well as the strengthening of federal forts in SC, Jackson won approval of a force bill authorizing him to use force if necessary ? Compromise bill reached that gradually lowered tariffs to 1816 levels ? SC legislature revoked nullification of tariffs but nullified the force bill (symbolic gesture only) ? The Dorr Rebellion even though it failed, was generally consistent with Jacksonian principles Indian Removal ? white perception of Indians changing from "noble savages" to "savages" ? "Five Civilized Tribes" - Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chicksaw, and Choctaw ? Jackson ignored the decisions of the Supreme Court regarding the Cherokee Indians - "John Marshall has made his decision...