Module 11 - HIS 210 - U.S. History through the Civil War - Textbook - LibGuides at Hostos Community College Library

Module 11: Jacksonian America

Learning Outcomes

To understand that the Republicans controlled the federal government after the War of 1812, but that there were still internal divisions within the Party over the future direction of the economy and the role of the federal government in terms of directing it.
To understand the differences in philosophy between the “National Republicans” that were now leading the Republican Party and the more traditional Republicans that still followed the principles put forth by Thomas Jefferson.
To be able to describe how the internal divisions within the Republican Party manifested itself in the party splitting into two distinct parties as those who wanted to restore the principles that Thomas Jefferson stood for left the Republican Party and formed the Democratic Party.
To understand how Andrew Jackson became the leader of the Democratic Party and president of the US in 1828.
To understand the major issues of Andrew Jackson’s presidential terms and his leadership philosophy.

In President’s Levee, or all Creation going to the White House, Washington (1841), by Robert Cruikshank, the artist depicts Andrew Jackson’s inauguration in 1829, with crowds surging into the White House to join the celebrations. Rowdy revelers destroyed many White House furnishings in their merriment. A new political era of democracy had begun, one characterized by the rule of the majority.

Content

Introduction
The most extraordinary political development in the years before the Civil War was the rise of American democracy. Whereas the founders envisioned the United States as a republic, not a democracy, and had placed safeguards such as the Electoral College in the 1787 Constitution to prevent simple majority rule, the early 1820s saw many Americans embracing majority rule and rejecting old forms of deference that were based on elite ideas of virtue, learning, and family lineage.
10.1 A New Political Style: From John Quincy Adams to Andrew Jackson
Political leaders and parties rose to popularity by championing the will of the people, pushing the country toward a future in which a wider swath of citizens gained a political voice. However, this expansion of political power was limited to White men; women, free Black people, and Native Americans remained—or grew increasingly—disenfranchised by the American political system.
10.2 The Rise of American Democracy
A turning point in American political history occurred in 1828, which witnessed the election of Andrew Jackson over the incumbent John Quincy Adams.
10.3 The Nullification Crisis and the Bank War
The crisis over the Tariff of 1828 continued into the 1830s and highlighted one of the currents of democracy in the Age of Jackson: namely, that many southerners believed a democratic majority could be harmful to their interests. These southerners saw themselves as an embattled minority and claimed the right of states to nullify federal laws that appeared to threaten state sovereignty.
10.4 Indian Removal
Jackson reflected majority opinion: most Americans believed Native peoples had no place in the White republic. Jackson’s animosity toward Native Americans ran deep... The 1830 Indian Removal Act and subsequent displacement of the Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Cherokee tribes of the Southeast fulfilled the vision of a White nation and became one of the identifying characteristics of the Age of Jackson.
Selection from "Memorial of the Cherokee Nation"
This memorial letter, written in December 1829 to the United States Congress, was printed January 20, 1830 in the Cherokee Phoenix, and Indians' Advocate.

Attribution

U.S. History
Authors: P. Scott Corbett, Volker Janssen, John M. Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, Sylvie Waskiewicz, Paul Vickery
Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/1-introduction
Sections located at: Introduction https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/10-introduction; 10.1 https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/10-1-a-new-political-style-from-john-quincy-adams-to-andrew-jackson; 10.2 https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/10-2-the-rise-of-american-democracy; 10.3 https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/10-3-the-nullification-crisis-and-the-bank-war; 10.4 https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/10-4-indian-removal
License: Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Memorial of the Cherokee Nation
Located at: Georgia Historic Newspapers, Digital Library of Georgia: Cherokee phoenix, and Indians' advocate. (New Echota [Ga.]) 1829-1834, January 20, 1830
Public Domain

HIS 210 - U.S. History through the Civil War - Textbook

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HIS 210 U.S. History through the Civil War

Module 11: Jacksonian America

Learning Outcomes

Content

Attribution