08. Jacksonian Democracy

I. Definitions
    A. Series of reforms – altering federal government and bringing vote to people
    B. Andrew Jackson and Democratic Party running country
    C. Contradiction – period of slavery and horrible treatment of Native Americans – Jackson also develops “monarchical” attributes
    D. Attractive candidate - Andrew Jackson attractive – war hero, man’s man, self-made wealth, westerner – “old hickory” “man of the people”

II. Causes – economic shift + no longer belief that aristocracy of old should rule all
    A.    Causes by economic and social changes  - shift in power
        1.    Transportation + immigration takes power from plantation aristocracy and New England elite
        2.    Cotton increase power of Southern economy
        3.    Westward movement – taking of Native American/Hispanic land
    B.    Non large property holding whites get worried
        1.    Immigrants, nonslaveholding Southerners, westerners nervous that they will be abused by growing capitalists
    C.    Who should rule?  Old aristocracy/new wealthy/majority of other whites
    D.    During Era of Good Feelings – Supreme Court and Federal government choices looked like power was moving toward an elite few in fed. gov’t

III. Reforms – radical shift to create equality for all white men - take power from moneyed elite and ignore class -meritocracy
    A.    Political – voters, campaigns, election process
        1.    End state property requirements for voting
        2.    Electors chosen by people not state legislatures
        3.    Changed elections – buttons, kissing babies, parades, bbqs, free drinks, smear campaign – Jackson marriage illegal – wife died soon after
        4.    Spoils system – give gov’t jobs to people who helped get elected
            i.    “Kitchen cabinet” – old friends
        5.    Increased power of executive – ignored Supreme Court, vetoed laws
    B.    Economic changes – men should be economically independent
        1.     Southerners want low tariffs and more states rights
            a. Jackson makes high tariffs first to increase national economy – lowers during second term
        2.  Westerners want cheaper land + relief from debt collectors and banks
            a. Veted Second National Bank – supported “pet banks” in states
        3.    Interstate roads good – roads within states not good

V. Opposition – for nonwhites a total disaster
    A.    Wealthy planters feared him – federal government getting too much power
        1.    Threaten nullification of tariffs – secession
    B.    Whigs – named for anti-king movement of Revolutionary War – King Andrew
    C.    Racial treatment  - Western movement assumed Hispanics and Native Americans inferior races – “manifest destiny” policy pushed
        1.    Trail of Tears – even Europeanized Cherokees kicked out
    D.    Allowed slavery to continue – white supremacy
        1.    Fought abolitionists – allowed gag rule on slavery in Congress
    E. Propagandists – supported wealthy but said they acted for commoners