The Age of

Jackson

Agenda:

Andrew Jackson is a man of many titles:◦ President◦ War Hero◦ Indian Hunter

His presidency is conflicting because Jackson is seen as a hero and a villain◦Hero:: First common person to become

president, kept the nation together in time of nee

◦Villain: Responsible for the Trail of Tears: the removal of the Cherokee and other Native Americans from the SE United States

Introduction

Before the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson was unknown to the American people until several events occur:◦ 1. Battle of New

Orleans Jackson’s devastating

victory over the British makes him a national celebrity

Rise of Jackson

◦2. Invasion of Florida Without the Presidents

permission, Andrew Jackson ordered his men to invade Spanish Florida to attack the Seminole Indians

Unable to stop the invasion, Spain handed Florida over to the United States

Rise of Jackson

See YA!

Due to his popularity, Jackson runs for president.◦Will be different from

other presidents because… Jackson was uneducated Jackson grew up poor Jackson was from the

“west” (Tennessee) First politician to go town

to town campaigning for peoples’ support

Rise of Jackson

Nullification Crisis◦ Nullification: a constitutional theory that gives a

state the right to reject any law passed by the United States Congress

◦ The National Government passed a tariff that Southern states disliked. Made it harder to sell cash crops to Europe

◦ South Carolina threatens to secede (leave the United States) unless the government gets rid of the tariff

Nullification Crisis

Jackson’s response:◦ Threatens military force if

South Carolina does not enforce the treaty

A compromise is reached and things return to normal

Significance: South Carolina almost leaves the United States over States’ rights; foreshadows the Civil War.

Jackson’s Presidency

The Trail of Tears◦Conflict erupted between

Native Americans and American settlers in SE United States

◦ Jackson was being pressured to take Cherokee land Settling on Cherokee land

was illegal but still being done

Georgia grew impatient and took the Cherokees’ land Rumors of gold on the land

lead to faster settlement

To handle the issue, Jackson pushed for two things:◦ Created an Indian Territory

(Oklahoma) where the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw will be relocated

◦ Passed the Indian Removal Act: Law forcing the Native Americans off their land in two years.

The Trail of Tears

Worchester v. Georgia◦ The Cherokee sue the

government over their forced relocation; Supreme Court rules the Natives should not have to move

◦ Significance: Jackson ignores the Supreme Court, moves forward with the removal Only president to ever

directly defy the Supreme Court

Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears In all, 100,000 Native

Americans were forced off their land by the US military

The Cherokee walked over 800 miles from Georgia to Oklahoma

Suffered through…◦ Disease◦ Dehydration and Starvation◦ Physical abuse

Approximately ¼ of the Cherokee will die on the trail