Andrew Jackson: The ManAs a major war hero from the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson gained norority in America. He appealed to the "common man" rather than the other politicians who were more "better off" and "privelaged." He was the first president from a "working class" background. Being of the West, he carried characteristics of pioneer life: rugged and an attitude of "my way or the highway."
During Jackson's presidency, two parties grew to power: the Democratic Republicans who generally backed Jackson (called Jacksonians) and the National Republicans (simply called the "Whigs) who opposed Jackson and his policies. People like Henry Clay and Daniel Webster wanted to rid Jackson of his chances at presidency. Jackson was different than any other presiden who preceeded him. He recommended eliminated the Electoral Collge and tried to democratize federal office holding. Jackson did not confer with Congress while making policies, and he used his power of veto about 12 times. The Bank War Andrew Jackson did not not agree with Henry Clay's view on a national bank. When the chance for a re-charter came for the Bank of the United States, Jackson immidiately wanted to veto it. The Spoils System During Jackson's presidency, the whole cabinet changed. He fired a number of government officials, some of whom had been their since Washington's time. He proposed the idea that public offices should be rotated, instead of perminent, between party supporters in order to hel the nation achieve its true republican ideals. Opponents of Jackson believed that the experiences officials were being replaced with common, unqualified Jacksonians and called this process the "spoils system." This was the first and last time that a whole cabinet had been replaced in presidential history. Economic Conflict The leading problem in Congress during Jackson's first term was the American System, which was developed by Henry Clay. They wanted to develop economic policies to appease everybody. Tariff of 1828: This tariff was widely hated by Southerners, who saw it as a scheme to transfer money from the Southern cotton planters to the Northern manufacturers. This tariff put a 45% tax on imports from all over, but especially Britain. Southerners were afraid because they believed this would coerce the Brits to also put a tax on importing cotton; cotton was the main source of money for the Southerners and they didn't want to give up the plentiful profit that they were making. |
Oh no, we're in a crisis!In response to the Tariff of 1824, the government and citizens of South Carolina were exceptionally displeased. They believed that their profits would decline because of the tariff previously explained. So in order to get rid of the tariff in South Carolina, the government attempted to collect the two-thirds majority to nullify it in the legislature. They were calling the "Tariff of Abominations" unconstitutional. Congress, in response to this uprising resent, issued the Tariff of 1832 which brought the tariff down from 45 percent to 35 percent. Even with this reduction, the southerners still had resentment built up in their bones.
After the election and voting in 1832, South Carolina achieved their goal of getting two-thirds of their legislature to nullify the tariff. South Carolina also threatened to secede from the union, catching Andrew Jackson's attention. He issued a proclamation that stated he would use force to collect the tariffs if need be. That was until Andrew Jackson's rival, Henry Clay, brought forth a compromise bill that helped ease the tensions. This bill, the Tariff of 1833, would gradually lower the tariff by 10 percent during the next 8 years. It narrowly passed through Congress, but nevertheless, passed. Congress also passed the Force Bill that gave the president permission to use the army and navy against any state that did not bring forth their tariffs. This bill was nicknamed the "Bloody Bill." In the end, South Carolina repealed their nullification. |