Westward Expansion & Age of Jackson

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Main Tribe on the Trail of Tears

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The Cherokee were the primary tribe affected by the Trail of Tears, where thousands were forced to relocate to Oklahoma.

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Indian Removal Act (1830)

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Enforced the relocation of Native Americans, especially the Cherokee, to territories west of the Mississippi River.

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Andrew Jackson (7th U.S. President)

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Known for his populism and opposition to the elites, especially the wealthy class and the Second Bank of the U.S.

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Elites & The Whigs

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The Whigs were a political party that opposed Jackson and represented the interests of the elite class, including those who supported the bank and were wealthy industrialists or landowners.

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Jackson vs. the Bank

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Jackson believed the Second Bank of the U.S. was corrupt and concentrated too much power in the hands of the wealthy elite. Nicholas Biddle, president of the bank, attempted to sabotage Jackson by pushing for the bank’s recharter early, anticipating that Jackson would veto it, which would hurt his popularity.

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Nullification Crisis (1832)

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South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, argued that states could nullify (ignore) federal tariffs they deemed unconstitutional. Jackson strongly opposed this, asserting that federal laws must be followed by all states.

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Slave States & Their Deal

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Slave states, particularly in the South, wanted to protect and expand slavery as it was central to their economy. The political debate over whether new territories would allow slavery was a major issue during Jackson’s presidency.

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Laissez-faire

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A policy of minimal government interference in the economy. Jackson favored this approach, although he didn’t always fully follow it in practice.

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Successful Tribe Resisting Relocation

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The Seminole in Florida successfully resisted relocation and fought the U.S. in the Second Seminole War (1835-1842). They were able to avoid forced removal, making them the only tribe to successfully resist.

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Manifest Destiny

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The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This idea drove westward expansion and was used to justify the acquisition of new territories.