Jackson Era

​Jackson era

By Mrs. M&M

The Jackson Era: Democracy & Conflict (1828–1840)

• Andrew Jackson = 7th U.S. President

• Era known for expanded democracy and controversial policies

• Nickname: “Old Hickory”

Multiple Choice

What is one word that people often associate with Andrew Jackson?

• wealthy

• Old Hickory

• Peaceful

• Scientist

The Election of 1828: Rise of the “Common Man”

• More white male voters could vote (property rules dropped)

• Jackson appeals to frontier farmers & working-class voters

• Birth of modern campaign politics

Multiple Choice

Why did more people support Andrew Jackson in the Election of 1828

• Only wealthy landowners could vote

• He promised to expand the National Bank

• More common white men were allowed to vote

• He was supported by the Supreme Court

Jacksonian Democracy

• Idea: Government should represent the “common people”

• Spoils System = gave jobs to political supporters

• Supporters saw this as democracy; critics saw it as corruption

Multiple Choice

What was the Spoils System?

• Giving land to Native Americans

• Rewarding political supporters with government jobs

• Lowering taxes for farmers

• Creating new voting laws

Multiple Choice

Why did some people criticize the Spoils System?

• It cost too much money

• It ignored states’ rights

• They believed it was unfair and corrupt

• It helped the National Bank

The Bank War

• Jackson disliked the National Bank

• Thought it only helped the wealthy & powerful

• Vetoed the bank charter → leads to economic instability

States’ Rights & The Nullification Crisis

• Tariffs anger Southern states (esp. South Carolina)

• SC claimed states could ignore federal laws

• Jackson threatened force to preserve the Union

Multiple Choice

What problem did the Nullification Crisis create?

• A war with Great Britain

• A debate over whether states could ignore federal laws

• The expansion of slavery into new states

• The creation of a new political party

Indian Removal Act (1830)

• Forced Native American tribes off their land in the Southeast

• U.S. government moved tribes west to “Indian Territory”

• Many Americans supported it at the time

Multiple Choice

Why did some settlers support the Indian Removal Act?

• They wanted peace with Native tribes

• They believed Native Americans should vote

• They wanted farmland and land for settlement

• They wanted to protect Native culture

Trail of Tears

• Cherokee forced west despite Supreme Court ruling

• Thousands died from starvation, disease, and exhaustion

• Today it is remembered as a human rights tragedy

Open Ended

How does the Trail of Tears change how we view Jackson?

Jackson’s Legacy: Hero or Villain?

• Supporters: Expanded democracy, strong leader

• Critics: Abused power, harmed Native Americans, ignored courts

Poll

Overall, do you think Jackson's impact was positive or negative?

• Positive

• Negative

Multiple Choice

According to the video, Andrew Jackson is best known for being:

• A Supreme Court Justice

• The seventh President of the United States

• The author of the Constitution

• A Civil War general

Multiple Choice

The video highlights that Jackson’s presidency is significant because:

• He wrote the Declaration of Independence

• He served for only one year

• He opposed the Revolutionary War

• He changed how presidential power was used