AP U.S. History -- Kelemen
Mock Impeachment Trial of Andrew Jackson
This week, our class will conduct a mock trial activity on the block day in order to learn more about several
controversial events that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). Jackson personified the
bigger political trends of the antebellum period – hence historians often refer to this as the “Jacksonian Era”. For the
purposes of this activity, Jackson’s “offenses” are described in the charges below – but Jackson was NEVER REALLY
IMPEACHED. Assume for this activity that the 1834 Congress was dominated by Whigs (not Jacksonian Democrats as
was actually the case) and that it issued the following articles of impeachment against President Jackson:
Andrew Jackson violated the oath he swore when becoming President to “preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States” by:
1) Unlawfully destroying the Bank of the Unites States leading to financial instability
2) Ignoring the rights of state governments during the tariff dispute with South Carolina
3) Ignoring the system of checks & balances during his cruel & illegal Indian Removal policies
Lawyers – Write a one page (or so) speech for the audience of the judge & jury either prosecuting or defending
President Jackson on the charge you are assigned. Use information from the text (Chapter 10), primary source
readings as well as ideas from Jacksonian Era slide show as evidence in your speech.
Witnesses – Write a page or so of testimony consisting of 4 to 6 questions (and written responses) regarding
your background and point of view on the charge you are assigned. Use information from the text (Chapter
10), primary source reading as well as from Jacksonian Era slide show as evidence in your testimony.
Topic #1: Bank of the Unites States
Prosecution Witness: Daniel Webster A Boston Journal Attacks Jackson
Defense Witness: Andrew Jackson Bank Veto Message
See pages 313-314 in textbook for “outside knowledge”
Topic #2: The Tariff Dispute with South Carolina
Prosecution Witness: John C. Calhoun & South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification
Defense Witness: Andrew Jackson Denounces Nullification
See pages 311-313 in textbook for “outside knowledge”
Topic #3: Indian Removal
Prosecution Witness: Theodore Frelinghuysen Champions Justice
Defense Witness: Andrew Jackson On Indian Removal
See pages 315-319 in textbook for “outside knowledge”
MY ROLE IN MOCK TRIAL IS: ______________________________________________________