Age of Jackson (1824-1840)
The Age of Jackson refers to not only the presidency of Andrew Jackson, but the political changes
occurring in the United States. Jackson was the first “common man” – someone who was not born into
wealth and education – to become president. If Jackson could get elected president, many believed,
then any white man could. Voter participation increased during the Age of Jackson as all white men
were given the right to vote.
Andrew Jackson
Jacksonian Democracy
Hero of the Battle of New
Orleans in the War of
1812
Jacksonian Democracy refers to the
increased participation of the “common
man” in politics as more men were given the
right to vote.
2-term president
Democratic Party (Whigs
opposed him)
Upheld power of federal
government
Represented “common
man”
Was this cartoon made by a supporter or opponent of Jackson?
Why? Opponent – it shows Jackson’s abuse of power
Election
Number of Voters
1824
27%
1828
58%
1832
55%
1836
58%
1840
80%
Indian Removal
In 1830, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act
into law. It forced the five major tribes of the
south to move west of the Mississippi River.
Why? To open up land in the Deep South to
white farmers
Trail of Tears – the forced removal of the
Cherokee Indians; they were ill-treated and
many died
Tariffs
Tariff – a tax on foreign, or imported,
goods
Nullification Crisis
States’ rights – also known as state sovereignty; the right of a state to
rule itself
Nullify – the right of a state to refuse to follow a federal law
The South opposed tariffs because it
forced them to spend more money on
goods
In 1831-2, John C. Calhoun urged South Carolina to use the states’
rights idea of nullification to reject the Tariff of Abominations.
The North supported tariffs because the
South was forced to buy northern
goods
President Jackson opposed the idea of nullification. South Carolina
eventually backed down. Jackson upheld the power of the federal
government.