Concepts and Ideas During the Jacksonian Era
Era of the Common Man (1829)
Andrew Jackson was the first president that didn’t win an election because of his family background, wealth, prestige, and education. This showed that a man’s background doesn’t ensure him a place in office; it’s his ability to appeal to the voter. Andrew Jackson was considered a man of the people (common man) because of the way he overcame his struggles in early life to go on and do something great; and he won the election because he appealed to the majority of the people. Suffrage extended to nearly all white male adults.
Whigs (1834)
Political party in the U.S. that opposed the Democratic Party (anti-Jacksonian) and supported loose interpretation of the Constitution and high protective tariffs. The Whigs and Democrats constantly battled each other politically. They strongly disagreed with each other’s political ideas.
Pet Banks (1833)
Andrew Jackson attempted to eliminate the Bank of the United States by putting the government’s deposits in state banks (Jackson’s enemies referred to them as pet banks). He bled the central bank dry so that it “broke” and wouldn’t get rechartered, which would mean the authorization that allows an organization to exist or be established. Jackson opposed the national bank because he believed it had no control over the nation’s money, was run by incompetent people, and was unconstitutional.
Trail of Tears (1830)
A term used to describe the Cherokee tribe's trek to the Indian reservations west of the Mississippi river, which were funded through the Indian Removal Act. (see "Indian Removal Act" in "TIMELINE") This event was given its name, because of the hardships the Indians had to go through. These hardships consisted of having to be relocated from their homes and even the death of thousands throughout the journey.
Kitchen Cabinet (1831)
Used by Andrew Jackson’s political opponents to describe the officials that Jackson placed in charge of the United States Cabinet after purging the cabinet at the end of the Peggy Eaton Affair. Jackson dismissed the members of the old cabinet and replaced them with people that he could trust and supported him. Many people thought it was wrong because the new cabinet members didn’t hold high government positions but had great influence in the White House.
The Great Silence
Throughout his presidency, Andrew Jackson decided not to deal with the issue of slavery. Though it was an extremely controversial issue at the time, he chose to deal with other problems. Andrew Jackson, like many Presidents before him, owned slaves. He treated them well when they were obedient, but he opposed the abolitionists because he believed they were a threat to the Union. It’s still a mystery to many historians why he chose not to deal with slavery during his presidency
Nullification
A theory proposed by John Calhoun in which if a state believed that congress passed an unconstitutional law, it could hold a special convention to declare the law null and void in that state. It was draw from the ideas of Madison and Jefferson in their virginia and kentucky resolutions.
Anti-masonry
A movement that emerged in the 1820s in response to the animosity towards the Freemasons, who were believed to be democrats that were part of the anti-democratic conspiracy.
Spoils System (Patronage System)
After winning an election, the political party rewards government jobs to its voters for working towards victory. Andrew Jackson had planned to replace government officials he saw as corrupt with new officials that he believed could restore virtue to the government. He defended his right to remove people from government positions to Congress to help the nation achieve its republican ideals.
Jackson's Economic Ideas
- Kill the Bank of the United States: removed any chance to moderate the Economic Cycle; gave state banks more power
- Prevent bureaucratic entrenchment-
- Crush the Federalists (helped the Democrats push for lower tariffs in 1832 and 1833; helped foreign trade)
Andrew Jackson was the first president that didn’t win an election because of his family background, wealth, prestige, and education. This showed that a man’s background doesn’t ensure him a place in office; it’s his ability to appeal to the voter. Andrew Jackson was considered a man of the people (common man) because of the way he overcame his struggles in early life to go on and do something great; and he won the election because he appealed to the majority of the people. Suffrage extended to nearly all white male adults.
Whigs (1834)
Political party in the U.S. that opposed the Democratic Party (anti-Jacksonian) and supported loose interpretation of the Constitution and high protective tariffs. The Whigs and Democrats constantly battled each other politically. They strongly disagreed with each other’s political ideas.
Pet Banks (1833)
Andrew Jackson attempted to eliminate the Bank of the United States by putting the government’s deposits in state banks (Jackson’s enemies referred to them as pet banks). He bled the central bank dry so that it “broke” and wouldn’t get rechartered, which would mean the authorization that allows an organization to exist or be established. Jackson opposed the national bank because he believed it had no control over the nation’s money, was run by incompetent people, and was unconstitutional.
Trail of Tears (1830)
A term used to describe the Cherokee tribe's trek to the Indian reservations west of the Mississippi river, which were funded through the Indian Removal Act. (see "Indian Removal Act" in "TIMELINE") This event was given its name, because of the hardships the Indians had to go through. These hardships consisted of having to be relocated from their homes and even the death of thousands throughout the journey.
Kitchen Cabinet (1831)
Used by Andrew Jackson’s political opponents to describe the officials that Jackson placed in charge of the United States Cabinet after purging the cabinet at the end of the Peggy Eaton Affair. Jackson dismissed the members of the old cabinet and replaced them with people that he could trust and supported him. Many people thought it was wrong because the new cabinet members didn’t hold high government positions but had great influence in the White House.
The Great Silence
Throughout his presidency, Andrew Jackson decided not to deal with the issue of slavery. Though it was an extremely controversial issue at the time, he chose to deal with other problems. Andrew Jackson, like many Presidents before him, owned slaves. He treated them well when they were obedient, but he opposed the abolitionists because he believed they were a threat to the Union. It’s still a mystery to many historians why he chose not to deal with slavery during his presidency
Nullification
A theory proposed by John Calhoun in which if a state believed that congress passed an unconstitutional law, it could hold a special convention to declare the law null and void in that state. It was draw from the ideas of Madison and Jefferson in their virginia and kentucky resolutions.
Anti-masonry
A movement that emerged in the 1820s in response to the animosity towards the Freemasons, who were believed to be democrats that were part of the anti-democratic conspiracy.
Spoils System (Patronage System)
After winning an election, the political party rewards government jobs to its voters for working towards victory. Andrew Jackson had planned to replace government officials he saw as corrupt with new officials that he believed could restore virtue to the government. He defended his right to remove people from government positions to Congress to help the nation achieve its republican ideals.
Jackson's Economic Ideas
- Kill the Bank of the United States: removed any chance to moderate the Economic Cycle; gave state banks more power
- Prevent bureaucratic entrenchment-
- Crush the Federalists (helped the Democrats push for lower tariffs in 1832 and 1833; helped foreign trade)