Election
The Nashville Junto nominated Andrew Jackson for president in 1824. of
1828
With the help of Van Buren, Jackson used the new democracy to his
advantage. Jackson ran as a Democrat Republican, against
Adams’s
National Republicans. The campaign turned brutal, with
each side defiling
the other’s name. Calhoun was Jackson’s running mate,
while the vice
president of Adams. This was done as a remnant of elite
politics, where
wealth and connections would transcend party
loyalty. The election, with
Jackson winning 56% popular vote was the
first national party election.
The Nashville and Richmond Juntos, and
Concord and Albany Regencies
worked together to nationally elect
Jackson as president.
Jackson’s
Jackson’s election was seen as a victory for the common man. Jackson
Presidency
was the first to respond to the changing country and this led to his appeal,
even though he was a slave owner and a wealthy military leader.
Jackson
was born in 1767 in North Carolina to a poor family. He
moved to
Nashville in 1788 and became a stable planter. He
got into many duels and
was a good defender against Indians. The battle of
new Orleans made him
a national hero, and became a symbol of the
pioneer. He entered politics
with no experience. He was elected
president in 1829, right after the death
of his wife. His swearing in
was as rowdy as his campaign, with people
coming and going through
the windows of the white house. This is to be
the new face of
politics.
Strong
Politics was stripped of the dignified and polite distinction it had up till
Executive
now. Jackson was very controversial, ignored his official cabinet, and
made his own “kitchen cabinet” full of his friends and
representatives of
actions he supported. This did not include his vice
president. Jackson used
social distance to separate himself form other
politicians. When Jackson’s
secretary of war, John Henry Eaton married
an elite woman, Jackson
urged support for Mrs. Eaton, even though
the marriage violated the party
values. This upset the other cabinet
member’s wives and caused a split
between Jackson and Calhoun.
Jackson used 12 vetoes, compared with 9
total from the first six
presidents. Jackson’s negative activism restricted
federal activity, in
sharp contrast to the previous administrations. Jackson
forced
congress to constantly consider his opinions.
Nation’s
he was more interested in promoting strong national leadership than
Leader vs.
promoting sectional balance. He believed that the president ought to
Sectional
dominate the government, because that was the will of the people. He
Spokesmen
faced three strong sectional figures; John Calhoun (South Carolina, strong
southerner/ pro slavery, “cast iron man”), Senator Daniel Webster
(Massachusetts, a great orator and lawyer, supporter of
commercial
interests), Henry Clay (Kentucky, speaker of the house
1811-1825,
charming and witty, proponent of American system and
transportation. He
could have merged an alliance between north and west, but
Jackson didn’t
want it.). Sectional interests remained strong, even
