"Rise of the common man"Many people from the lower and middle classes began showing more involvement in the political process by voting, campaigning, and running for office. This created a shift to a more democratic society. By 1820, states have adopted universal manhood suffrage, eliminating the requirement of owning property to vote.
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Election of 1824 - John Quincy AdamsIn 1824, four republican candidates went head to head for presidency. These people were John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, WIlliam Crawford, and Andrew Jackson. It was a fierce battle between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, as they were attacking each other's reputations. Jackson ended up winning the greatest number of popular votes, but it was up to the House of Representatives to make the decision of who becomes president. Being a key opponent of Andrew Jackson's, Henry Clay used his influence to make Adams the president. President Adams made Clay Secretary of State, causing the Jackson camp to call it the corrupt bargain.
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Challenges to the Federal Authority
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall continued to increase the power of the federal government over the states.
Death of the Bank of the United States
Jackson tried to separate the government from the economy. He believed the government should stay out of economic affairs. After Jackson was re-elected, all federal funds were removed from the Bank of the United States, and were deposited in state banks. Jackson eventually succeeded in killing the BUS and the Nation didn't have another federal bank until the creation of the National Banking System during Civil War times.
South's AngerNew England wanted a stiffer tariff since 1824. They supported this to further protect themselves from foreign competitors. "The Southern Carolina Exposition" was secretly penned by John C. Calhoun, outlining the anger of the South.
Jackson's uses of the "veto" powerJackson vetoed more bills than all of the presidents before him. He increased the power of the presidency, but sometimes sought out to expand democracy... only if it interested him.
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Jackson Expands DemocracyJacksonians expanded democracy to the middle and lower classes. In the 1820s, many states reduced voting requirements, which emerged the "New Democracy."
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Jackson vs Native AmericansJackson passed an Indian Removal Act, forcibly moving Native Americans from their homeland. The Cherokees did not plan to move without a fight, taking it to court and was ruled in Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia. The Natives lost.
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Trail of TearsBy 1838, the Cherokee Indians were forced to move from Georgia to Oklahoma during the fall. 4,000 died of disease and illness, thus earning the name, "Trail of Tears."
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