Political conflict celebrated 1840 unrecognizable to 1796 Jacksonian era Democrats and Whigs Campaigning “get out the vote” Turnout 25% in 1824, Double in 1828, 78% in 1840 Corrupt bargain JQA, Henry Clay, William Crawford, Andrew Jackson All republicans JC Calhoun as VP for Adams AND Jackson Jackson Popular in west, fought corruption and privilege Didn’t win electoral college Went to house, Clay out, but Speaker of the house Crawford-Stroke=out, Clay hated Jackson Picks Adams, Adams makes him Sec. of State Clay “Judas of the West” No evidence, Adams honest and not given to patronage Elitist and subversion to Democracy JQA like his father, irritable, sarcastic, tactless GREAT Sec of State!!! Nekid swims, respect over popularity, minority president No spoils, moving from nationalism to states rights 1st state of union, roads & canals, National university, observatory Tried to curb speculation & Cherokee problem in GA Jackson campaigned for day house selected Adams Republicans split – National- Adams, Democratic- Jackson Old hickory vs Oak Jackson born in log cabin, but wealthy manor with slaves (the Hermitage near Nashville) Adams aristocratic but moral to a fault supporters called Jacksons mother a prostitute who slept with mulattos and birthed Jackson Called his wife an adulteress, brawls and duels, 6 coffins for hanging 6 mutinous militiamen Adams bought billiards table and chess men “Gaming table” Gambling Furniture” “Presidential palace” Accused of procuring a servant girl for a lusty tzar Rachel Jackson Married Cpt. Lewis Robards, not happy, rumors of cruelty, left to go home. Robards files divorce for abandoning him. Jackson stays with family, meets Rachel, gets married in Natchez, Miss. Divorce neve finalized, Kentucky becomes state, Tennessee goes federal, Natchez only recognizes catholic marriage, married again after all the hoopla Adopted nephew AJ Jr. Creek Orphan (wanted him to go to West point, not gonna happen), Adopted grand nephew AJ Hutchings, guardian to many others. The downfall of Rachel. Heart problem three years, severe depression form attacks, often found crying, fatal heart attack, devastated Jackson. Swore revenge on those who led to it. Garden obsession. Jackson Irritable and emaciated, dysentery, malaria, TB, lead poisoning from at least two bullets Orphaned early, little adult supervision, brawling and cockfighting>writing and spelling Eloquent and powerful, but bad grammar and spelling Judge and member of congress duels stabbings and fights Inauguration was crazy. White house doors thrown open, people flooded to Washington Jackson secreted out the side door. Crowds cleared when rumor of punch on lawn Spoils There were still Washington appointees in their 80s, breathing and drawing a salary Sam Swartwourt collector of customs for port of NY, England, 1 million missing Duel Horse breeder, Jackson accused him of welching on a bet Dickinson calls Jackson a coward and his wife a bigamist. Duel, Dickinson shot Jackson in the chest, hand over wound, Jackson missed, shot again Less scandal than his marriage Assassination Richard Lawrence, Unemployed housepainter, congressional funeral Misfire, 67 yo Jackson starts beating him, pulls another gun, misfires, Jackson convinced assassin sent by rivals (mentally ill) MVB starts carrying two guns Later both guns fired perfectly the first time. 1 in 250,000 chance.