Election of a Common Man

More nearly than any of his predecessors, Andrew Jackson was elected by popular vote; as President he sought
to act as the direct representative of the common man.

Born poor in a backwoods settlement in South Carolinas in 1767, Jackson received sporadic (not consistent)
education. But in his late teens he read law for about two years, and he became an outstanding young lawyer in
western North Carolina, which became the state of Tennessee. Fiercely jealous of his honor, he engaged in
fights, and even killed a man, in a duel, who said unflattering thigs about his wife Rachel.

Jackson prospered sufficiently to buy slaves and to build a mansion, the Hermitage, near Nashville. He was the
first man elected from Tennessee to the House of Representatives, and he served briefly in the Senate. A major
general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans. He
became “Old Hickory,” a nicknamed earned by his troops, and was admired by many Americans for his
toughness and simple beginnings.

After the War of 1812, Jackson entered politics. He served in both the House and the Senate for the
state of Tennessee. Jackson ran for president in 1824. Due to expanded suffrage (right to vote), many men
had the chance to vote for President for the first time. Jackson felt the nation had been taken over by the
wealthy and promised to return the government to the people. This appealed to the “common man” and it
showed with the election results. Jackson received the most popular votes but not have enough electoral
votes for a majority. As a result, Federalist John Quincy Adams became the sixth President. Jackson and his
supporters felt their hero was robbed of the presidency.

Jackson split from the Democratic-Republicans and began to build a new political party—the
Democratic Party. This new party promised it would represent ordinary farmers, workers, and the poor—not
the rich and well-born who had taken control of the Democratic-Republican Party. Those who opposed
Jackson formed a second party, the Whig Party.

In 1828, Jackson was elected as the seventh President of the United States. His election reflected a
shift in power to the West and to the farmers, shopkeepers, and small business owners that supported him.
It was a great victory for Jackson. It was also a victory for the idea that the common people should control
their government. This idea became known as Jacksonian Democracy.

HISD Secondary Social Studies Curriculum 2021 Social Studies Grade 8

 As President, Jackson was different from his 6 predecessors. He was not afraid to use executive power;
he did not fear the executive that could becoming a tyrant. He vetoed more bills passed by Congress than all
previous presidents combined. He killed the National Bank, calling it corrupt and only favoring the wealthy.
He chose not to enforce Supreme Court rulings (Worcester v. Georgia). He was also the first person outside of
the original 13 colonies and who had no connection to the founding fathers to be elected president.

Some Text retrieved from Active Classroom with permission.

Jackson Questions

Where was Jackson from, where did he live as an adult?

_________________________________________________________________________

What was Jackson’s early life like? ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Who supported Jackson (what types of people)?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Why did people support Jackson? _______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

When was Jackson elected President? ______________

What was the name of his Political Party? _________________________________________

What was the name of the political party that was against him? _______________________

What does suffrage mean? _____________________________________________________

How was Jackson different than the presidents before him? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

HISD Secondary Social Studies Curriculum 2021 Social Studies Grade 8