Ari Gilder, 3-201L

Social Studies Homework I

1. Jacksonian Democracy was Andrew Jackson’s campaign against Adams and Clay in their conspiracy or “corrupt bargain” – which really didn’t exist. Jackson tried to do what was best for the nation, but so were Adams and Clay. This hypocrisy is reflected in Jackson’s attitudes towards slaves and Indians – he both approved of them once then disapproved of them at another time.
2. Jackson gave an impetus to the spoils system by his governmental policy; he believed in majority opinion rules, limiting the federal government and the power of the Presidency. Thus, the ruling party (the majority) could put in officers that they wished, limiting the federal government and strengthening the President.
3. a) Jackson’s policy was that the Indians would be better off living further west of the Mississippi, since their settlement interferes with the western frontier and its settlement.

b) Resettlement was harsh because it involved Congress bribing some tribes to move and it tooks many separate treaties according to the number of tribes there were, making it more difficult.

4. a) Jackson believed that the Bank only made the rich richer and the poor poorer – this lead him to accuse Congress of being influenced by the Bank by getting loans from it, and also he declared the Bank unconstitutional and eventually tried to wear away the Bank’s funds. Thus he ignored the Supreme Court’s decision in McCulluch vs. Maryland and gave the President power over it.

b) By doing this, Jackson also weakened both the Judicial branch and the Legislative branch.

5. a) Pet and wildcat banks – Jackson withdrew all federal funds from the federal bank and put them into “pet banks” – local state banks – instead, thus weakening the economy. Also, “wildcat banks” issued bank notes that exceeded the total amount of federal funds in the bank.

b) Land speculation – from 1830 to 1836 the revenue sales of land increased by about $22 million, most of which was bad money issued by the wildcat banks, and thus the Treasury was inundated with this bad currency.

c) The Specie Circular – mandated that the Treasury only accept money backed by gold or silver – of which there was very little – and thus the value of the money in circulation dropped.