A Strong President

1. A Strong President Chapter 11, Section 3

2. The war on the bank of the United States made Jackson more popular than ever with certain Americans

3. The Tariff of Abominations • A crisis over tariffs threatened to split the nation • Tariff of Abominations: Congress passed the highest tariff in the nation’s history • Abomination: something that is hated

4. The Tariff of Abominations • The new law benefited northern manufactures by protecting them from foreign competition • Southern planters were hurt by the tariff • They had to pay more to import frequently purchased European goods

5. Calhoun (VP) for state’s rights • Calhoun led the South’s fight against the tariff • Like Thomas Jefferson, he argued that states had the right to nullify or cancel a federal law that is considered unconstitutional • Nullification: the idea of a state declaring a federal law illegal

6. Calhoun (VP) for state’s rights • State’s rights: the right of state’s to limit the power of the federal government • Calhoun believed states had the final authority

7. The Vice President Resigns • Calhoun and other Southerners expected Jackson to support their view • Jackson was born in the South and lived in the West • Both supported state’s rights • However, Jackson supported the Federal Union

8. The Vice President Resigns • The debate over state’s right continued for years • Calhoun resigned as VP and was elected Senator of South Carolina • Martin Van Buren became Jackson’s VP in 1832

9. Challenge From South Carolina • 1832 Congress passed a new law that slightly lowered the tariff • South Carolina was not happy • It passed the Nullification Act, declaring the new tariff illegal • Threatened to secede: or withdraw from the union

10. Challenge From South Carolina • Jackson supported a compromise proposed by Henry Clay • Lowered the tariff • Force Bill: Jackson could use the army to enforce the tariff in South Carolina

11. Challenge From South Carolina • No other state supported South Carolina • Calhoun gave in and gave in to Clay’s compromise

12. New Threats to Native Americans • By the 1820s only about 125,000 Indians still lived east of the Mississippi • They wanted to live in peace with their white neighbors • Their land was ideal for growing cotton • Land hungry settlers wanted the Indian land

13. New Threats to Native Americans • Jackson sided with the white settlers • The government set land aside beyond the Mississippi and forced Indians to move there

14. The Cherokee Nation • Few Indians wanted to move • Cherokees lived in farming villages • They had a constitution that set up a republican form of government

15. The Cherokee Nation • Sequoyah, created a written alphabet for his people • Cherokee children learned to read ad write • Published a newspaper

16. A legal battle • 1828 Georgia claimed the right to make laws for the Cherokee nation • Cherokees went to court • They pointed to the treaties with the federal government that protected their rights and property • Chief Justice John Marshall ruled in favor of the Cherokees

17. A legal battle • Jackson stepped in • Georgia had the right to extend its authority over Cherokee land • Jackson refused to enforce the court’s decision

18. A Tragic March • Indian Removal Act: Native Americans were forced to sign treaties agreeing to move west of the Mississippi

19. Forced to leave • The Cherokees held out the longest • 1838 the U.S. Army forced them to leave at gunpoint

20. Forced to leave • Cherokees trekked hundreds of miles • Had little food or shelter • Thousands perished, mostly children and elderly • ¼ of the Indians died • Trail of Tears: name given to the long sorrowful journey

21. The Seminoles resist • In Florida the Seminoles resisted removal • Chief Osceola: led the fight against the U.S. army • Seminole War: 1835 to 1842 • Costliest war waged by the U.S. to gain Indian lands • Seminoles were defeated