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2. Make notes, write questions (level 2-3), and summary to answer EQ
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TOPIC: Jacksonian Democracy (​Teach TCI Lesson 14 ​Introduction and

Sections 1, 2, 3)

EQ: ​Do you think Jackson’s approach to governing promoted democracy? Why or
why not?

Questions/Vocabulary Notes/Definitions

Introduction:
Why were accusations
used on each other during
the election/debate?
● Two candidates of the presidential election of 1828
were John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.
● Both sides would accuse each other based on untrue
personal attacks instead of their political beliefs.
● During these accusations, Jackson's supporters
accused Adams of using public money to purchase
¨gambling furniture¨ for the White House.
● Adams´ supporters criticized Jackson and attacked
his family, and brought up old scandals he was
involved in, leading to him having a breakdown.
● Jackson won the campaign thanks to his voters
coming from the general population.

From the Frontier to the White House:

How did the War of 1812
shift Jackson's views on
American society?
How did Jackson deal
with his rough attitude?
● Jackson was born in 1767, on the South
Carolina frontier. Due to his father's death, his
family was in poverty.
● At 13, Jackson joined the local militia and was
held hostage by the British during the American
Revolution. During these times, he lashed out at
a British officer, leading to his injuries and scars.
● After war, he decided to become a lawyer and
worked in a law office in North Carolina, where
he had a wild reputation.
● In 1788, Jackson traveled west to practice law in
Nashville, giving him enough money to buy land
and slaves.
● Due to his hot temper, a slave trader named
Charles Dickinson mocked him, angering

In what ways did Andrew
Jackson's beliefs shape
the way we see our
country today?
Jacksonian Democracy The idea that the common people should control the
government.
The Inauguration of Andrew Jackson:
Why did this inauguration
impact the way people
voted?
Explain how and why
Andrew Jackson
promised a democracy
that embraced all kinds of
people
Jackson and challenging him to a duel with
pistols, leading to Dickinson's death.
● Jackson joined politics in Tennessee, serving in
the House and Senate; during this, he served in
the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812,
helping him gain popularity and becoming known
as a national hero.
● In 1824, Jackson ran for president against three
other candidates: Henry Clay, William Crawford,
and John Quincy Adams. He won both national
and electoral votes, though he did not have
enough electoral votes for a majority, giving the
House of Representatives choose a president
among the three candidates.
● Clay, who came in fourth, persuaded his
supporters to vote for Adams, officially making
him President of the United States; thanks to
this, he chose Clay to be his secretary of state.
● Jackson's supporters promised revenge against
Adams and Clay by accusing them of making a
¨corrupt bargain¨ to rob him of his election.
● Jackson's supporters built a political organization
now known as the Democratic Party, and
promised that it would represent lower class
citizens.
● March 4, 1829: more than 10,000 people
attended Washington, D.C., to view Andrew
Jackson's inauguration.
● People in the capital were first-time voters; only
white men with property were allowed to vote,
excluding poorer citizens.
● All men from the frontier believed they all shared
the same rights, and thought they had the right
to vote.
● Voting laws allowed over one million Americans
to vote in 1828.
● New voters believed the government had been
taken over by corrupt rich citizens; this led to
Andrew Jackson promising to throw them out
and return the government to regular U.S.
citizens.
 Jackson’s Approach to Governing:
What are the differences
between how Jackson felt
with his close friends vs.
his Cabinet members?
Why did the Republicans
hold such a strong
grudge towards Andrew
Jackson and his
decisions?
● Jackson didn't rely on advice from the Cabinet, so he
made most of his decisions thanks to his friends and
political partners, and met with them in the White
House kitchen.
● Upper class men argued that Jackson and his men
were not proper enough to take control of a country.
● Because Jackson replaced Republican officeholders
with Democrats, people were not satisfied; Jackson
argued that civil servants will go back to making a
regular living.
● During his presidency, 10% of civil servants were
replaced- a majority of them being Republicans.

Civil Servants An employee of the government.

Spoils System The practice of rewarding political supporters with

government jobs.

Summary to answer EQ:​ I think Jackson's approach to governing did promote democracy
because he laid the foundation for how a society should truly be, which is the involvement of
those who are not wealthy. He also believed that average, everyday people should get the
safe and united country that they well right deserved. Without Andrew Jackson, we likely
would not have the Democratic party, nor would we have a nation where everyone is equally
accepted. He standardized the idea that we should not think higher than those that are living
in poverty.