Welcome to part seven! We’re into a new age, with the Virginia and Massachusetts dynasties done and a rising new political party. Let’s dive into the administration of the inaugural Democrat, Andrew Jackson:
First inauguration – 4th March 1829
Andrew Jackson was sworn in by Chief Justice John Marshall at the US Capitol on this date. He was the first president to not be from Virginia or Massachusetts, and was the first Democrat. Jackson’s first inauguration is also one of the most infamous. The general public was invited to the White House to join with the festivities. What followed was men, women and children destroying the place, breaking china and glass, taking away chunks of the large cheese wheel and other refreshments in large tubs. They were so eager to shake Jackson’s hand that they ripped off parts of his clothes and nearly suffocated him. The excited crowd was only lured out by ice cream and punch outside. At least it was different, though Jackson’s enemies loved it.
First State of the Union – 8th December 1829
Andrew Jackson delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress on this date. The first part of the speech saw Jackson praising the state of the country, which was generally at peace. He did, however, move on later to the subject of Native American removal, at one point stating ‘Actuated by this view of the subject, I informed the Indians inhabiting parts of Georgia and Alabama that their attempt to establish an independent government would not be countenanced by the Executive of the United States, and advised them to emigrate beyond the Mississippi or submit to the laws of those States.’ Jackson also discussed Latin American policy, Treasury fraud and public debt among other things.
Signs the Indian Removal Act – 28th May 1830
Native Americans lived in many parts of the United States, and their land was considered fertile and desirable, especially when they lived near state borders. In order to gain this land, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. It gave the government the power to give unsettled lands west of the Mississippi to Natives and to negotiate for the land in which they were leaving. Whilst many Natives opposed the move, they were bribed, cajoled and even threatened into doing so. The Act would lead to the Trail of Tears during the Martin Van Buren presidency.
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia – 18th March 1831
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, decided on this day, was one of the most influential legal decisions as related to Native Americans. The Cherokee people had seen their lands stripped by state officials and thus filed an injunction into it. The Supreme Court ruled against them, stating that the Cherokee Nation was a ‘domestic dependent nation’ and not a foreign one, meaning that they were not permitted to sue Georgia in federal court. This set the stage for removal, though another Supreme Court decision a little later took the opposite view.
John Eaton resigns – 18th June 1831
It was a social scandal that provided the means for Jackson to reform the government. His Secretary of War and good friend John Eaton had married a beautiful young widow named Peggy O’Neill Timberlake. Gossip about the couple spread, charging that Eaton and Peggy had been carrying on together whilst her late husband was still alive, and that he’d killed himself over it. Floride Calhoun, Second Lady and de facto head of DC society led the cabinet wives in a snub of Peggy, refusing to call upon or receive her. Jackson was furious, as he was reminded of the cruelty his late wife Rachel had received. Even his own de facto First Lady, Emily Donelson, sided with the society ladies. Jackson’s relationship with Vice President John C. Calhoun and most of his cabinet was poor, but this gave him an excuse to shake things up. Firstly, Martin Van Buren offered to resign. Van Buren was a widower with no stake in the game, and was also a good friend of Jackson’s. Jackson accepted the resignation and asked for all but one Cabinet member to resign. The lone holdout was Postmaster General William T. Barry, who had pleased Jackson by siding with him. John Eaton resigned on the 18th June 1831 and was given several plum positions. Calhoun would later stop Martin Van Buren from becoming Minister to Great Britain, but his pettiness only made him look bad and Van Buren a victim. Van Buren took Calhoun’s place as Vice President and was later elected in his own right. Emily Donelson was replaced by Jackson’s daughter-in-law Sarah.
Worcester v. Georgia is decided – 3rd March 1832
Relations with Native Americans were still poor, and the issue once again reached the Supreme Court. On this day, Worcester v. Georgia was decided. This time, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Cherokee Nation, deeming Georgia’s actions unconstitutional. Chief Justice Marshall stated that Indian nations were ‘distinct, independent political communities retaining their original natural rights.’ Georgian attempts to enforce legislation were against the Constitution, as well as treaties already made. It was a victory for the Native Americans, but did little to nothing to stop what was to come.
First ever Democratic presidential nominating convention – 21st May 1832
The Democratic Party held its inaugural presidential nominating convention in Baltimore on this date. As Jackson was clearly going to win renomination, it was down to the convention to decide upon a running mate. With Calhoun essentially out of the picture, Martin Van Buren got the job.
Vetoes bill reauthorizing the Second Bank of the United States – 10th July 1832
It is ironic that Andrew Jackson is on the $20, considering he hated banks and paper money. This hatred led to him vetoing a bill to reauthorise the Second Bank of the United States on this day. Jackson had sworn to destroy the bank for years and got to do it via this veto, though said veto was sharply divisive. The bank was forced to go private, but fell into hard times and would be liquidated several years later.
Tariff of 1832 is enacted – 14th July 1832
The Tariff of 1828 had been called the ‘Tariff of Abominations,’ and many sought to soften the blow. This came in the form of the Tariff of 1832, signed on this day by Andrew Jackson despite it being written by John Quincy Adams of all people. It left tariffs still in play, but lowered them in an attempt to appease critics. It passed and was signed, but as we will see in a little while, caused a hell of headache for Jackson.
Beginning of the Nat Turner Rebellion – 21st August 1832
Nat Turner was a slave, and was unusual as he was literate and also a preacher. On this date, Turner began a rebellion of slaves in Southampton, Virginia. The rebellion sought to act as a revolt to scare white people. Turner’s rebellion killed at least fifty-five whites over four days, all wealthy and/or slave owners, including women and children. The rebellion was eventually quashed, but Turner managed to evade capture for over a month before being found by a farmer and arrested. Turner and many of his comrades were executed and several more were sold. A number of unrelated African-Americans were killed in retaliation and fear spread across the country. The Nat Turner Rebellion was one of the most infamous revolts in American history.
Order of Nullification – 24th November 1832
The Tariff of 1832 had been deeply unpopular in some quarters, not least in South Carolina. John C. Calhoun, ever the thorn in Jackson’s side, had written the South Carolina and Exposition Proclamation as discussed in last week’s article. The South Carolina legislature put this theory to a vote and during a convention, adopted the Ordinance of Nullification. This declared that states could nullify any federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional. The Order of Nullification would lead to the Nullification Crisis.
Officially reelected – 5th December 1832
Andrew Jackson was officially reelected on this date, after presidential electors cast their ballots. Jackson won sixteen of the then-twenty-four states, as well over half by percentage. This gave him a mandate in which to continue his plan of action.
Nullification Proclamation – 10th December 1832
John C. Calhoun was now in his last three months of vice presidency, but would continue to be a thorn in Jackson’s side. Jackson had been furious at Calhoun and South Carolina- despite being a Southerner and a states’ rights supporter, he believed strongly in the Union and laws. It was on this date that Jackson responded with the ‘Proclamation to the People of South Carolina,’ also known as the Nullification Proclamation. In it, Jackson spoke out strongly against nullification with language such as ‘If the doctrine of a State veto upon the laws of the Union carries with it internal evidence of its impracticable absurdity, our constitutional history will also afford abundant proof that it would have been repudiated with indignation had it been proposed to form a feature in our Government.’ With this statement, Jackson could not have been clearer about his views.
John C. Calhoun resigns – 28th December 1832
Angered over the Nullification Crisis and aware that his chances of becoming president were just above a woman’s, Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned on his date. Incumbent South Carolina Senator Robert Y. Hayne resigned to become Governor, and the legislature chose Calhoun as his immediate successor. Calhoun would continue to antagonise Jackson, who later famously stated that ‘after eight years as president I have only two regrets: that I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun.’ Calhoun would later serve fifteen years in the Senate and as Secretary of State.
Compromise Tariff Act is signed – 2nd March 1833
Despite Jackson coming down hard in the Nullification Crisis, tariffs were still deeply unpopular. It was with this in mind that Jackson signed the Compromise Tariff Act on this date. Ironically co-created by Jackson’s enemies Clay and Calhoun, it intended to gradually reduce tariffs on the South. Intended to take the percentage down to 20%, it lasted only three months before tariffs were increased again.
Second inauguration – 4th March 1833
Jackson was sworn in for the second time by Chief Justice John Marshall (in Marshall’s last of nine inaugurations) in the East Portico of the US Capitol. His poor health and bad weather forced the inauguration to go ahead inside. The inaugural balls held later were uneventful ones, not matching the chaos of his first inauguration.
South Carolina rescinds the Order of Nullification – 15th March 1833
On this day (Jackson’s sixty-fifth birthday and exactly one hundred and sixty-five years before I was born), South Carolina rescinded the Order of Nullification. This meant that Jackson had won the battle and perhaps even the war, though Calhoun would continue to be a pain in his behind for the time being.
Censure by the Senate – 28th March 1834
The only time that a president was censured by the Senate happened on this day. Jackson had controversially withheld documents pertaining to the Second Bank of the United States and withdrew federal deposits from it. He’d fired his Treasury Secretary, William J. Duane, in order to do this. As the Whigs held the Senate, they were in the perfect position to punish Jackson. Calhoun and Clay naturally supported the censure. The censure stayed on record until it was expunged by the Democratic-held Senate on the 16th January 1837.
Establishes the Department of Indian Affairs – 30th June 1834
One might not have expected this from Andrew Jackson of all people, but the Department of Indian Affairs was established on this day. Now known as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the initial role of the department was to remove Native Americans from their homes to lands west of the Mississippi. It remains part of the government under the Department of the Interior. As with a number of things under Jackson, it was spearheaded by John C. Calhoun.
Attempted assassination by Richard Lawrence – 30th January 1835
Four presidents have been assassinated and many more have been victims of attempts. It was on this day that Andrew Jackson was the victim of an attempted assassination when Richard Lawrence, an unemployed housepainter, shot at him. Lawrence approached Jackson but both of his pistols misfired. Jackson attacked Lawrence with his cane, and had to be held back by others, including Davy Crockett. Lawrence was arrested and charged, but it was clear that he was severely mentally ill (he believed that he was Richard III of England and was owed land). He was found guilty by reason of insanity in one of the first instances of this in the US and was detained in asylums until his death. Jackson believed that Calhoun was behind it, though there is no evidence to suggest that Lawrence acted anything other than alone. Interesignlt, the pistols were examined after and were found to be in perfect working order. Whether you think it’s an Act of God or that the pistols were scared of Jackson, it’s interesting to think about.
Second Seminole War begins – 28th December 1835
The Second Seminole War began on this day. The war, which lasted over six years, would be overseen by four presidents, the first of which was Jackson. It was kicked off by the Dade Battle, which saw a Seminole army defeat the US military. Only two American soldiers and a guide made it out alive, and nearly all plantations in the area were burned to the ground by Native Americans. Florida would be a battleground for a long time to come.
The Republic of Texas is established – 2nd March 1836
Texas is known as the Lone Star state, and this comes from when the state became a republic on this day. For nearly a decade, Texas acted as an independent state, receiving official recognition from the United States and a number of other nations. It would be a republic until its annexation and admittance to the Union in December 1845.
The Alamo falls – 6th March 1836
The Texas Revolution soon followed, leading to the infamous Battle of the Alamo and its fall on this day. The Alamo was a crucial fortress in San Antonio and a number of Texans were sheltering there when a Mexican force ten times their size arrived, killing nearly all of them. The Battle lasted twelve days before The Alamo fell to Mexican forces. Around two-hundred Texans were killed and few survived, with the famous Davy Crockett falling in battle.
Eighth and Ninth Circuits Act of 1837/Judiciary Act is enacted – 3rd March 1837
On the day before leaving office, Jackson saw the Eighth and Ninth Circuit Act of 1837, also known as the Judiciary Act, enacted. This increased the size of the Supreme Court from seven to its current size of nine. It also created two more circuits that represented the western states.
Leaves office – 4th March 1837
Jackson left office on the 4th March 1837, handing the keys over to his vice president, protege and friend Martin Van Buren, though he was present for the inauguration. After eight years in office, Jackson retired to his plantation, The Hermitage. He remained somewhat politically active, openly campaigning for the unpopular Van Buren in the 1840 election and supporting the annexation of Texas. Andrew Jackson died on the 8th June 1845 aged seventy-eight. He has historically been a popular president, but his actions regarding Native Americans and other issues have caused a reevaluation of his legacy in recent years.
That’s it for Andrew Jackson. Tune in next week for Martin Van Buren, in which we’ll see him deal with financial panics, the Trail of Tears and a certain Spanish ship named La Amistad.
