Andrew Jackson

Birth-Death: (1767 - 1845 ) Term: (1829-1837 )

Secession and nullification became prominent issues during Andrew Jackson's Presidency. South Carolina posed a particular threat to the Union when it nullified the Tariff of 1832, proclaiming states' rights. Jackson, although an advocate for the common man, knew that such blatant disregard of authority would tear the Union apart if allowed to continue. To that end, he would not back down before South Carolina.

Major Events with Andrew Jackson

1832 - Tariff of 1832 & South Carolina's Nullification Act

    After the tariff of 1828, the South had only one hope to lower the tariffs. Since Jackson was a southerner, the South thought that he would keep the tariffs from rising. Jackson, however, left it to Congress to decide the tariffs. In 1832 a new tariff was passed increasing the rates from the tariff of 1828. Immediately after Jackson signed the bill, Calhoun resigned from his Vice-President post and left for South Carolina.

    Days later, South Carolina issued the Nullification Act threatening to declare the law null and void in South Carolina. Jackson was outraged and determined to make South Carolina pay. He asked for the force bill, which when it was passed, gave Jackson whatever force he needed to carry out the laws of the United States. A confrontation never took place because Henry Clay intervened with the compromise tariff, which promised to reduce the rates for the next few years.

1830 - Trail of Tears

    The United States was expanding rapidly. There was an area in Georgia which was still occupied by peaceful Native Americans. There were numerous treaties signed with the Cherokees, and on two occasions the Supreme Court upheld their constitutional right of presence in Georgia.

    Jackson, however, was angry at the Native Americans and when the decision from the Supreme Court came he said "let Marshall enforce it." Bluntly disregarding the decision he passed the Removal Act in 1830 and over the winter twelve thousand Cherokees were marched from Georgia to Oklahoma. On the way more than half died from hunger, hypothermia and disease.