The Rise of Jackson's Democratic Party

US History – Jackson and Federal Power, 1824-52

In this course, Professor Sean Adams (University of Florida) examines the presidency of Andrew Jackson and how it relates to federal power in the United States. With this in mind, the course seeks to explain the causes and effects of the continuing policy debates about the role of the federal government from 1800 to 1848. We start by looking at Andrew Jackson and the rise of the Democratic Party - the first modern political party in the United States. We then turn to look at the Nullification Crisis and Jackson’s response. After this, we examine Native American removal and how Jackson used it to restrict citizenship. We then turn to Jackson’s involvement in the Bank War of 1832-6. In the final two modules we look at the arrival of the Whig Party and the issue of slavery.

The Rise of Jackson's Democratic Party

In this module, we look at Andrew Jackson and the rise of the Democratic Party - the first modern political party in the United States. Despite losing the 1824 election, Jackson was able to use his appeal to the American “common man” to win the 1828 election. Jackson and his political ally Martin Van Buren were able to use mass politics to get the newly enfranchised to vote for him.