Study Questions and Essay Topics
Study Questions
Did Jackson support states' rights?
Although the quick answer may appear to be
"no," Jackson in fact had a strong states' rights record: his handling
of the Georgia-Cherokee problem is one example. What he opposed
was states extending themselves into federal business in a way
that could threaten the Union, as was the case with the Nullification
Crisis.
Although Jackson won the popular vote
in the 1824 Presidential race, he did not win the Presidency. What prevented
him and why?
Jackson did not win more than half of the
electoral vote, which threw the race into the U.S. House of Representatives.
There, each state–large and small–has only one vote. New York tipped
the race in favor of John Quincy Adams.
What part of his own experiences helped
motivate Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans?
The American Revolution against Britain had
left Jackson an orphan and claimed both of his brothers as well.
For the rest of his life he harbored a severe dislike of the British–especially
when they were on American soil.
Essay Topics
Why did Jackson support Indian removal after making
a name for himself as an Indian destroyer?
Do you think Jackson was right to distrust the Bank
of the United States?
Party politics reached a new high in Jacksonian America,
with interplay between the Democrats, the National Republicans, the
Whigs, and others. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages
of political parties?