Jackson's Election and the Spoils System

Learn about Jackson's election, suffrage, and the controversial Spoils System!

Map of 1828 Election Results Who won the election of 1828? New York Yellow Jackson Adams Expanded Suffrage Suffrage is the right to vote. During the 1820s more people got the right to vote than ever before. Before, to vote you had to be an American white man who owned his owned his own land. Now, any white man who was an American citizen could vote. Sort the people into the two categories: People who could vote in the 1828 election, and people who could not vote in the 1828 election. Can Vote Rich white men Poor white men White men who owned land White men who didn't own land Can't Vote White women Native Americans Slaves All American Citizens All women Andrew Jackson, The Common Man Andrew Jackson was different from all the president who came before him. Before 1828 every president had been a been a rich, college educated, land owner. However, most people in the United States did not live like this. Andrew Jackson was called "The president of the common man" because he grew up like most Americans. Andrew Jackson grew up poor. His father died at an early age, so he and his mother struggled to feed themselves. His mother could not pay for Andrew to go to school, so he did not receive a college education. He and his mother barely had the money to pay their rent and because they didn't own any land, Andrew joined the military to make money. He became a war hero in the War of 1812. Why do you think so many new voters voted for Andrew Jackson?Why is he known as the "president of the common man"? Please write your answers in complete sentences. The Spoils System Every president creates a Cabinet, or a group of advisors to help them. The president's Cabinet is usually made up of experts in their field. For example, the Secretary of the Treasury (who decides how the government will use it's money) is usually a banker. The Surgeon General (who makes sure medications are tested correctly) is usually a doctor. When Jackson became president he gave the Cabinet positions to his friends and supporters. If you helped Andrew Jackson win the election you could expect to be given a good position in the government. It didn't matter to Jackson if you were an expert or not. He just wanted to make sure that his friends were rewarded for backing him up. This was called the Spoils System. What are some problems that can happen with the Spoils System? Do you think that this was a good thing for Jackson to do? Why or why not? Please write in complete sentences.