Jacksonian American

228             Anti-Masonry – a Whig movement that emerged in response to show resentment against the secret and exclusive Society of Freemasons.

229            Henry Clay / The American System – Henry Clay was a rival of Jackson’s who won American over through the American System which favored internal improvements and economic development.

1.  What was the situation surrounding Calhoun’s nullification doctrine, and what argument did Calhoun use to support his theory?

South Carolina’s economy was terrible and they didn’t agree with the tariff. Calhoun’s argument was that since the federal government was made by the states, they could conclude whether Congress had passed an unconstitutional law.

2.  What do you think Calhoun really hoped that his theory of nullification would accomplish?

He hoped that it would quiet the South Carolinians down and give the other states some peace of mind.

3.  Page 221 paragraph 3 describes the scene at the annual Democratic Party banquet honoring the legacy of Thomas Jefferson in early 1830.  In the tense atmosphere surrounding the dispute between Calhoun and Jackson regarding Union and liberty, how would you define his use of the word “liberty”?

I think he meant liberty as in letting the states have some freedom from the government.

4.  Do you think Jackson’s actions in the nullification crisis had any similarity to Jackson’s handling of Cherokee removal?

Yes, I think Jackson is so used to using force because he was taught that way in the military and it’s the only effective method he knows.

5.  (page 225)  What functions had the National Bank served since 1816 when it was first chartered?

It provided credit to growing enterprises, issue banknotes, held a monopoly on federal deposits, and served as a dependable medium of exchange.

Why do you think Jackson set out “to destroy the ‘monster’” of the National Bank?

Because he didn’t like how it was run by only a certain group of people and he thought it had too much power.

6.  How did the party philosophy of the Whigs differ from that of the Democrats? 

Democrats were more likely than Whigs to support territorial expansion.