A History of the United States: Chapter 12: The Jackson Era

In the election, Jackson received a plurality of the popular vote—the largest share.

No candidate received a majority, or more than half, of the electoral votes.

They supported measures such as building roads and a national bank to facilitate economic growth.

During the campaign, both sides resorted to mudslinging, or attempts to ruin their opponent's reputation with insults.

White male sharecroppers, factory workers, and others could now participate in the political process.

They were disturbed that the federal government had become a bureaucracy, a system in which nonelected officials carry out laws.

This practice of replacing current government employees with supporters of the winner is called the spoils system.

Instead, parties began using nominating conventions, where delegates from the states choose the party's presidential candidate.

Instead, parties began using nominating conventions, where delegates from the states choose the party's presidential candidate.

To make this possible, they wanted the federal government to force eastern Native Americans to relocate to lands west of the Mississippi River.

To make this possible, they wanted the federal government to force eastern Native Americans to relocate to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Instead, in December 1835, a group of Seminole attacked troops led by Major Francis Dade as they marched across central Florida. Only a few soldiers survived.

In addition, the Bank's assigned duties made it a powerful institution.

They thought that if Jackson tried to veto, or reject, the renewal of the Bank's charter, he would lose support.

These attacks played right into the hands of the Whigs, who adopted the log cabin as the symbol of their campaign.