Changes

Although Jackson won the 1828 election against incumbent [[John Quincy Adams]] by capturing almost 56% of the popular vote, the campaign was marked by anti-Jackson rhetoric that centered on Rachel Jackson's previous marriage to Lewis Robards and the allegedly "illicit union to Jackson"--that is, bigamy.  Jackson's supporters portrayed the Robards matter as a minor legal misunderstanding. Adams's supporters saw the incident as no less than long-term adultery by Andrew Jackson and portrayed Rachel Jackson as an immoral woman, implying the political dilemma that 'a vote for Jackson was a vote for sin.' The controversy paralleled a critical development in American politics. Expansion in voter participation, the growth of state political organizations, party loyalty, and the development of local campaign papers all led to the wide dissemination of scandal and fed 'the hunger of sensationalism.' To offset this, Jackson's supporters portrayed him as a brave soldier endowed with the virtues of manhood and the frontier spirit, placing him outside the usual social constraints.<ref> Norma Basch, "Marriage, Morals, and Politics in the Election of 1828." ''Journal of American History'' 1993 80(3): 890-918 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2080408  in JSTOR]</ref>

Although Jackson won the 1828 election against incumbent [[John Quincy Adams]] by capturing almost 56% of the popular vote, the campaign was marked by anti-Jackson rhetoric that centered on Rachel Jackson's previous marriage to Lewis Robards and the allegedly "illicit union to Jackson"--that is, bigamy.  Jackson's supporters portrayed the Robards matter as a minor legal misunderstanding. Adams's supporters saw the incident as no less than long-term adultery by Andrew Jackson and portrayed Rachel Jackson as an immoral woman, implying the political dilemma that 'a vote for Jackson was a vote for sin.' The controversy paralleled a critical development in American politics. Expansion in voter participation, the growth of state political organizations, party loyalty, and the development of local campaign papers all led to the wide dissemination of scandal and fed 'the hunger of sensationalism.' To offset this, Jackson's supporters portrayed him as a brave soldier endowed with the virtues of manhood and the frontier spirit, placing him outside the usual social constraints.<ref> Norma Basch, "Marriage, Morals, and Politics in the Election of 1828." ''Journal of American History'' 1993 80(3): 890-918 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2080408  in JSTOR]</ref>

==Banks==

===Banks===

Jackson was firmly opposed to a [[national bank]], and fought to dismantle the Second Bank of the United States. He vetoed Congress's bill to renew its charter, and began withdrawing money from it. He issued the [[Specie Circular]] in July 1836, which required land bought from the government to be paid for in [[specie]] (actual gold or silver coins), instead of bank notes. Most historians link this to the [[Panic of 1837]], which broke out weeks after after Jackson had left office and ruined the presidency of his successor, fellow Democrat [[Martin Van Buren]].

Jackson was firmly opposed to a [[national bank]], and fought to dismantle the Second Bank of the United States. He vetoed Congress's bill to renew its charter, and began withdrawing money from it. He issued the [[Specie Circular]] in July 1836, which required land bought from the government to be paid for in [[specie]] (actual gold or silver coins), instead of bank notes. Most historians link this to the [[Panic of 1837]], which broke out weeks after after Jackson had left office and ruined the presidency of his successor, fellow Democrat [[Martin Van Buren]].