The Rise of Jackson


The Rise of Jackson
Students learn how Andrew Jackson’s rise to power reshaped U.S. politics, inspiring claims to support the “common man,” sparking the Democratic and Whig parties, and raising questions about how his early presidency upheld or contradicted populist promises.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for The Rise of Jackson:

Preview - Scene 1
Exploros Learnign Experience Scene Navigation


Engage


Overview

In this experience, students analyze Andrew Jackson’s rise to power and the early years of his presidency to evaluate how his promises to represent the “common man” shaped American politics. First, they reflect on what people hoped to gain by electing Jackson in 1828. Next, students investigate how Jackson’s life story, leadership qualities, and ideas about government influenced public support and led to the rise of the Democratic Party and its opposition, the Whigs. Then, students examine a timeline of Jackson’s early presidency to determine which actions upheld or went against his populist platform. Finally, the Elaborate scene invites students to evaluate a political cartoon made years later that criticized the spoils system, considering how Jackson’s early policies were remembered and debated over time.

Estimated Duration: 45–60 minutes

Vocabulary Words and Definitions

  • cabinet: a group of advisors chosen by the president to help make decisions and run the government
  • elites: people with wealth, power, and influence who are seen as higher in status than others
  • Second Party System: the period in US history when the Democrats and Whigs were the two main political parties
  • spoils system: the practice of giving government jobs to political supporters as a reward
  • The Whigs: a political party in the 1800s that opposed Andrew Jackson and the Democrats
 

Objectives:

  • Identify the causes and immediate impacts of Jackson’s rise to power
  • Explain how Jackson did or did not uphold his populist platform at the beginning of his presidency


Students will work in small groups in the Explain scene. Consider previewing the timeline and the activity to inform grouping.


The 1820s were a time of political change in the United States. New leaders rose to prominence, and Americans began to debate what kind of person should guide the nation. Andrew Jackson became a central figure in this period, and his rise brought both excitement and controversy.

In this lesson, you will learn how Andrew Jackson’s rise to power affected American politics and how his actions as president compared to the promises he made to the people.

Objectives:

  • Identify the causes and immediate impacts of Jackson’s rise to power
  • Explain how Jackson did or did not uphold his populist platform at the beginning of his presidency

Consider what hopes Americans placed in Jackson’s presidency, and then answer the discussion question to explain how those hopes influenced expectations for his leadership.


A detailed painting captures the outdoor inauguration of Andrew Jackson as president. He stands prominently in the center, dressed in a dark suit, with his right hand raised in oath while facing a robed official holding a book.

Andrew Jackson’s first inauguration as president


What did people hope to gain by electing Andrew Jackson in 1828?

Post your answer

This Engage scene spirals the learning from the first experience in the unit. It acts as a review while also getting students ready to consider what people hoped for with Jackson’s election because of what he promised, and the reality of his presidential actions. As students share their ideas, guide the conversation toward the kinds of hopes people had for what Jackson would do as president. Encourage students to explain why Americans might have wanted those things from a leader, and to make predictions about how Jackson might try to fulfill his promises.


Organize students into small groups before continuing to the next scene. When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

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