Received by the U.S. House of Representatives on February 15, 1830 this petition from the Cherokee Nation, which was written in both Cherokee and English, asserted the tribe’s status as a sovereign nation in response to a bill which had been introduced to remove them from their land. Despite the petition, the legislation passed three months later, setting the stage for the eviction of the tribe in 1838 and the hardships they endured on the “Trail of Tears.” Memorial of the Cherokees, HR 21A-H11, 2/15/1830, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306680)
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Received by the U.S. House of Representatives on February 15, 1830 this petition from the Cherokee Nation, which was written in both Cherokee and English, asserted the tribe’s status as a sovereign nation in response to a bill which had been introduced to remove them from their land. Despite the petition, the legislation passed three months later, setting the stage for the eviction of the tribe in 1838 and the hardships they endured on the “Trail of Tears.”

Memorial of the Cherokees, HR 21A-H11, 2/15/1830, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306680)

On December 28, 1835, President Andrew Jackson nominated Roger Taney to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Philip Barbour to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Both were confirmed by the Senate on March 15, 1836. Message of President Andrew Jackson nominating Roger B. Taney and Philip B. Barbour to the U.S. Supreme Court, 12/28/1835, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306298)
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On December 28, 1835, President Andrew Jackson nominated Roger Taney to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Philip Barbour to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Both were confirmed by the Senate on March 15, 1836.

Message of President Andrew Jackson nominating Roger B. Taney and Philip B. Barbour to the U.S. Supreme Court, 12/28/1835, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306298)


On December 10, 1832, just weeks after South Carolina nullified the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832, President Andrew Jackson sent this proclamation to Congress, arguing that states did not have the right to nullify federal law. President Andrew Jackson’s Proclamation Regarding the Nullification Crisis, 12/10/1832, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 595383)
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On December 10, 1832, just weeks after South Carolina nullified the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832, President Andrew Jackson sent this proclamation to Congress, arguing that states did not have the right to nullify federal law.

President Andrew Jackson’s Proclamation Regarding the Nullification Crisis, 12/10/1832, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 595383)

On July 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson vetoed the bill to recharter the Bank of the United States. This served as the opening salvo to what became known as the Bank War - a struggle between those who supported and opposed a national banking system. In the message Jackson expresses his view that the “rich and powerful” should not receive special privileges from the government. This defense of the “common man” defined the new era of Jacksonianism and the emerging Democratic Party.

Selection from President Andrew Jackson’s Veto of the Bank Recharter Bill, SEN 22A-E8 7/10/1832, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306427)

The page above is from the Journal of the Senate showing the famous expunged censure resolution of 1837. The story began in 1832 when President Andrew Jackson vetoed legislation to re-charter the Bank of the U.S. Two years later, the next Congress battled the President over this decision, and his subsequent removal of federal deposits from the Bank in a series of incidents called the Bank War. This war culminated in an unprecedented Senate censure of the President on March 28, 1834. Democrats voted to expunge the censure from the official journal three years later after they regained control of the Senate. Senate legislative journal showing the expungement of a resolution to censure the President, Sen 23A-A2, 3/28/1834, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306277)
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The page above is from the Journal of the Senate showing the famous expunged censure resolution of 1837. The story began in 1832 when President Andrew Jackson vetoed legislation to re-charter the Bank of the U.S. Two years later, the next Congress battled the President over this decision, and his subsequent removal of federal deposits from the Bank in a series of incidents called the Bank War. This war culminated in an unprecedented Senate censure of the President on March 28, 1834. Democrats voted to expunge the censure from the official journal three years later after they regained control of the Senate.

Senate legislative journal showing the expungement of a resolution to censure the President, Sen 23A-A2, 3/28/1834, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306277)

Because no candidate received a majority of the votes cast when the Electoral College met on December 1, 1824, it was immediately clear that the Presidential election would be left up to the U.S. House of Representatives for the second time in our young nation’s history. Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution states that the Electoral College shall vote for President of the United States, and that the ballots would be counted by Congress. The person with the majority of votes would become President, while the person with the second most votes would be come Vice President. If a majority was not achieved, the U.S. House of Representatives would then choose a President from among the top three contenders. When Congress convened to officially count the votes on February 9, 1825, Andrew Jackson held the most electoral votes at 99, but fell 32 votes shy of the required majority. Having finished fourth in the tally, Henry Clay was no longer a candidate when the election was handed over to the House, but as House Speaker he played a key role in determining the selection of the next President. With Clay’s support and influence, John Quincy Adams was elected President by the House of Representatives. After his March 4, 1825, inauguration, Adams nominated Clay to be Secretary of State. Jackson and his supporters saw this as the epitome of political corruption for the position of Secretary of State was considered a stepping stone toward the presidency, making Clay Adams’ likely political heir. Jackson resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1825, and began campaigning for the 1828 election on the heels of the alleged “Corrupt Bargain.” The bitterly contested 1828 election was a rematch between Jackson and Adams, but with a decisive outcome. Jackson received 173 electoral votes, while Adams received only 83. Jackson was inaugurated as the seventh President of the United States on March 4, 1829. Electoral Tally, 2/9/1825, SEN 18A-J1, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306207)
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Because no candidate received a majority of the votes cast when the Electoral College met on December 1, 1824, it was immediately clear that the Presidential election would be left up to the U.S. House of Representatives for the second time in our young nation’s history. Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution states that the Electoral College shall vote for President of the United States, and that the ballots would be counted by Congress. The person with the majority of votes would become President, while the person with the second most votes would be come Vice President. If a majority was not achieved, the U.S. House of Representatives would then choose a President from among the top three contenders.

When Congress convened to officially count the votes on February 9, 1825, Andrew Jackson held the most electoral votes at 99, but fell 32 votes shy of the required majority. Having finished fourth in the tally, Henry Clay was no longer a candidate when the election was handed over to the House, but as House Speaker he played a key role in determining the selection of the next President. With Clay’s support and influence, John Quincy Adams was elected President by the House of Representatives. After his March 4, 1825, inauguration, Adams nominated Clay to be Secretary of State. Jackson and his supporters saw this as the epitome of political corruption for the position of Secretary of State was considered a stepping stone toward the presidency, making Clay Adams’ likely political heir.

Jackson resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1825, and began campaigning for the 1828 election on the heels of the alleged “Corrupt Bargain.” The bitterly contested 1828 election was a rematch between Jackson and Adams, but with a decisive outcome. Jackson received 173 electoral votes, while Adams received only 83. Jackson was inaugurated as the seventh President of the United States on March 4, 1829.

Electoral Tally, 2/9/1825, SEN 18A-J1, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306207)

On January 27, 1791 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the first excise tax on domestic spirits, later known as the Whiskey Tax. While the tax was repealed in 1802, Congress continued to receive petitions and claims on the controversial tax for many years. On February 12, 1803, Congress received this petition from Tennessee Whiskey maker (and future politician), Andrew Jackson.

Here’s the story: In January of 1799, Jackson paid his yearly tax on two stills. In June his stills caught on fire and were condemned. Jackson petitioned his way through the local government, and eventually to Congress to receive a refund. Jackson “could not believe that the United States, would draw money, from the misfortunes, of her citizens…” Ultimately, Congress decided not to refund Jackson’s money. I like to think that Jackson was so furious about not receiving his money back that he decided to go into politics!

Petition of Andrew Jackson, 2/12/1803, HR 7A-F1.1, U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306666)