During Jackson's presidency, he had two cabinets advising him. One was the official president's cabinet, the other was his own group, commonly known as the "kitchen cabinet". Using a T Chart, students will compare and contrast what a true cabinet position does (and who held it) alongside who Jackson chose to listen to (and what their positions were). This will help them better understand the decisions made during Jackson's two terms and provide an easy reference for students to look back on.
Extended Activity
Have students research and explain the evolution of the presidential cabinet, as it has grown from the beginning of American politics, and the position of the presidency. Examine the current presidential cabinet and what their roles are advising the president. Have students research if there are still any external influences on the president today.
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Student Instructions
Use a T Chart to compare and contrast Jackson's presidential cabinet with his "kitchen cabinet".
Encourage students to explore both sides by assigning teams to argue in favor or against the spoils system. This fosters critical thinking and helps students understand the complexities of political appointments during Jackson's presidency.
Guide students to investigate current or recent presidents who relied on informal advisors, sometimes called a 'kitchen cabinet.' Comparing history with today deepens relevance and engagement.
Have students build a timeline highlighting key changes in the cabinet's structure and roles from Jackson’s era to the present. This visualizes historical evolution and makes abstract concepts concrete.
Facilitate a conversation where students link specific cabinet or 'kitchen cabinet' advice to notable decisions made by Jackson. Demonstrating real-world impact helps students see the importance of these advisory groups.
Assign roles from both the official and 'kitchen' cabinets and give students historical dilemmas to solve. Role-play builds empathy, understanding, and engagement with the complexities of leadership.
The 'kitchen cabinet' was an informal group of trusted advisors Andrew Jackson relied on, separate from his official presidential cabinet. While the official cabinet included appointed government officials like the Vice President and Secretaries, the kitchen cabinet consisted of close friends and allies who influenced Jackson's decisions behind the scenes.
Students can use a T Chart by listing official cabinet members on one side and kitchen cabinet members on the other. In each column, they can summarize roles, viewpoints, and tenure, helping visualize differences and similarities between the two advisory groups.
Jackson's official cabinet included John C. Calhoun (Vice President), John Eaton (Secretary of War), and others. His kitchen cabinet featured Martin van Buren, Francis Preston Blair, Amos Kendall, and Duff Green, who were trusted friends and informal advisors.
Jackson turned to his kitchen cabinet because he sometimes distrusted official cabinet members or faced internal conflicts. The informal group provided advice he valued and allowed him to bypass political disagreements in the formal cabinet.
Comparing Jackson's cabinets helps students understand how presidential decisions are influenced, the role of formal vs. informal advisors, and the impact of personal relationships on government leadership during Jacksonian Democracy.