We have talked in class at great length about the importance of Andrew Jackson not only in his own time but after as well. In so many ways he shaped and defined the America we now have, from the idea that the average person has a place in government to the distrust of centralized banking. He was a man torn by personal loss and driven by personal rage, but also a man who simply did not ever give up on anything. From arming free-blacks in New Orleans in 1815 to forcing the relocation of thousands of Native Americans in 1839, Andrew Jackson is also a man of contradictions that make it nearly impossible to come to a final and perfectly clear portrait of him either in or out of the White House.
Revisit Chapter 13 and the essay on pp.285-86 entitled What Was Jacksonian Democracy? and explain why it is that Jackson is so important to American History. Compose this response as a summation of everything you believe is crucial to know and understand (knowing a fact is different than understanding its importance) about Andrew Jackson and his impact on American History.
DUE DATE: Sunday Night, November 11 by midnight.
Minimum Word Count: 500 words
Andrew Jackson (White House):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjackson
Andrew Jackson (The Hermitage):
http://www.thehermitage.com/jackson-family/andrew-jackson
Andrew Jackson (PBS):
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/
American Pageant, Ch. 13:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B06Mqo8bYnzgX3hrc0lLVGlqX28/edit
51 comments:
During the Age of Jackson (1824-40), politics became more democratic, the power of the presidency increased, and sectionalism supplanted nationalism. Andrew Jackson was an enormously popular political figure, and state candidates from the governor to the coroner tied themselves to his coattails in the hope of winning their elections in 1828. As the first political campaign that captured national attention, one million Americans voted for the first time — twice as many as in 1824 — thanks in part to the democratization of the voting process and new approaches to arouse political interest, such as huge public rallies, lavish picnics, and mudslinging charges of gambling, bigamy, and pimping. It was a veritable revolution in United States electioneering, as political operatives such as Martin Van Buren, Amos Kendall, and Thomas Ritchie created a candidate of the people and appealed for popular support. This was also the first election in which the popular vote determined the outcome of the race. With Jackson as the Democratic standard-bearer for a new kind of politicking, the Democratic Party controlled the White House for all but eight of the next 32 years.
The period between James Madison’s reelection as president in 1812 and the election of William Henry Harrison in 1840 was a time of remarkable expansion of democratic participation in United States politics. In 1790, shortly after the American Revolution, only Vermont granted the vote to all free men; by 1840, all states but Rhode Island allowed all free men to vote. The notion of the Founding Fathers that only property owners had a stake in society that justified their having the ballot was now discredited. The United States probably had a higher percentage of men eligible to vote and a higher percentage of eligible men voting than any other country in the world, with the important caveats that women, American Indians, and black men could not vote. No longer was deference owed to elites, because the expanded electorate made their own decisions about how to vote. This amazing development owed much to the logic of equality embedded in the American Revolution, the emergence of political parties, increasingly effective campaign strategies, polarizing social and economic issues, removal of voting impediments (e.g., property ownership and/or tax payments), relocation of polling areas to more convenient locations, and the rise of the popular press.
For Martin Van Buren, political parties were not aristocratic associations or threats to the Republic, but desirable engines of the popular will. Van Buren was part of a group of shrewd politicians called the Albany Regency who controlled New York’s state government in Albany between 1822 and 1838. This Albany Regency was one of America’s first political machines, and it influenced the Democratic–Republican party, first as the Bucktails faction and, later, as the Hunkers faction among the Jacksonian Democrats. With the help of their newspaper, the Albany Argus, they controlled party nominating conventions and political patronage (spoils system) while in office, although they were also opponents of corruption. Van Buren’s main interest was to elect Andrew Jackson, the Hero of New Orleans in the War of 1812, as president, an office denied him in 1824, despite the fact that Jackson had won a plurality of popular and electoral votes. Jacksonians blamed John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay for fashioning a “corrupt bargain” in the U.S. House of Representatives that gave Adams the presidency and Clay the position of secretary of state. By bridging the sectional divide, Van Buren thought he had found a winning electoral formula.
The elections of 1820 and 1824 reflected the emergence of sectionalism. The United States became a nation increasingly separated by sectional differences between North and South. The symbiotic connection between industrialization in the North and slavery in the South created a dynamic between the two, where tensions emerged at the boundaries of retreating rural/ agricultural areas and advancing urban/industrial...
...settings, thus generating two cultures— one static, individualistic, agricultural, the other dynamic, collectivistic, urban.
Beckett Lee
Periods 3 & 4
In early 19th century America, Andrew Jackson played a critical role in defining what it meant to be an American. In a country struggling to define itself in a world which had never seen anything like it and had little to compare it to, Andrew Jackson defined why being an American was such a special thing and why America had to be defended in many ways. First, he established that America’s economy must be dependent on what the people of America choose, not what the government sponsors; second, he determined that the good of the few must be second to the good of the many when it came to civil rights and liberties; third, he demonstrated that the power and strength of the American government comes from all Americans, not just those with the wealth and influence to dominate. By defining these aspects of American life, Andrew Jackson laid the groundwork for what it meant to be an American so that America could grow upon itself in the future.
Andrew Jackson spent much of his time as President trying to ensure that the power over the American economy remained with the people who would succeed and fail based on its performance. This presented itself quite clearly when Jackson fought the bank war with Nicholas Biddle. While Biddle and other pro-government control groups fought to preserve the Second Bank of the United States and ensure that control over the American economy would rest with the few wealthy enough to lead the bank, Jackson fought with his heart and soul to destroy the bank and Nicholas Biddle. He knew that if the power over the American economy rested with the few, the good of the American people would be overlooked in economic matters. His bank war was hard-fought and made Jackson few friends in power, but in the end it allowed the individual states and people to determine how to run their finances. The death of the Second Bank of the United States and the reallocation of government funding into smaller, state-run banks demonstrated Jackson’s support for the common man.
Jackson’s beliefs in civil rights and liberties may seem to be self-contradictory and illogical to some, when the continuity between good for the many and good for the few is found, his logic is revealed. After much review, it can be understood that Andrew Jackson’s policies regarding civil liberties, especially in the cases of allowing free blacks to fight in the War of 1812 and the Indian Removal Acts, always put the majority above the minority. When Jackson allowed free blacks to join in the fight to defend American soil from the British invaders, it seemed that he would support civil rights and liberties for non-white Americans. This powerful demonstration of equality would help to defend America during the war and support abolition movements afterwards. Therefore, it seems shocking that Andrew Jackson would pass and support the Indian Removal Acts to remove the Indians from their native lands. The logic comes from the single continuity between the two. In the War of 1812, Jackson was doing the best he could to defend the majority of Americans from British invasion. To protect the majority, he utilized all of the resources, including free blacks, available to him despite the protests of the minority that would say that it was granting free black too many rights. In contrast, the Indian Removal Act was an attempt by Andrew Jackson to protect the majority of the Americans in the regions occupied by Indians, from conflicts with the minority, the Indians. The majority in both of these cases were supported while the minorities were not. This support of the majority over the minority would define Jackson’s presidency and his life. (To be continued)
The theme of majority over the minority would be best exemplified in Andrew Jackson’s focus on the political powers of the common men in America. By focusing his campaign and policies on the will of most Americans, Andrew Jackson ushered in the era of the common man, where common people, not political elites of the east, were the emphasis of politics. While some might say that this led to the introduction of the corruption of politics into the American people, it also allowed the American government to fulfill its purpose, representing the people. Democracies, by nature, are a majority-based system. If a sufficient percentage of the voting population wants something to happen, a democracy will give it to them. A republic, like the United States, will do much the same thing, but it will simplify the process through representatives. This switch from eastern domination to universal representation across the United States would be a firm principle of American life that would last to the modern era. Andrew Jackson represented the best American politics had to offer in the early 19th century. His defining beliefs in the American economy, rights for the majority, and American political system of the people, for the people, by the people, would inspire generations of Americans.
The Jacksonian Age, early 19th century, was full of a lot of new ideas and promises for America. He might have not been the best president, but he altered the course of history to the point that they named the era after him and he was hugely popular to the citizens. He was the only president were the United States were not in debt. First, Jackson strongly opposed the central bank, and had plans of getting rid of it; second, he also believed that the federal government should have highest authority even higher than the states, which at the time had highest authority; and third, he was unclear in almost every way about his position on the Natives. Jackson put everything into being president, his personality was too strong to be left out, which is what also gave him the title of arrogant.
President Andrew Jackson did not like the idea of a centralized Bank of the United States, which was not equivalent of today's Federal Reserve, but made loans to individuals and made a profit for its shareholders. The bank had the benefits of all federal deposits and so had a lot of money to loan out. It was managed by the rich people in the East and favored them. It did little to serve the needs of the people on the Western frontier. Moreover, its management had political interests and lobbied against Jackson in Congress by offering low interest loans to anti-Jackson people. In the presidential campaigns of 1832, the BUS (second bank of America) served as the central issue in mobilizing the opposing Jacksonian Democrats and National Republicans. Jackson and Biddle personified the positions on each side. Jacksonians successfully concealed the incompatibility of their “hard money” and “paper money” factions in the anti-Bank campaign, allowing Jackson to score an overwhelming victory against Henry Clay. Fearing economic reprisals from Biddle and the Bank, Jackson moved swiftly to remove federal deposits from the institution. Then he spread out the money between people he trusted. This all shows his slow-but steady- determination. He knew what he wanted and he got it done.
Andrew Jackson believed in Democracy; it was during his campaign that the Democratic Party was established. He wanted the government to be for the common man and not for the rich, such as the tale of Young Goodman Brown; he thought that politics would corrupt the common men. He was the only President who was openly in favor of slavery. He made no efforts to stop it. He believed the government office holding system was undemocratic and corrupt and promised to disallow "unfaithful or incompetent" men from holding government positions. Then he put in the men he knew he could trust, the common men.
As a young man, Jackson spent a lot a time fighting Indians. The Indians were the natural enemy of the white settlers. Surprise attacks were often made on settlers, houses were burned and whole families were murdered. Travelers were robbed and murdered. So, the settlers would retaliate and burn the nearest Indian village. It was a perpetual war time situation until the settlers finally won and drove the Indians out. Most people do not love their enemies and Jackson was no exception. And as president, he ordered the Indians rounded up and forced on the Trail of Tears to the Oklahoma territory.
Olivia Brophy
Periods 3 & 4
(pt. 1)
The United States during the Jacksonian Era (1824-1840) saw a multitude of great changes develop in the country. Andrew Jackson himself was a major change to what the United States had come to expect from those in the political realm, with his “common” ideals and overwhelming popular support largely influencing his decisions as President. First, the increased democracy of the age and Jackson’s Indian Removal policies were among some of the most important social aspects of his eight year term; Second, Jackson transformed the role of the President as defined by the Founding Fathers and gave rise to increasingly heated political problems; Lastly, the influence that the “common people” had over Andrew Jackson’s way of thinking played an enormous hand in his economic decisions. Thus, Andrew Jackson’s lasting impact on American history is best exemplified through his social, political, and economic decisions.
Even before Andrew Jackson became a candidate for president, voting rights in the United States were expanding to include white men who had previously not been given the right to vote, usually for lack of property. These men used their suffrage to support a candidate who reminded them of themselves, and who reflected their ideals. When he won the presidency by huge popular margins, Jackson felt compelled to back up the people’s belief that he was the candidate who understood them and would support what they wanted. The best example of this is Jackson’s Indian Removal policy. Although it was not supported by everyone, notably women, who during this time worked increasingly hard towards their own suffrage, the abolitionist movement, and suffrage for free blacks, Indian Removal was championed by a vast majority of men, notably in the South. This support was based on the longtime fear of the natives by whites, as well as the fact that native tribes were inhabiting their lands that the white men wanted to cultivate for profit, despite the fact that the land had been lived on by the natives for centuries. However, even though the policy of Indian Removal garnered positive popular opinion, it was unfair and most likely unconstitutional. For example, the Cherokee people of Georgia, who were and still are the most notorious tribe involved in Indian Removal, had set up their own independent country via their own constitution. The Constitution of the United States holds that this country is responsible for recognizing independent countries, yet Jackson defied this law and forced the Cherokee people to march from Georgia to Oklahoma over what later became known as the Trail of Tears. Additionally, in his conquest to remove the Cherokee from Georgia for the benefit of his white farming voters, Jackson also defied a Supreme Court Ruling which held that the Cherokee had every right to stay on their ancestral lands. These actions lead into the next aspect of Andrew Jackson’s legacy in American history - his politics.
(pt. 2)
Andrew Jackson was a man of the people, and this was obvious in his politics. He believed that the president, not Congress, was the closest to the people, and worked to transform the presidency into the people’s office. His greatest actions to further this particular cause were his astonishing use of the power of veto. During his eight years as president, Jackson vetoed more bills than the six presidents before him combined had in forty years. Simply put, if Jackson didn’t like it, he vetoed it, rather than attempt to reach a compromise, this action, more than any other singular action of President Jackson helped to expand the power held by the president beyond the limits of what the Founding Fathers had imagined. Another significant aspect of Jackson’s attempt to bring the common man into politics was his dismissing Washington officials that he felt were corrupt and/or a detriment to the furthering of the people, and replacing them with more bourgeois administrators, who often proved to be inept and, ironically, corrupt. A mostly unrelated, but very important, political issue that Jackson faced was that of the Tariff of 1828 (the “Tariff of Abominations”) and the nullification crisis that followed. The tariff, as high was 45% on some items, was put in place to protect Americans, but ended up hurting those in the South, while benefitting those in the North. Angered that they had to pay for something that didn’t directly benefit them, the state of South Carolina threatened secession to the Union if the situation was not rectified. Jackson, falling back on his rash temper and tendency to veto whatever he didn’t agree with, was ready to send troops to the Palmetto State to quash the rebellion. Luckily for him, Henry Clay was able to work out an agreement and the Union was saved - temporarily. The reaction of South Carolina to the “Tariff of Abominations” was not the only instance of North-South tension in Jackson’s presidency. Sectionalism was on a rise throughout the Jacksonian Era, mostly because of the increasingly profitable industrialization of the North, while the South lingered an agrarian frame of mind that grew more out dated everyday. Despite his position of power in the North and his Southern heritage, Andrew Jackson was unable to rectify the issue of sectionalism, which would come to a head less than twenty years after his death.
Many of the economic decisions faced by Andrew Jackson during his two term presidency were decided on what Jackson interpreted to be the people’s will. The most notable of these issues is the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson did not trust banks of any kind, but recognized that they were vital for a successful government. More than anything though, Andrew Jackson hated the centralized Second Bank of the United States, in which the United States government deposited it’s money. By doing this, the banking atmosphere of the United States became a monopoly, with the Second Bank of the United States holding virtually all control. Being a man of common ideals, Jackson was opposed to monopolies, which limited the opportunities for anyone other than the country’s elite to strike it rich. President Jackson ignored the fact that the Bank had moved past it’s corrupt beginnings and now ensured the health of the business climate in the United States refused to sign the rechartering bill for the Bank. This action led to the Bank using it’s power to do what Jackson feared - create an economic panic. Had Jackson signed the rechartering bill, the Bank would have had no motivation at the time to call in it’s loans and create a panic. By forcing the Bank to close it’s doors, Andrew Jackson created an unsound immediate financial future for the country he loved dearly, and for his successor, Martin Van Buren, one of his close friends and whom he supported for president. With the collapse of the Bank came the collapse of the economy in Van Buren’s four years as president.
(pt. 3)
Andrew Jackson undoubtedly left a lasting impression on American history, and with the hearts and minds of the American public long after he served his two terms as president. Some of the outstanding examples that may be included in the reason for this impression include his social policies, such as Indian Removal, and the increased democracy achieved under him. Additionally,his political dealings , which include the expanding of Presidential power through such trials as the spoils system, the power of veto, and the Tariff of 1828 (as well as the Nullification crisis), were and remain hugely important to this country’s history. Finally, Andrew Jackson’s lasting mark on the United States also contained an economic element, at the forefront of which was the debate over the Second Bank of the United States.
Throughout the Jacksonian Era (1824-1840), the United States underwent tremendous developments that would shape the future history of the country. As President of the United States, Andrew Jackson introduced new concepts of government as well as new reaches of federal power that would forever change how the nation operated. First, Jackson’s support for the common man of society led to drastic changes in the government; second, the political term of Jackson saw a stronger show of presidential power; third, Jackson’s decisions pertaining to the economic welfare of the nation were greatly influenced by his favor of the common man over the aristocratic eastern establishment. Therefore, because of social, political, and economic reasons, Jackson’s huge impact on American history gave birth to a more modern form of government in the United States.
Having risen from the masses himself, Andrew Jackson had always sympathized more with the common people of American society. Jackson appealed to the population in such a way because the common people wanted a candidate who would advocate for their same rights and interests, not some high-ranking figure who might overlook their needs. Andrew Jackson believed that the common folk of the country should have more of a voice in the nation’s government, which until now was continued to be run by more “elitis” men. Jackson and his supporters greatly stressed the will of the people, and as a result of his egalitarian sentiments, democracy was opened up to common man for the first time, a crucial development in the system of government that occurred after he won the presidency. An example of this critical change was the introduction of the “spoils” system, by which political supporters of Jackson were rewarded with public offices. It was through this new spoils system that many incompetent figures were brought into the administration, but in doing so, the common man received opportunity for more political advancement as well as more involvement of federal affairs. In 1815 during the War of 1812, Jackson again broke down social barriers when he enlisted a group of free blacks to help his forces defend the city of New Orleans from the attacking British. This is also significant because it portrays an opening of opportunity to African Americans, who were still very much deprived of all civil rights, even as free black men and not slaves. Like for the common white people, this represented a big step towards more equal liberties for them. Thus, under Jackson, the United States government became reformed for the betterment of the more lower-class people.
Jackson’s term also saw a new extension and exercising of presidential power when in the early mid-1800s, the state of South Carolina began expressing its fierce opposition to a high protective tariff, one called the “Tariff of Abominations” by the southerners. Believing that the tariff threatened not only their agricultural society but also their beloved slavery institution, South Carolinian legislators fought to nullify the tariff act. It was in this moment that Jackson revealed the firmness of his presidential power by threatening death to the nullifiers and preparing an army should the need arise. Military action was also enforced by the Force Bill passed by Congress. The conflict came to an end, but this showed the steadfastness of President Jackson and his resolve to preserve the Union from any dangerous defiance that might cause it to break apart. He showed himself to be capable of handling these types of situations and also revealed that he would not tolerate a separated nation. Another thing Jackson established during his presidency was the power of the veto, which he used along with his party leadership to take control of policy-making without having to go through Congress. Jackson still believed in a limited federal government, however, since the people were meant to be the sovereign power in a country, but thanks to his determination and advocating of states’ rights, the Union was well-preserved.
(Last paragraph)
Jackson’s economic views are best exemplified in the Bank War against Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. As the charter of the Second Bank of the United States approached its expiration date, Clay and Webster fought for the rechartering of the institution. Jackson, however, saw the Bank as unconstitutional and, keeping the common people in mind, used his valuable veto as a way to refuse the bank bill, for the Bank was only accountable to the “moneyed investors” and not the people. This act of Jackson’s is important because in vetoing the Congress-approved recharter bill, at the same he proclaimed more sweeping power for the president by basically passing the veto because of his personal opinion about the Bank, whereas all other presidential vetoes were based on constitutional reasons alone. Thus, he stretched presidential power to equal the majority of Congress.
I will post the rest tomorrow
The moment that Andrew Jackson started campaigning for the 1824 election America and therefore the World changed. Jackson did an insurmountable amount of things in his life that was vital to American History but there were three main events in his life that made a decisive impact on the world today. Firstly, Jackson did what no one else at the time would do, arm and train black slaves to help him fight in the War of 1812; secondly, while Jackson was president he was forced to create and enact the Indian Removal Act; and thirdly, Jackson’s mentality throughout his entire presidency was most impactful to American History because of the effect that it had on future presidents. Thus for social, executive and political reasons Mr. Andrew Jackson made an impact on American History that almost cannot be contested.
From the late 1700s to the 1840s, Andrew Jackson redefined the identity of American politics and impacted American History from his first actions in the federal government, to his last breath in his home near Nashville, Tennessee. His choices are what determined the many diverse opinions of him from the people’s hero, to hot-tempered scoundrel; whatever the case may be, Andrew Jackson changed the face of the United States years after his death for three reasons: first, Jackson’s pursuit to balance the economy of the United States; second, his changed the power of the Executive Branch to the President; and third, Jackson’s efforts to stress civil rights of the American people. Therefore, for political, social and economic reasons, Andrew Jackson greatly impacted the U.S. government system.
When entering office as President, Andrew Jackson began to change many Federalist policies left by former John Quincy Adams, including the Tariff of 1833 and the National Bank of the U.S. After a change in raising a tariff on imported goods to promote purchasing home manufactured goods, many Southerners refused to pay the stated “Tariff of Abominations” and chose to nullify, where Jackson surprisingly dispatched federal troops to South Carolina to end the rebellion before downsizing the tariff. This shows that Jackson was actively trying to maintain controls even by forcing his supporters down.
In Jackson’s presidency, the power balance of the three branches of government began to shift towards the Executive branch so much that the opposing Whig Party nicknamed him “King Jackson I”. President Jackson was the first president to use the power of veto, preventing many laws and bills from being passed that did not meet Jackson’s approval, such as the Bank of the United States. This shows that, unless a majority of Congress opposed the veto, those opposing the president would find great frustration. A president’s veto becomes be a great advantage to the coming presidents after seeing its first uses by Jackson in his presidency. Such actions began to focus the nation’s people towards the President and the Executive Branch.
When Jackson ran for president, the common people rejoiced in seeing him as a war hero and self-made man who would represent the people. His victory was confirmed the next presidential race after the election of 1824 in which John Quincy Adams won in the House of Representatives after a lack of majority vote for either side and the “corrupt bargain” between him and Henry Clay; Jackson won then next election. This shows that the idea of federalism was now being pushed aside by the pursuit of sectionalism and democracy as Jackson and the Democrat party ascended to the White House in 1829. This shift of power brought about important changes greatly altered the course of U.S. history and society
Andrew Jackson’s presidency cast important feelings and ideas that have been remembered in opposite lights as either noble or absurd. Whatever the truth may be, Jackson was instrumental to this nations’ change for political, social, and economic reasons.
Throughout the Jacksonian period (1820-1850) Andrew Jackson would redefine American politics and change this country forever. During his presidency, Andrew Jackson … Andrew Jackson, from his campaign for president till long after his death, would affect the history of America in three major ways; first, Jackson and his followers would forge the nation’s most successful and durable political party; second, his struggle to rebalance the national economy; finally, his aggressive Indian Removal act. Therefore, for political, economic, and social reasons, Andrew Jackson would affect this country for years to come.
Jackson and his followers would create the nation’s longest lasting and most successful political party known as the democrats. Jackson was strictly for the people and he favored the common man, like the poor farmer. This is mostly because he was self-made, before he was a part of the world of politics, Jackson lived a poor life.
Anthony Luna
Period 4
In the election of 1828 Andrew Jackson or "Old Hickory" beat Adams in a land side, the electoral college votes where 178 to 83. In Andrew Jackson two terms he had huge impacts on American history. These impacts affected the growing nation, first, Jackson had a huge emphasis on the common man and used "mud slinging"; second, affected the nation socially with many of his choices; thirdly, he helped shape the nations size. During Jackson's campaigning and presidency many things changed. During his campaigning mud slinging reached very low. From both sides many personal attacks were made. To Jackson, they described his mother as a prostitute and his wife as a adulteress, and to Adams he was accused of sending a servant girl to the tsar of Russia, thus being a pimp. Personal attacks towards political candidates continued through out American history and is still used today. During Jackson's presidential terms he greatly changed the government. He was the for the common man, the common man in this case was farmers who made up roughly ninety percent of the population. He introduce the spoils system on a large scale, thus it gave farmers a position public office for political support. This was a huge popularity boost for Jackson, but gave unqualified people a place in the government. Jackson said that it was important to have new blood, and that each generation should get a turn at the public trough. The spoils system was very important because it was a significant element for the emerging two-party order. It gave Americans a reason to stick with a political party through good and bad times. The two-party system is used today and is a very defining feature of the American government and Jackson greatly contributed towards that. Jackson affected the nation socially with the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This affected the United States socially because Native Americans would not come merge into the mostly white society. This Act relocated thousands of Native Americans further west, and caused the Trail of Tears, in which thousands of Indians died. Jackson's intentions where unclear, for he either did it to save the native Americans from extermination or to free up extra room for the growing nation. Whatever his intentions were, it opened up room for society to expand west. This was very important for the growing nation, for it opened up cheap farm land, more food was grown, and population greatly increased. Later the Bank War occurred. This "war" was between Jackson and the Bank of the United States. Jackson distrusted monopolistic banking and over big business. The Bank of the United States had great power and was like another branch of the government. Clay wished to pass a re charter bill through Congress and then have the president sign it. Congress passed it but Jackson saw it unconstitutional, and it was vetoed. This was very important because it killed of the bank and because it greatly increased the presidents power. Jackson implied that the president had as much power as two-thirds of Congress. This greatly amplified the presidents power. This power of the presidency would transfer to the other presidents in the future. Thus, Jackson had political, social, and economic affects on the United States, and these affects would continue up to the present.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States (1829-1837), the son of poor Irish immigrants, became a national icon in a variety of ways, all while confronting some of the largest issues amongst a nation of people lost in the new political and social muddle that had just been kicked into overdrive. By daring to take a step beyond the conventional legislative biases at the time, Andrew Jackson became one of the greatest pioneering figures in American History. First, Jackson was seen as a war hero; second, he portrayed himself as the first “contemporary president”; and third, he was a defender of the Union as well as a governmental prophet. Thus, due to the social, political, and economical/intellectual standpoints of the country as a whole, Jackson became known as one of the first presidents to have such a radical impact on the America we know and live in today. First, Jackson was depicted as the superman of warfare. When the war of 1812 broke out, Jackson had an immediate reaction, offering the government approximately twenty-five thousand Tennessee militiamen under his very demand. Refusing the disbanding of his men, he held on through resolve alone and through the countless struggles and fearlessness, he truly earned his nickname “Old Hickory”. Later a Creek civil war had exploded, and eventually turned into an American War, seeing as it was largely held in Mississippi territory, while around the same time, a British invasion was looming in the south. In turn Jackson quickly transferred his army to New Orleans, leading to the victory at the Battle of New Orleans and gave him another famous title. His dedication to not only his militia, but also to the expansion of U.S. territory, it showed him that he was worthy of being appointed governor of new Florida Territory, giving way for inordinate admiration. Second, Jackson was seen as the first “modern president”. During Jackson’s inauguration, it was unveiled that he was of working class origins, appealing momentously to the average American. He then went as far as to instruct cabinet heads to make some structural and subjective changes such as the birth of the “spoils system” or rotation in office, which fundamentally altered the support of specific parties in offices. In addition, Jackson’s Secretary of War John Henry Eaton married Margaret O’Neale Timberlake. Through the slighting of Mrs. Eaton (“Peggy”), it was rumored she supposedly had an affair causing her first husband to commit suicide. This was a parallel to a similar event in Jackson’s own life, seeing as his wife had suffered the same inevitable fate. This left him both sympathetic and determined to now allow the same misfortune to befall someone else. In the end, Martin Van Buren had resigned Eaton and the Secretary of States Cabinet posts. The entire Cabinet was replaced and Jackson was able to prove the vital point that fairness is key. Once again, he eventually gained higher acclaim. And third, he was a guard of the Union and somewhat of a judicial fortuneteller. As Southern opposition to the Tariff of 1828 rose, Jackson remained a states’ rights advocate. He believed that the nullification doctrine would lead to absurd disunion and proclaimed opposition to it, leading to antislavery sentiments through the North. He also strongly supported the idea that small family farms were essential to vast geographical development. He consequently set in action the Indian Removal Act through Congress, giving Americans a surplus in what used to be Indian land east of the Mississippi. Jackson likewise vetoed the bill to re-charter the bank, believing that he would protect the average person from the exploitation of the Bank of the United States. This gave birth to the Whig Party as a protest against Jackson being reportedly “above the law”. After winning the “Bank War” he narrowly avoided the first attempted presidential assassination.
(Continued from last post...)
He then retired to the Hermitage, but still managed to seize the hearts of visitors even on his deathbed (politically involved until the end). This represented his growing devotion to any and every cause he sets his mind to. So, because of the communal, governmental, and economical/intellectual changes Jackson created, he has gone down in American history as one of the most influential presidents(or even just Congress in general) to ever have entered into office.
In the early 18th century the world was gifted to receive Andrew Jackson as a United States president. Andrew Jackson was important because of his bravery; political tactic tics; and because he looked out for minorities as well as majorities. I believe Andrew Jackson was a major force in early 18th century America, and without him America would have turned out differently.
First off Andrew Jackson was a brave man for example when he was captured during the revolutionary war , when a British general told him to polish his boots Jackson refused and even when Jackson was threatened and then slashed across the face he didn’t obey the general. This shows a great amount of courage on Jackson’s part but also this started Jacksons hate for the British. Jackson grew to hate the British even more when he and his brother were gravely ill their mother made a trade, she would work to help the sick if Jackson and his brother were released however his brother died. Later on while his mother was working on a prison ship she died of cholera. This made Jackson even more hate for the British.
Secondly Jackson was a brilliant at politics for example when Jackson was defeated by john q Adams he saw a potential corrupt bargain because the other political candidate besides Jackson and Adams was Henry clay who gave his votes to Adams so Adams would win but after this Adams hired clay as his secretary of state. Andrew Jackson, a big believer that the government was corrupt pounced on this and in the next election he used this against Adams to win the presidency. This shows that his belief that the government was corrupt true and that he knew how to use this information against his opponent but he also had some troubles with corrupt government officials when one of his cabinet members was caught in an affair with another woman and also he employed the spoils system, where you throughout the opposing parties officials and put your own political members in their place.
Finally he protected minorities as well as majorities. For example when he passed the Indian removal act to most it seems like he was against the Indians but if you look at it closer you see he was looking out for the Indians because he recognized that if the Indians stayed where they were that westerners would eventually grow even more land hungry and would turn and slaughter the Indians for their land. This shows he was looking out for the Indians and that if he hadn't passed this the world would be vastly different. Also when he vetoed a road making bill that wouldn't help the national defense he saved a ton of money enough to pay off the national debt, probably one of the best times in America. Also he made many spending cuts with increased revenue he gave the government a lot of money to be used to better the country.
This is why I believe Andrew Jackson was an extremely influential president.
During the 1820s and 1830s, the Jacksonian Era in America was in full swing under the leadership of Andrew Jackson. He defined what it meant to be an American and revolutionized the role of the government through his belief in the common people. First, Jackson transformed the presidency from what the Founding Fathers had originally intended; second, he delivered democracy to the people with the rise of his Democratic Party ; and third he fought to save both democracy and capitalism from the grasps of the rich elite. Through his controversial policies and actions, Jackson impacted America and charted its path toward greatness.
Andrew Jackson was born from the common people, and believed that the government was a representation of the will of the masses. After he overwhelmingly won the popular vote in the election of 1828, he went to work restructuring the White House, and left behind a huge legacy for his successors. Unlike the Founding Fathers who believed that Congress led the nation, Jackson believed that the president was the true representation of the people's will and that it was the duty of the president to provide for the well being of the citizens of America. He brought previously unknown power to the presidency through his decisions and policies regarding the Spoils System, the Indian Removal Act, and the Nullification Crisis with South Carolina. Jackson was the first, but certainly not the last, to use the spoils system, which is where he rewarded political supporters with public office. In his eyes, he was getting rid of the allegedly corrupt officeholders and replacing them with his people who would uphold his ideals of mass democracy. The Indian Removal Act, although violently controversial, was an attempt by Jackson to satisfy the wishes of the people. The residents of Georgia wanted the 5 Tribes to be removed so that America could further expand and the current situation at the time was dangerous for both Americans and Native Americans, so Jackson removed the Indians for both their own safety and to fulfill the wishes of Georgians. Although the Supreme Court had ruled that the Native Americans had the right to stay where they were, Jackson defied the ruling and ordered their removal, undoing the Constitution's system of checks and balances. Also, his actions during the Nullification Crisis with South Carolina over the Tariff of Abominations showed how desperately he wanted to save the Union and keep respect for the government. When South Carolina declared the Tariff null within its boundaries, Jackson was ready to fight the state into submission, but this ended up not being necessary since a compromise was apphrensively achieved.
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Andrew Jackson was also hugely responsible for the descent of democracy onto the common people. The Democratic party was an opportunity for the masses assemble behind Jackson and gather him the support he needed in the White House. According to historian Frederick Jackson Turner, Andrew Jackson was a hero from the western frontier who was sent to protect the people and establish their will in government. He also stated that the western spirit, not the eastern aristocracy, was the reason for the survival of the United States. Although Jackson was not a poor westerner as many believed, but rather a rich farmer and slave owner, he still fought for the rights of the common people, such as allowing free African Americans to fight alongside him in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. He gave the "common man" more say and power in government than before, forever changing the role of politics in America.
Based on his previous policies regarding the rise of the common people, it was not surprising that Jackson despised the power that the rich elite had over both capitalism and democracy. He was an ardent enemy of monopolistic banking and big businesses. When the Second Bank of the Unites States' renewal charter lay before him, he scorchingly vetoed it because he despised the enormous power it held. He believed the such institutions belittled the common man and placed power in rich capitalists rather than farmers and workers. Thus, as stated by historian Richard Hofstadter, Jackson was responsible for democratizing capitalism so the wealth could circulate the nation and be put to a greater use which would benefit the masses.
Although historians may never be able to define who Andrew Jackson really was, the effect he had on America is unarguable and strands of his presidency are still seen in modern day. His burning desire to democratize government and fight for the rights of the masses led him to achieve great successes and blaze a new, previously unknown path for America to pursue.
Amanda Jerd
Periods 3 and 6
From before the 1828 election to the America of today, Andrew Jackson has left his ambiguous stamp on many aspects of political life. Because of his experiences, Jackson influenced everyone and everything he touched while in politics– from the common man in the rural area to the aristocrat in government – he is such an important figure in American history because of the ideals he had that influenced his decisions and continues to influence people today. First, Jackson identified the corrupt bargain and introduced the spoils system; second he introduced the concept embodied in the 14th Amendment in the Battle of New Orleans; and third, he was directly affected and involved in the first mudslinging. Therefore, Jackson changed politics and history, especially in those three main incidents.
Andrew Jackson was the personification of a pioneer and the American Dream. As the first “common” president, he was supposed to protect the people. During the 1824 election, Jackson cried foul about Adams winning and Clay receiving the office of Secretary of State – Jackson named it the Corrupt Bargain and then turned around during his presidency in 1828 and practiced the spoils system he had so “hated.” The spoils system was a revolutionary idea in the early 19th century and soon became popular, so popular that it still has not died out even today. In the Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson treated African Americans equally when he hired and paid them as soldiers equally with white men. The 14th Amendment made African Americans citizens, thus giving them the right to be employed equally. However, Jackson’s actions came before this Amendment and were very radical, as he owned slaves and would initiate the Trail of Tears. His decision could arguably have been the start of subtle abolition. Today, girls in modern slavery are being giving equal opportunities at starting over as well with more and more organizations springing up to target and stop trafficking. Finally, the mudslinging between the Adams and Jackson administrations was more than just general. Attacks were continually made on both presidential candidates, but Jackson received the brunt of the personal cruelties as he and his family were made out to be monsters. Up until that point, no presidential race had included such dirty mudslinging nor had included people other than the candidate himself. This type of raucous and slanderous behavior is now typical and commonplace during elections of this day and age. He also used his veto power almost excessively and was the first truly powerful president – what the populous had feared since the Revolution. Now, the Congress has the most power but since Jackson, everyone has been vying for power like there will be no tomorrow.
Andrew Jackson – commoner, general, and revolutionary president – was the first of his kind. His policies and ideals throughout his life and term were radical and constantly debated even to this day and have impacted American life in ways he could not have imagined. From the corrupt bargain and spoils system to the effects of his Battle of New Orleans decision, life in the 19th century was greatly impacted and the reverberations are continuing today.
Politics during the 1820s through the 1840s changed in somewhat drastic ways. New ideas and political ideals spread throughout the United States with Jackson’s run for Presidency and the rise of the Whig party for the sole purpose of opposing Jackson and ripping him from office. Andrew Jackson came from Texas and made himself known as “common man” who lived as an independent pioneer of the west. His ideals and plan to run office was entirely based off of giving power to the people so they could play a significant part in their country’s future. Corruption followed Jackson closely as he strove to win the presidential election of 1824. The opposing candidates soon realized that they could not beat Jackson, this is when Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams made an arrangement that would turn Clay’s votes towards Adams, giving him a much-needed boost. However, this did not prove to be effective, much less helpful in any way and lead to the deal being called the: “Corrupt Bargain” by the Jacksonians as an example of corruption, corruption that needed to be eradicated from their government. However great the victory was over the “corrupt”, almost immediately after having entering the White House Jackson found his hands tied in the tariff issue that he had desperately tried to avoid, but in the end found that there was no other way to maintain order without initiating it. This decision was critical in keeping the states in check, however it earned him the name “King Jackson I” as a cruel tyrant over his people. Matters didn’t get any easier to handle when the question of what to do with the Indians rose. Jackson found it hard to deal with this problem, since if he couldn’t figure out what would be most beneficial to both groups, as history told, it would result in a massacre of the Indians. Finally, Jackson decided that the only thing that he could do would be to remove the Indians by escort out of the states, the cost would not only require taxes and tarnish convenience but also claim the lives of thousands of the Native Americans, old, young, and ill. To most citizens, all that Jackson had done seemed to contradict all that he had campaigned as, although Jackson’s decisions seemed to reflect badly on his past promises of greater good for the common man, when he Destroyed the Bank of the United States to end the threat of a direct and unregulated power that influenced on the economy in private interests he left the country with one dragon smote but his ruin wrecking the economy afterwards. The owner of the owner of the bank was outraged with his actions and sided with Henry Clay afterwards to hurt Jackson in any way he could. While Andrew Jackson’s career seemed harsh at times on the country, his decisions and actions are what saved many and contributed to our nation as it is today, giving power to the people is a theme that we can look back to today.
Krizelle DeGuzman
Period 1 and 4
Andrew Jackson was and has remained a very important figure in American history. The America we have today was shaped by Jackson and his work. First, Jackson was involved with the start of political mudslinging; second, the common man was very much supported by Jackson; third, Old Hickory also had a huge desire to create an equal chance economically for all. Therefore for political, social, and economic reasons Jackson’s role in our history created the modern America we know today.
The election of 1828 was kind of like a rematch to be the president between Adams and Jackson since in the election of 1824, Jackson received more votes than Adams but neither had the majority so it went to the House where Adams emerged victorious. However, during this political campaign mudslinging was a huge part of it. Compared to Adams, Jackson received most of the attacks from the mudslinging since many were personal and not only against him but his family as well. At first he was heavily criticized for his habit of dueling, gambling, and of being a murderer while he served as a general but things darkened when the Adams campaigners began to involve his wife, Rachel. They created a scandal when word was out that Jackson’s wife was still technically married to her former husband since the divorce papers hadn’t been finalized. As a result, Jackson and his wife were both accused of adultery. All that Adams was really accused of was misusing the public funds since he allegedly bought a chessboard and pool table with it. Once Jackson became the president the common man rose to the top of the American political power system. Things already began to change just from the fact that Jackson was a self-made man considering that before the presidential seat had always been taken by wealthy, educated men. Under Jackson, policies that favored the common man (which consisted mostly of farmers) were also favored by Jackson. Also supported by Old Hickory were the low tariffs and opening more land in the West for farming. Lastly Jackson believed that the Bank of the United States wasn’t giving an equal economic opportunity for everyone since the Bank gave privileges to the financial elites which obviously broke the principle of social equality. In his eyes the Bank was the symbol of the privileged class suppressing the will of the people. As a result the Bank was strongly opposed and distrusted by him. The Bank’s constitutionality was even questioned by him. When it was time to renew the charter for the BUS (Bank of the United States), the charter was vetoed by Jackson. The Bank War later broke out against Jackson and Biddle, the President of the BUS, when Jackson removed all the funds from the Bank and redistributed the money to smaller banks that became known as “pet banks”. Eventually Old Hickory won the war over the Bank of the United States and came out unscathed. Jackson’s political, social, and economic decisions as president shaped the modern America we have today.
Annika Newman
Periods 1 & 4
(I know it's not complete, I will "redo" it/complete it as soon as possible.)
Throughout the Jacksonian Era in the 1820’s and 1830’s, many new concepts and ideas were introduced that greatly affected the future of the United States. Andrew Jackson was an advocate for equality throughout the nation, protecting the rights of Americans and providing equal economic opportunity. First, Jackson extensively renovated the role of the previously passive political campaigning; second, Andrew Jackson’s strong views on equality for “common man” during the Jacksonian Era helped to create a more democratic government that would linger for the entire history of the nation; and thirdly, Jackson’s unique and ineffective financial decisions, including the termination of the Second Bank of the United States, had a titanic impact on the economics of the country for years to come. Thus, Andrew Jackson’s distinguished presidency enormously altered the future of the United States for political, social, and economic reasons.
Beginning even before the start of his presidency, Andrew Jackson was excessively involved in what is known today as “modern campaigning.” In the election of 1824, Jackson was exposed to harsh political campaigning, otherwise known as bare-knuckle politics, in which Jackson was accused of being the son of a prostitute, and Adams was accused of being a pimp for the Tsar of Russia. This election was just the beginning of unnecessary, offensive accusations in the form of political mudslinging. In the election of 1828, further extraneous comments and blatantly insulting charges were introduced, which would continue for centuries to come. Therefore, the aggressive campaigning taking place in modern politics originally emerged in the time of Andrew Jackson.
Andrew Jackson, a military man and commoner, became president in 1828 and left office in 1836. Jackson revolutionized what it meant to be president, and the nation changed more in those 8 years than the prior 40+ years it had been a nation under the constitution, and had, most importantly 3 radical changes and policies that changed the nation. First, Jackson economically changed the landscape of America by getting rid of the bank, and, even more importantly, distributing the federal funds to "pet banks"; second, politically Jackson "dethroned" the established eastern aristocracy and showed that in America it was not what family you were born into, it was how hard you worked; thirdly, socially Jackson enormously changed the nation by flipping the class system upside down and giving the power to the "common man." Therefore, because of the economic, political and social reasons Jackson radically shifted what it meant to be president, and changed America dramatically.
Economically, Jackson hugely changed America by "killing" the monopolistic bank and putting the funds into pet banks. Jackson battled the bank by vetoing their bill for re-chartering; also Jackson shifted all of the federal money into many "pet banks." By doing this Jackson set a precedence of the government protecting the people from economic troubles. This act also showed that Jackson supported the capitalist system which encouraged equality by distributing the federal funds to multiple pet banks.
Politically, Jackson shifted the nature of politics at this time by showing that the established eastern aristocracy was not the only one who could become president, and that the common people had more power than the rich elites. Jackson defeated Adams, part of a rich elite family (and, son of previous president John Adams, and, on top of that, the previous president), in the dirtiest campaign in history up to this point. Jackson showed that it was true that anyone could go anywhere in America, and all they needed was hard work and heart. It shows a lot about the nature of the campaign; the fact that all the other politicians were “mud-slinging” at Jackson, in a futile attempt to somehow affect his reputation and character. It also shows that these established politicians did not respect Jackson, since he was a common and self- made man, which shows a lot about Jackson’s character, being able to continue with the elections, in spite of the fact that he was not respected by his colleagues.
Socially, Jackson entirely shifted the social scene, by showing what we know call the American spirit and dream. Jackson was born into a poor family, and fought and clawed his way to the top spot. This showed that in America you could go from dirt poor family to the most important and prestigious position in America. This, more importantly, showed that the common people had power and did not have to be oppressed by the upper class, that they had a voice and could move up in the social rankings. This affected the country in so many ways and made the industrial revolution possible.
Jackson is arguably the most important president ever, because in his two terms he made more changes to the fabric of America than any president ever. Economically he killed the monopolistic bank and put the money into pet banks, which guarded the economic rights of the people. Socially, Jackson turned the class system upside down and gave the power to the common people and showed that you did not need to be born into wealth and prestige in order to be wealthy or prestigious. Politically, Jackson changed what it meant to be a politician and showed that politicians were not just limited to the elites. Therefore, because of these reasons Jackson revolutionized the nation.
Tristan Mauricio
Periods 1&6
In the late 1820's and throughout the 1830's Democracy itself would transform into what we know it as today. A man by the name of Andrew Jackson would become the President and the Political and Social aspects of the United States would become something that even the Founding Fathers were not expecting, a time where the people would be more involved in the Government. Andrew Jackson was the first President to have come from the West from a humble background, so he knew that the people should always come first; Jackson was seen as a National Hero, second to George Washington, appealing to the People to reinvent the role of the President and even expanding it; and lastly with almost everything going wrong during his Presidency he realized that there was no room for error. Andrew Jackson was indeed a great President, although his choices were questionable at times he would change this Country in almost every way possible.
Growing up on the frontier and born to a poor Irish family, he understood what struggles the people that lived on the frontier faced and what it meant to be one of the people. Andrew Jackson was seen as the first President from the West since he was the First President that was born West of the Appalachian Mountains. He was a true believer in Democracy and believed that everyone despite their socail class, should have a say in their government and would continue to fight for that belief. Perhaps his greatest feat as a President came when he destroyed the Second Natioanl Bank of the United States. He realized what the Bank was doing to the Common American and would not rest until he saw the demise of it. He lost many supporters in the Upper Class but he made it clear that he supported the people.
After he was orphaned at the young age of 17 he would become an irregular soldier in the Revolutionary War and would rise through the Ranks to become the Commander of the United States forces at the Battle of New Orleans which would make him a household name. At New Orleans he would do something that was unheard of, he recruited Black soldiers and pay them as much as his White soldiers which would spread his name through the States. His popularity was greatly intensified after his campaign through the swampy Florida where he would suppress the Native American Revolt and would drive the Spanish out of Florida which the Government had been long awaiting.
Despite all of the popularity he had gained during his lifetime the United States he would be faced with the pressing issue of the era, later known as the Jacksonian Era, with many Americans unhappy about how the government was being run, the major issue with the threat of seccession from South Carolina, and have to carefully make decisions with his opponents in Congress bearing down on his every move. He was strongly disliked by some and would even have an assasination attempt on his life. At the same time he would have to deal with the National Debt which simply would not go away. However despite all of the odds standing against him he would overcome all of these challenges and would become one of the Greatest Presidents would fought for the people. He was the first Modern President, the first President that relied on the people to get things done instead of the rich policitians and businessmen. During his Presidency he would transform the aspects of Democracy that would reshape American Politics and Democracy into what we have today.
Andrew Jackson, a primary figure in shaping out modern day America, had many great accomplishments within his two terms as president. He was easily re-elected for his second term because people loved what he had done. Though the things he did were many, three of them were first, his part in the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans; second, his absolute hatred of the idea of having a National Bank; third, his Indian Removal Act was a big thing for the American’s at the time.
Jackson saw the National Bank as a dangerous threat to the United States. One reason that was stated in Jacksons’ veto message was that the National Bank gave too much power to Congress. Jackson was believed that the National Bank, at the expense of the common laborers and farmers, benefitted only the “elite circle” of the rich and makes them richer. When Jackson finally took the Bank out, he started the snowball effect that became a financial crisis for the United States. Inflation quickly settled in the U.S. and as an effort to reduce this, Jackson issued the Specie Circular. What this was, was that the banks that had buyers that had government land to pay, had to pay in only gold or silver. This only crippled most states banks. To solve this, New York City banks would only accept payment in gold or silver which resulted in a huge push back on inflation.
The Indian Removal Act of 1839 was very important at this time. Jackson purposed to the Natives by offering them freedom from the states laws, governmental protection throughout the removal, and ultimately, he gave them the option to save their own lives. In Jacksons Message to Congress, he said that if the Native Americans were to stay, they would be digging their own grave because Jackson tells them that staying means their ultimate destruction. The Indian Removal Act was not very popular in the Northern U.S., but in the South, where population and finding gold was growing rapidly, people wanted this most at the time period. In an 1832 court case, Georgia was not allowed to have its laws act upon Cherokee tribal lands. Jackson used this issue to pressure the Cherokee into agreeing to leave. Despite the fact that over 15,000 Cherokee’s signed a petition to repeal the Removal Act, the Supreme Court did not allow it and sent 7,000 troops to take the Cherokee’s and move them out further out west. The Indian Removal Acts’ nickname, Trail of Tears, is well fitted as more than 4,000 Cherokees died on the westward movement. In all, the total count of Native Americans pushed out further west exceeded 45,000.
Prior to Jackson’s presidency, he was appointed as a commander of the Tennessee militia in 1801. In what was called the Fort Mims Massacre, four hundred white settlers were killed but the Red Stick Creek Indians in the War of 1812. In the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Jackson defeated more that 5,000 Red Stick Creek Indians. In the Battlefield, Jackson earned his nickname as people said he was as tough as “Old Hickory” wood. At the end of the Battle the Orleans, Jackson had defeated the British, whose number was over 7,500, with 5,000 Americans. British had amounted to “2,037 casualties: 291 dead (including three senior generals), 1,262 wounded, and 484 captured or missing. The Americans had 71 casualties: 13 dead, 39 wounded, and 19 missing.[10]”
Bibliography
http://askville.amazon.com/Andrew-Jackson-famous/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=26460730
Andrew Jackson took helm of the United States of America in 1828 and his administration transformed America in innumerable ways. The Jackson administration was omnipotent in shaping the American government and culture that surrounds it. The American government and its culture is defined by Andrew Jacksons adoption of the Spoils System; his catering of politics to the common man; and his expansion of executive power set future precedents for presidents to follow.The Jackson legacy has forever changed the political landscape and American identity.
When Andrew Jackson assumed the office of president the political dynamic was shifting in America and Andrew Jackson capitalized on it. The Spoils System was a creation of Andrew Jackson it entails that loyal partisans will be rewarded government jobs thus discarding the merit based system of delegating jobs. This shift in how government jobs are distributed is a direct effect of Jackson’s push for mass democracy because the system was supposed to clear out the aristocratic bureaucrats and allow the common man to enter the ring the politics.In reality this system profoundly changed how politcs operates in Washington D.C because the politicans are being evaluated on their level partisan loyalty and this creates a conflict of interest because the interst’s of politcal organzation, which has the power to determine a politcians career, will supercede the interest of the people. This system Jackson introduced hijacked the rights of the people because the people in Washington are no longer working for them but rather their respective parties. This expansion of democracy in America is a thinly veiled power grab by the political parties because it plays on the expedience politicians and knowing this parties can bribe its members with higher office positions thus drowning out the peoples voice. The Jackson administration changed the dynamic of the government and created a system that breeds corruption and bribery.
The election of 1824 was the last aristocratic and elitist election and the introduction of the common man into politics by Andrew Jackson will uproot the current system. Andrew Jackson introduced the common man to politics by focusing on his campaigning in the west rather in the elitist east. This expansion of the voter base was detrimental to American political system because politics now has to brought to down to the lowest common denominator in order to gain votes from uneducated masses. A large uneducated voter base is a breeding
ground for mudslinging politics because masses are unable to discern the truth from lies. This demeans politics and allows for non pertinent arguments about other candidates to be spread because thats what the voting base wants to here. A prime example of this is in the election 1828, in which John Quincy Adams was accused of being a pimp to the Tsar of Russia and Andrew Jackson was accused of being a son of a prostitute. Both these claims were false but this shows that the first election with common man involved was nasty only proving the point even more that introduction of the common man demeaned politics. Andrew Jackson will have a legacy of spreading politics to common man he also will be father of mudslinging political elections that will plague our nation’s history.
The scope of executive power under the Jackson administration exponentially grew. Andrew Jackson championed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which relocates the 5 civilized indian tribes to Oklahoma but the Supreme Court ruled that these tribes could stay on their land and unfortunately Jackson disregarded Marshall’s decision. This violation of the checks and balances is the first of its kind. Andrew Jackson disregarding the Supreme Court ruling only empowers the presidency more because it shows that president can circumvent power structure established and shows that even though the Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal it lacks the ability to support its rulings. Andrew Jackson’s actions as president will plant the seeds for stronger president and more centralized power structure. Andrew Jackson’s legacy forever changed how the government operates and the political dynamics that the government is based on.
Annika Newman
Periods 1 & 4
Throughout the Jacksonian Era in the 1820’s and 1830’s, many new concepts and ideas were introduced that greatly affected the future of the United States. Andrew Jackson was an advocate for equality throughout the nation, protecting the rights of Americans and providing equal economic opportunity. First, Jackson extensively renovated the role of the previously passive political campaigning; second, Andrew Jackson’s strong views on equality for “common man” during the Jacksonian Era helped to create a more democratic government that would linger for the entire history of the nation; and thirdly, Jackson’s unique and ineffective financial decisions, including the termination of the Bank of the United States, had a titanic impact on the economics of the country for years to come. Thus, Andrew Jackson’s distinguished presidency enormously altered the future of the United States for political, social, and economic reasons.
Beginning even before the start of his presidency, Andrew Jackson was excessively involved in what is known today as “modern campaigning.” In the election of 1824, Jackson was exposed to harsh political campaigning, otherwise known as bare-knuckle politics, in which Jackson was accused of being the son of a prostitute, and Adams was accused of being a pimp for the Tsar of Russia. This election was just the beginning of unnecessary, offensive accusations in the form of political mudslinging. In the election of 1828, further extraneous comments and blatantly insulting charges were introduced, which would continue for centuries to come. Therefore, the aggressive campaigning taking place in modern politics originally emerged in the time of Andrew Jackson.
Andrew Jackson was seen as an advocate for equality amongst the “common people” as he worked hard to provide equal opportunities and protect the unalienable rights given to the people. He believed that wealthy, white men should not be the only people to have a say in political affairs. Thus, Jackson fought tooth and nail to make the general population’s voices be heard. In response to his desire for equality throughout the nation, Jackson passed several acts and policies, such as opening up the White House to the general public, forming a political party known as the Whig party, and passing the Spoils System. The Spoils System replaced the previously appointed government officials with those who belonged to his own political party. By doing so, he was expanding his equality beliefs by placing more democratic officials in office, aiding his in his quest to spread equality throughout the United States. Democracy was therefore expanded, permitting the average, non-wealthy people to have an equal say in political affairs.
Although Andrew Jackson was seen in a positive light regarding social and political issues, some of his economic decisions were less than satisfactory. Jackson greatly opposed the First Bank of the United States that George Washington had originally set up in the formation of the nation. With opposition from his financial rival Nicholas Biddle, Jackson terminated the First Bank of the United States, replacing it with the Second Bank of the United States. Under this new system, economic opportunity expanded immensely for the common man, allowing the average person to engage in economic affairs along with the wealthy. Although this monumental economic decision had a titanic impact on the financial opportunities for many people, it had a hugely negative effect on the nation’s economic state. The United States’ economy plummeted under Martin Van Buren, resulting in the terrible Panic of 1837. Andrew Jackson’s controversial financial strategies left the country with much economic insecurity and instability, which would last for centuries to come.
(continued...)
Andrew Jackson, otherwise known as Old Hickory, is one of the most influential presidents in the early history of the United States. He laid down the foundation of equal opportunity in political, social, and economic affairs, which led to an expansion boom regarding democracy in the nation. Though he did not make all the right decisions in respect to the nation’s economy, he provided the people with equal rights, a concept that the United States holds very dear even today. The elections of 1824 and 1828 forever changed the mannerism in which political campaigning was brought about, with harsh mudslinging and bare-knuckle politics lasting for the rest of country’s history. Andrew Jackson’s presidency was utterly monumental, altering the entire future of the United States.
Andrew Jackson and his policies had a massive effect on America and how the government worked. First, Jacksons vested interest in the common man and the introduction of common man politics; second, his assistance in forming the democratic party; third, his opening of the frontier. Jackson’s contribution to America likely surpassed all of the presidents before him.
When Jackson first ran for president, he won the popular vote with a certainty. However, he was running against four other candidates, and they all grabbed a handful of states. Making no candidates able to reach the required number of electoral college votes. This is where the “corrupt bargain” comes from. Where John Q. Adams allegedly bribed Henry clay to persuade the house ( The house chooses who will be president if none of the candidates win the electoral college count) to elect him president. Which Clay did. Now having four more years to campaign, Jackson did not spend most of his time in the east, appealing to the rich. He was out west, teaching the individualists about what went on in big city politics. Mainly the “corrupt bargain” and how he should have been president. This reaped many rewards as Jackson dominated in the following election, in both the popular vote and the electoral college. This forever changed American politics. As candidates now were forced to travel to the out west to the common man and appeal to him if they wished to win presidency. The common man would be the “elites” downfall, all because of Jackson.
When Jackson was running against Q. Adams, both were Democratic-Republicans, as well as the two other candidates. While touring the west, Jackson was rallying supporters to his cause. Known as the Jacksonians, or later to be called Democrats. The democrats have a long and rich history. They have been known as the tolerant ones in American politics and the ones that leave a persons personal choices up to themselves. The Democrats would be the longest standing political party to date. However there will be always be a yin to a yang, and Jackson’s was the Whig party. Defying Jackson’s kinglike tendencies, the Whigs would eventually evolve into the Republicans. Giving us our two major parties for almost all of American history. Jackson’s desire for a small government and everyman’s best interests are reflected in his party and its pursuits. Looking back on it...Republicans owe their very creation to the man who created the democrats. Very Ironic.
Studying Jackson’s time and what he did has made me realize something. My generation (arguably the worst generation ever) has no frontier. This was not the case for kids my age back in 1830. Jackson was able to convince congress to pass the indian removal act. Which allowed Jackson to forcefully remove indians from their lands but he had to pay for their trip and their houses when they arrived at their destination. While I don’t agree entirely with the act, it did open the west for Americans to explore and develop. Children my age had the choice to go and travel vast expanses of beautiful land and basically start their own lives separate from everything else. Yes, there was the disadvantage of having the big cities so far away, but those pioneers built their own cities. Andrew Jackson built this individualistic thinking that became synonymous to American character. We still claim to be the frontier-men that our great-great grandfathers were. Still griping tightly to that idea about us, I wonder how long America will hold onto that precious part of our identity.
Our very nature was given to us by Andrew Jackson on a silver platter. Making his contribution to America greater than all those before him.
The Era of Andrew Jacksons presidency was a major turning point in American political history and would help shape the future of the country. Opinions of him fluctuate rapidly, he was known as a war hero by his supporters and he was called a tyrant or king by some. However the case he represented a major turning point in American politics and had a profound effect on American history. Firstly, he was a major representative of modern democracy by bringing the power to the people for future generations; Secondly he destroyed the American banking system allowing room for a new national bank that would forever change the American economy; Thirdly he helped advance the rights of many people around the nation. Therefore for political, economic, and social reasons Andrew Jackson was a major constituent of American History.
Andrew Jackson was a man of the people, and he reflected this in his presidency. He believed that he was an avatar of the people, and as such he represented them. During his time as president he brought the general populace into politics, his election brought about doubling the total amount of voters from the previous election, up to a million. His speeches were riveting and he was loved by the population, so much so that upon his election the white house was stormed with excited voters. He showed the population that their involvement in the government was important, and instated their right as a true part of the system. Without his presidency the nation may never have fully accepted their rights as part of the republic.
Andrew Jackson was a southerner. He believed in a small government and supported state governments, however over his term as President Andrew Jackson stretched the total power of the president and his administration by many degrees. He used his power of veto commonly, so much so that he vetoed more bills than all the presidents before him combined. Jackson distrusted banks in general and despised the Second National Bank because it maintained a monopoly of all the income brought in the entirety of the nation, and could do so as it pleased. In fact with this power it was quite corrupt as it controlled the pockets of every politician and all their actions. Although he disliked it he feared stopping the bank as it could create a financial panic that could disrupt the fragile nation. When he refused to sign the chartering act and permanently closing the banks doors he created a shockwave that crashed during the presidency of his supporter and friend Martin Van Buren into economic depression.
Jackson was a proponent of the people, and he believed in helping advance equality in people together in the nation. During his time as a general he was among the first to not only enlist black recruits, but to treat them fairly and pay them equally. Andrew Jackson’s most notable act of social rights was the creation of the Indian removal act. The south was incredible hostile and incessantly continued to plow westward in search of land to be used for their crops. However as the Native Americans crossed and prevented their movement the south grew angry. They championed the ideas of the removal of the Indians, and they grew increasingly violent and destructive to the natives and their land. In an attempt to not only peacefully reunite his nation, but also protect the Native Americans he offered to move many natives westward to Oklahoma. Although many would die and suffer on the way Jackson believed he had done the best for the natives and his nation. This is because the southerners had no problem removing the natives forcibly and taking their land with guns and violence. In the end he gained support and saved the lives of thousands of lives, both the natives and the Americans.
During the presidency of Andrew Jackson in the early nineteenth century, the United States went through many significant changes that would define it on the world stage. Many of these changes originated from the innovative mind of Andrew Jackson, who supported equal opportunity, the “common man,” and popular democracy. First, Jackson’s philosophy determined his economic policies which eventually terminated the Second Bank of the United States; second, his run for the White House in the elections of 1824 and 1828 gave rise to modern political campaigning and the era of the common man; lastly, increased democracy and Jackson’s Indian Removal Policy were important social transformations during his two terms. Thus, Andrew Jackson’s decisions changed economic, political, and social aspects of nineteenth century America.
Jackson’s economic decisions heavily reflected his support for the common man, and this was seen in his opposition to the First Bank of the United States. Since monopolies like the bank limited economic opportunity to primarily the country's elite, Jackson fought to see them dismantled. Also, his financial rival Nicolas Biddle, who held immense power over the nation's financial affairs as head of the bank, convinced Jackson to terminate it. Thus, in 1833, Jackson began removing federal deposits and funds to run the bank dry. But the bank did not die easily, as opposition from Jackson's cabinet and financial crisis resulted from the harsh economic decisions. Now that the centralized bank of the United States was finished, a financial vacuum was left for state institutions or "pet banks" to fill the void. This caused a cycle of short economic booms, but Jackson's authorization of the Specie Circular issued by the Treasury halted the boom. The financial panic of 1837 occurred, and was left for the next president to deal with. Andrew Jackson's controversial financial decisions left the country with economic insecurity and instability, which persisted for decades to come.
As Andrew Jackson fought for the presidency in 1824 and 1828, a new form of political campaigning emerged as he preached popular democracy. Known as "modern political campaigning," Jackson’s opponents and supporters used “bare-knuckle politics” in the form of offensive accusations, insulting charges, and extraneous comments. In the election of 1824, Jackson was accused of being the son of a prostitute, and Adams was accused of being a pimp for the Tsar of Russia. Such aggressive campaigning introduced in the Jackson era would continue for centuries to come, and Jackson’s support of popular democracy would change American politics. Especially when it came to the election, politicians would look more towards appealing to the “common man” and the majority, with less emphasis on Eastern elites. Jackson ushered in this change, and in many ways he helped fulfill the purpose of the American government: to represent the people.
(Continued)
The era of the common man brought many social changes, and Jackson’s decisions greatly reflected the will of the majority. In the election of 1828, he won by an overwhelming popular margin because people wanted a man who reflected their ideals. Jackson then reaffirmed the belief that he was the candidate who understood the common man, that he was a common man himself, and that he would support what they wanted. An example of Jackson supporting popular decision, and not necessarily what was right, was the Indian Removal Act in 1839. Reflecting the majority of white men in primarily the South, Jackson ordered the removal of 100,000 Native Americans to Oklahoma Territory. This decision was based on the argument that the Native Americans would face inevitable destruction unless re-located, due to white expansion on the frontier. However, the policy was unconstitutional and unfair even though it represented popular opinion. Thus, Andrew Jackson represented the majority of the American people, raising them to a more legitimate voice in politics and society.
Andrew Jackson made his mark on American history, and his character and transformations for the country will always be remembered. Economically, he killed the monopolistic bank to give more opportunity to entrepreneurs and plutocrats, and less power for Eastern elites. Politically, Jackson unintentionally established modern political campaigning and he represented his beliefs to institute the era of the common man. Socially, he represented the majority of Americans through increased democracy and the Indian Removal Policy of 1839. Therefore, Andrew Jackson revolutionized America by representing equal opportunity, the “common man,” and popular democracy through his character and decisions.
Brynn Villa
Period 1 & 4
During the time of 1829 to 1837 a young man named Andrew Jackson was President. When looked back in history, this presidency is often not discussed as much because nothing “great” really happened, until recently. Jackson was president during a time in which there was social; political; and economical conflict. What is really important is how Jackson took care of the situations.
During this time, the people were struggling with money. More specifically, business people, poor farmers, noncapitalists, and laborers were struggling with finances and providing for their families. Many people were being put out of business and one of the main reasons for this was because of the new Bank of the United States. At this time e Bank of the Unites States was taking people’s money and causing them to go broke, pleasing only the government. So Jackson and the Jacksonians attacked the bank. According to Sean Wilentz, artisans and many others were put out of business and when Jackson attacked the bank it caused them to form an allegiance. So Jackson made an impact on the people’s lives economically and helped them to become stable. However this did not get the rest of the government to become his fans as well as the people were. Many of them were upset about what happened with the bank while others believed it was the right thing to do for the people’s sake.
Socially, according to Marvin Meyers, Jackson and the Jacksonians were conservative capitalists torn between fierce commercial ambitions and a desire to the virtues of agrarian past. The Jacksonians always had it at heart, like Jackson, to do the right thing for the people and caring for the people so they were torn between keeping things the way they had been or to have larger jobs. Politically the Jacksonians were seen as not a rejection of capitalism but a time of extreme effort from aspiring entrepreneurs. This is another way of saying that they were hard workers. Just as Jackson dedicated himself to the people, the Jacksoninas dedicated themselves to Jackson. Many would say that Jackson’s presidency wasn’t a very successful or “good” presidency. However others would say that Jackson was a great president that always put the people above himself and who cared for his country very much. Andrew Jackson did serve in the army to protect his country and not many presidents took this risk.
Jackson’s past is also crucial to know about him to say how important he is. Jackson was raised with a single mother because his father passed away shortly after he was born. Jackson and his brother got really sick and his mother was able to nurse Jackson to health but not his brother. His mother then went over seas with the prison men and she would care for the sickly. Sadly she cared for them til her death. She got sick and died. As Jackson grew a little older, he got arrested for not kneeling before a soldier and has a scar from where the redcoat beat him. People kept spreading rumors of how his mother was a prostitute though she wasn’t. This frustrated him but he did not act upon his frustration. For the reason of the rumors, many people did not like him. However he knew the truth and who he was and stayed true to himself and never stooped down to their level. So yes President Jackson was a successful man even if he wasn’t a successful president.
The Jackson people, who became the Democratic party, were well organized for the election of 1828. The Democrats appealed to sectional self-interest and pioneered the art of making politics exciting to the average man, but the greatest asset the Democrats had was Jackson himself. Rigid and forceful, Jackson was accepted as a true man of the people, and he defeated Adams easily, especially in the slaveholding states. Jackson’s triumph was a personal one; he stood on no political platform. As President, he democratized the office by firing at will whatever officeholders he did not like, defending the practice by asserting the right of all men to a government post. Jackson inherited the Indian removal policy from previous administrations but carried it to its harshest conclusion. He urged Congress to speed up the relocation of the Indians living east of the Mississippi, and when the Cherokees resisted, Jackson sent the army in 1830 to evict them from their homes and herd them over the Mississippi. Some 4,000 Cherokees died along that “Trail of Tears.” One of the first major controversies between federal authority and states’‘ rights came when South Carolina objected to the high tariff of 1828. When in 1832 a new tariff was passed, South Carolina, still unhappy with the rates, nullified it. Jackson responded by threatening to send the army into South Carolina. Both sides eventually retreated; South Carolina got a lower tariff, but Jackson had demonstrated the will of the federal government to rule the states, by force if necessary.
One of the most important actions taken by Jackson was his destruction of the Bank of the United States. “The Bank War” was a symbolic defense of democratic values and led to two important results, economic disruption and a two-party system. Although the Bank of the United States contributed to the economic growth and stability of the United States, it had never been very popular. In a democratic era, it was open to charges of giving special privileges to a few. Its manager, Nicholas Biddle, was a competent man who looked and behaved like an aristocrat. Also, in an era of rising democracy, the Bank possessed great power and privilege without accountability to the public. Jackson came into office suspecting the Bank of the United States and made vague threats against it. Biddle overreacted and asked Congress to recharter the Bank in 1832, four years before the old charter was due to expire. Henry Clay took up the Bank’s cause, hoping that congressional approval of the Bank would embarrass Jackson. When Congress passed the new charter, Jackson vetoed it on the grounds that the Bank was unconstitutional, despite a Supreme Court decision to the contrary. Jackson claimed he vetoed the Bank charter because it violated equality of opportunity and Congress upheld the veto. Jackson showed his opponents no mercy and proceeded to destroy the Bank by withdrawing the government’s money and depositing it into selected state banks (the “pet banks”). Jackson lost support in Congress, especially in the Senate, where fears of a dictatorship began to emerge. The Democratic party was also weakened by the defection of working-class spokesmen who criticized Jackson for not destroying all banks. Furthermore, Jackson’s financial policies led to a runaway inflation, followed by an abrupt depression. Jackson also influenced so many further presidents. For example, in the incident with South Carolina where SC wanted to secede, Jackson issues the Doctrine of Nullification and was ready to use military force to keep them in the union. this has influenced future presidents like Lincoln to preserve the union. Also, Jackson was one of the first presidents truly for the common man. He was the first president to be voted in by the common man.
Bella Crosson
Periods 1&4
From before the election of 1828 to present day America, Andrew Jackson has left his indistinct mark on the political world. Jackson touched many different people – everyone from the common man to the rich men in power. His ideals and influence made him the important figure he is revered as today. First, he was involved in the first “mudslinging”; second, he identified the corrupt bargain and introduced the spoils system; and third, Andrew Jackson exemplified a key 14th Amendment concept in the Battle of New Orleans. Therefore, Andrew Jackson changed the thought of history and politics over the course of his life, especially in these three cases.
The mudslinging that occurred between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson was extraordinary. Both parties were continuously throwing insults at the other, with Jackson taking the full impact of these cruelties. Both him and his family were made out to be a dysfunctional family filled with monsters. This was the first presidential election that was involved with such an amount of mudslinging, and also was the first to include other people other than the candidate himself. This, unfortunately, has become a common practice in the elections of today. Jackson was also the first president to frequently use the power of a veto, and also was the first majorly powerful president. And to this day, Congress is control of the most power, but the struggle to gain more is still very present.
Being the first “common” president, Andrew Jackson was an example of a simple man rising to power and achieving the American Dream. During the famous Election of 1824, Jackson and his followers were outraged at the outcome of John Quincy Adams winning, with Henry Clay as his secretary of state, calling it the Corrupt Bargain. After winning the presidential election in 1828, he turned around and practiced the spoils system that he had once claimed to hate. The Spoils System was an early 19th century ground-breaking idea that became very popular very quick, and it is still referred to today.
The 14th Amendment declares that African Americans are citizens, and this gives them the right to be employed with the same courtesy and whites. In the great Battle of New Orleans, this was exemplified when Jackson showed equality among hiring both black and white soldiers, giving them the same benefits and pay. Unfortunately, these actions were pronounced radical and later on almost hypocritical, he himself owned black slaves and was the one who commenced the removal of the Cherokee Natives in the Trail of Tears.
Andrew Jackson greatly impacted American politics and history. He was involved with the first mudslinging, introduced the spoils system and identified the corrupt bargain, and he introduced the concepts written in the 14th Amendment. He was the perfect example of the common man – the first of his kind. His principles and standards are still being talked over and debated to this day, for he could not have dreamed how deeply he could have affected the United States of America.
In the early decades of the nineteenth century, Jacksonian democracy swept across the country during the Era of the Common Man. Andrew Jackson’s presidency marked a turning point in American history in which the nation’s politics deviated sharply from the east coast tradition of the past. Firstly, Jackson can be singled out as the man that introduced politics to the people, bringing about mass democracy; Secondly, he vested the majority of political power in the presidency through his controversial and daring plans; Thirdly, his ruthless defeat of the Second National Bank symbolically depicted the death of the wealthy elite’s stranglehold on government. Though ambiguous to say the least, Andrew Jackson revolutionized American politics, creating a legacy that strongly permeates our current governmental system.
Despite his loss in the presidential election of 1824, the Corrupt Bargain actually had positive effects for Jackson in the long run, for in the following election he won by a landslide. For the common citizen of America, Andrew Jackson thoroughly embodied the down to earth and relatable candidate who truly believed that the government ought to revolve around the people. This was in stark contrast to the parade of past presidents that streamed out of Virginia with the mindset that government was to hold the people at arm’s length. 1828 designated the end of aristocratic American government. Following this line of thought, it could be argued that through his crusade to truly bring politics to the people, Andrew Jackson perfectly personified democracy, making him the first president to truly embrace the intentions of the Constitution.
While Andrew Jackson as a whole is inarguably heralded as one of the most influential presidents to have sat in the White House, when considering his individual actions, the picture becomes blurred. His singular vision drove him to effect the change he saw as necessary, even if that meant ignoring some of the instituted checks and balances that are the hallmark of our government. With the Nullification Crisis of 1832, Jackson was willing to engage in violence if that meant the preservation of the Union, thus displaying the supremacy of the president over the individual governments of the states. Additionally, he ignored the legal decision of the Supreme Court with the enacting of his Indian Removal policies, showing that he would go to any lengths to ensure the will of the people was carried out. This novel idea that the president was responsible to the people carries over into modern day America.
Perhaps the defining event of his presidency, Jackson’s bitter battle over Biddle’s Second National Bank determined once and for all whether or not the Eastern elite would continue to be the domineering force in American government. According to historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., the Jacksonian era was characterized by the hostile conflict between the working class citizen and the plutocrat of the eastern establishment. The Bank symbolizes everything that was wrong with the past elite form of government as it operated dangerously outside of the democratic scope with Nicholas Biddle singularly pulling the strings of the national economy. This ironic twist of Jackson, who has assumed a great deal of presidential power, viciously defeating an institution that had gained too much control, displays his perseverance on behalf of the good of the people.
Though not entirely the hero, Andrew Jackson changed the course of American history forever. His tireless efforts to ensure that the country benefitted the people created a new age of politics that has endured until this day.
Ryan Volkman
During the early 19th Century, Andrew Jackson made a huge impact on Americas History and had a huge part in shaping America into what it is today. He did things that other people, if elected to president, would not do. First, he armed free-blacks in New Orleans agensed the Brittish, making the 14th Amendment; Second, he forced thousands of Native Americans to leave their homes and relocate, causing the Trail of Tears; Third, he wanted to get rid of the central banks. Therefore, because of these social, political, and economical examples Andrew Jacksons impact on Americas history and future was great.
During the Battle of New Orleans agensed the Brittish, General Andrew Jackson needed more men to help with the fight in order for them to have a chance of winning the battle. What he decided on doing was help make the 14th Amendment. This Amendment made it possible that freed-Black slaves could become citizens so they were able to fight agensed the Brittish and be paid as much as the White men were. Andrew Jackson was one of the very first people to allow Blacks into the army, as well as treating the free-Blacks equally and pay them just as much as he would the Whites. Even though he helped make the 14th Amendment he was still a slave owner.
In 1839 Andrew Jackson started the Indian Removal act, where he forced 45,000 Native Americans to leave their homes and move to the western frontier. When Andrew Jackson gave his speech to Congress to get his act approved, he said that he was saving the lives of the Native Americans from the Southerners who were going to try and take their land, and bring them to extinction. Many of the Cherokee people signd a petition to try and get this cruel act repealed, but it didn’t work. Instead of saving lives with his act, Andrew Jackson forced the Cherokee, and lots of other tribes, out of their land with American troops, and forced them on the Trail of Tears, 5,000 of them ended up dying.
Andrew Jackson did not like the central bank because it favored the richer people that lived in the East as well as being controlled by them. The controllers of the banks also were politically agensed what Andrew Jackson was for. Also the banks didn’t help the people that lived in the Western part of the countrie. What Andrew Jackson did was pull the government fedral deposits from the central banks and spread it out between others. This is what started the spoils system which became so popular in politics that it is still used even today.
Annelise Rank
Periods 1&4
What Was Jacksonian Democracy? and explain why it is that Jackson is so important to American History. Compose this response as a summation of everything you believe is crucial to know and understand (knowing a fact is different than understanding its importance) about Andrew Jackson and his impact on American History
While there are many varying viewpoints of the term “Jacksonian Democracy”, it can be stated that it does refer to the time period in which Andrew Jackson and the Democratic party rose to power. A more loose interpretation of the term “Jacksonian Democracy” would include a wide range of accomplishments for the common man and the country as a whole, as well as contradictions surrounding slavery and the treatment of Native Americans.
In the election of 1824, Jackson lost his bid for the presidency in a very unusual set of circumstances. He ran against three other candidates who all, along with him, professed to be “Republicans.” John Quincy Adams (Massachusetts), Henry Clay (Kentucky) and William Crawford (Georgia). There wasn’t a real organized party, evidenced by the fact that the same vice-presidential candidate, John Calhoun, appeared as the running mate for both Adams and Jackson.
Jackson had the most electoral votes and he also won the popular vote, however he did not have a majority. Therefore, as provided by the Twelfth Amendment, the deadlock would be decided by the House of Representatives who would choose between the top three candidates. This was a crucial twist in American history as it was the first and only time this has ever happened.
Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House and he had received the least amount of votes, so he was automatically eliminated. However, as Speaker of the House, he did have a lot of power and he would use that power to secure the position for the candidate of his choice. Since Clay really did not like Jackson and since Crawford had been debilitated by a stroke, Clay would use his influence to see that Adams would become the sixth president of the United States. This would later be termed the “corrupt bargain”. It is important to note here that this could be seen as the beginning of a shift in the mindset of Americans - the desire for change in a system that favored the highly educated, wealthy and elite.
Fast forward four years to the next election. This time the candidates were the incumbent, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson. Similar to the politics of today, there was a great deal of mudslinging during the period leading up to the campaign. Adams’ backers made damning accusations against Jackson’s mother and his wife. Jackson’s camp accused Adams of bringing gambling to the “presidential palace”. They also drew attention to Adams’ large salaries and even accused him of providing a servant girl for the lusts of the Russian tsar.
In 1828 Jackson won the election by a count of 178 electoral votes to Adams’ 83. Jackson’s inauguration attracted masses of people who poured into Washington from far, far away. It was at this time that the “spoils system” - the practice of rewarding one’s political supporters by giving them a position in a public office - became prevalent in the federal government. I believe it is important to note here that this is exactly the practice of our government today and it is this practice that can by costly. When a person is given an appointment based on their loyalty and not their ability, the citizens may not receive the leadership they need.
Jackson did not believe that government should be run by wealthy, highly educated elitists. He believed that any one person is as good as another - and in some cases even better. After all, he was orphaned early and grew up with few opportunities. He was not good at grammar or at spelling. He had a bad temper and was not opposed to fist fights. But ironically, Jackson lived in one of the finest mansions in the entire country and he owned many slaves! (A man of controversy? I think so! Like many politicians today who claim to be for the “working man” but who themselves are filthy rich!)
So, Jackson defended the spoils system. He believed that each generation should have the right to come to the “public trough”. He relieved officeholders from prior administrations and replaced them with his cronies. Of course this system brought corruption and scandal. Many of the appointees were more interested in holding a position than in doing their job and serving the people well. The spoils system was a key factor in the emergence of a two-party system. Loyalty to a particular party and the expectation of being rewarded became more important than allegiance to a particular economic class or geographic region.
One of the more difficult issues that President Adams, Jackson’s predecessor, had to deal with was that of high tariffs. Tariffs did help protect American industry from European imports, but the flip side was that tariffs were also used by other countries as retaliation against the United States. Congress significantly increased the general tariff in 1824, but wool manufacturers wanted even higher tariffs. Congress submitted a bill in 1828 that would raise tariffs even higher, however they didn’t think the bill would pass and secretly believed its failure to pass would make President Adams look bad. To their surprise, the bill did pass and along with it came a great deal of controversy and Jackson found himself at the center of it.
Because Southerners did not manufacture a lot of their own goods, but instead relied heavily on importing goods from the north, they were particularly hostile toward the new higher tariffs. They referred to the Tariff of 1828 as the “Black Tariff” or the “Tariff of Abominations”, and under the leadership of John Calhoun, South Carolinians sought to nullify it. These people came to be known as “Nullies”.
Just as disturbing to Southerners as the Tariff of 1828 was their fear that the institution of slavery was in jeopardy. Southerners witnessed an aborted slave rebellion in Charleston in 1822 which was led by a free black named Denmark Vesey.
The Tariff and the aborted slave rebellion caused Southerners to fear the federal government was becoming too powerful. They believed it was time to stand up to all federal encroachments on states’ rights. (This is a matter we still deal with today, including states’ rulings concerning legalization of marijuana and same sex marriage.) There was talk of secession.
Jackson was not the type of leader to back down and went about combating his opposition the same way a general would - head on! He dispatched troops to South Carolina and began to assemble an army. He was not about to allow the state to get away with its defiance. Fortunately, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was able to use his influence to get a bill passed which reduced tariffs over a period of about ten years, eventually seeing them line up with where they’d been in 1816. Both President Jackson and South Carolina were pleased to have averted a real clash, but many believed Henry Clay was to be credited with saving the day.
One of the monumental aspects of President Jackson’s legacy was the forced removal of all Indians residing east of the Mississippi River, also known as the “Trail of Tears”. Despite the willingness of many Indian tribes to negotiate with Whites regarding western expansion, Americans often violated their own treaties. In 1828 the Georgia legislature declared the Cherokee Tribal Council illegal and claimed that it had jurisdiction over all of the land within the state’s borders. The Cherokees actually took their plight to the Supreme Court, where three times their rights were upheld. Unfortunately for the Indians, Jackson refused to recognized the Court’s decision, defiantly stating, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.” (I believe it is very interesting that Jackson was so openly defiant against the Supreme Court. His actions demonstrated his belief that the executive branch held more power than was constitutionally allowed.)
Jackson’s weak effort to help the Indians was instituted by Congress’s passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Jackson believed the forced removal of over 100,000 Indians to a territory (which is now the state of Oklahoma) would provide them their own space and place free of “white encroachments”. Unfortunately for the Indians, the whites continued their move west and the government’s guarantee of a “permanent frontier” only lasted about 15 years.
Another very big part of Jackson’s legacy was his crushing of the national bank, the Bank of the United States. Despite that it’s name sounds like a government agency, it was privately owned (like today’s Federal Reserve Bank). The Bank of the United States was where funds from the Washington government were deposited and it also controlled most of the nation’s gold and silver. There were smaller banks in existence, but they printed their own paper money, the value of which depended on the health of the bank that printed it.
In a grand scheme aimed at making the Bank of the United States an issue in the election of 1832, Henry Clay submitted a bill to recharter the Bank of the United States to Congress. Clay believed the bill would pass Congress and Jackson would then veto the bill, costing him his bid for re-election. That is what happened, but not with the result Clay was hoping for!
Jackson declared the monopolistic bank “unconstitutional”. In an earlier case the Supreme Court had decided the Bank of the United States was not unconstitutional. However, Jackson presumed that the executive branch had more power than the judicial branch. It is important to note that even though he claimed his veto was based on the unconstitutionality of the charter, the reality was that he vetoed the recharter because he believed it was in the best interest of the country. In this one act, Jackson effectively exercised power that was the equivalent of two-thirds of Congress!
Henry Clay thought this would cost Jackson the election but it did not. Jackson was able to crush the Bank of the United States, win re-election, and greatly increase his presidential power.
Jackson soon set about dismantling the Bank of the United States. It’s charter was not set to expire until 1836, but Jackson feared the bank’s president, Nicholas Biddle, might find a way to get the charter reinstated. So Jackson’s plan was to siphon off all of the government’s funds from the bank, essentially bleeding it dry. This caused a “financial vacuum” that ultimately created a financial crash in 1837. By this time Jackson had retired to his home in Nashville and the ugly mess was left to his successor. (Again, this sounds like the same thing that happens to this day! Presidents can create crisis situations and retire peacefully while their successors are left to sort out the problems!)
There is a lot of debate about the importance of Andrew Jackson and “Jacksonian Democracy”. Clearly this was a time when a great deal of change was occurring in our nation. New manufacturing techniques were emerging, putting many artisans and craftsmen out of business. Jackson’s dismantling of the Bank of the United States created a financial crisis. Croneyism took hold. Indians and slaves continued to suffer at the hands of whites.
So, was it about sectionalism - the New Frontier/West vs. the established, wealthy and influential groups in the East? Was it about rich/poor, effectively a clash of classes of people? Was it a time when decisions were made and lives were more affected by temperance and religion?
It seems to me that all three of the views (sectionalism, class, religion) hold weight. Just as they do to this day. These are things that will always affect us - in our communities, our cities, our states and in the world at large. We will always clash over land and territories, over class and certainly over religion. I don’t believe the Jacksonian Democracy was any different than our democracy today.
It was during the 1820’s and 1830’s that Andrew Jackson’s leadership was what helped fuel the fire of the Jacksonian Era in America. His hugely significant influence was what brought the interest of the common man to the front lines of American government in a wave of innovations. In order to exemplify such matters, there was first, his two terms of office within the White House that provided innovations that would continue onto future generations of presidents; second, his passionate deliverance of the Democratic notion to the people with the new Jacksonian-Democratic political party; and third, his fight for the transformation of both democracy and capitalism from the usual, eastern aristocratic customs. As a result of these efforts, the legacy of Andrew Jackson shall forever hold its own imprint upon American history.
From the Founding Fathers to the 1820s, a constitutional America was believed to have been led by Congress. That is, until Andrew Jackson’s landslide election of 1828. When ‘Old Hickory’ took his place in the Oval Office, so did his beliefs that the president – instead of congress – was the true representation of the people. Almost every other tradition was literally thrown out the window as he opened the White House doors for a huge mass of people to rampage through and do as they please. And after cleaning up what remained of the White House, waves of innovation after innovation emitted from President Jackson up until his last days in office.
Not only was he the first president to use the spoils system – rewarding political supporters with public office – for filling the positions on his administration, but was the first to defy Congress as exemplified through his actions on the Indian Removal Act, as well as vetoing the renewal charter for the Second National Bank. By doing so, he became largely responsible for the descent of democracy onto the common people. As discussed by historian Frederick Jackson Turner, Andrew Jackson was a hero from the western frontier who was sent to protect the people and establish their will in government. He also stated that the western spirit, not the eastern aristocracy, was the reason for the survival of the United States. And, despite many false beliefs of Jackson coming from a poor, western, background, he was instead a rich farmer and slave owner. Yet, he still fought for the common people.
Also discussed by historian Frederick Jackson Turner is that Andrew did not “defeat” capitalism. What he defeated was the monopolistic control over capitalism and the nation’s economy. He did so by choosing to veto the renewal charter for the Second National Bank. Within his eyes, such institutions with that enormous amount of power belittled the sense of the common man and placed power in the hands of the rich capitalists rather than farmers and workers. By ending the bank and capitalistic control, he therefore is also responsible for democratizing capitalism so the wealth could circulate the nation and be put to a greater use which would benefit the masses instead of the privileged.
Edith Chavez
Periods 1&6
President Andrew Jackson had such a great influence in the 1820s and 1830s that it is now the called the Jacksonian Era in the United States. Critics called him “King Andrew”, though ironically his power came from the people and was considered the champion of the common man. President Jackson managed to shape the country socially through his treatment of blacks and Native Americans; politically by bringing the common people into the government; and economically in the second Bank War. From a modern perspective it seems practically impossible to envision a clear image of him and harder to see him as a good man and president, but for his time, Andrew Jackson was truly great and helped the United States become the country it is today.
Andrew Jackson showed kindness to other people regardless of color. At this time in history, most people didn’t even see blacks and Native Americans as human beings but during the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson still gave the free black soldiers arms to fight the British troops and the same pay he gave to the white soldiers. The Native Americans weren’t slaves but were usually pushed around by whites who were eager to gain more land, the Natives would also be killed off for being “savages” despite having adopted white culture. Jackson saw the abuse of the Natives and showed his concern by begging the American people to show kindness to the Natives and not kill them off. It didn’t work out too well though; he later had to pass the Indian Removal Act which was intended to remove the Cherokees and other tribes in an effort to save them from the white that would kill them if they stayed. Despite having mostly ignored the Supreme Court for this and vetoing more bills than any president before him, he did care for the government and changed it in ways that past presidents would’ve objected to. Jackson brought the common man into the government and even literally into the White House. Many scorned Jackson for being the champion of the common man despite him being wealthy, though not as wealthy as past presidents, the main things making him seem like a common man were that he came from the West while the past presidents had been from the more business-oriented East and that Jackson would let commoners (non-excessively wealthy people) into the government. Many would try to discourage commoners from the government through literature, like the story of Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, or at least tell the people to be wary of getting into politics. Jackson also managed to affect the country economically. Nicholas Biddle ran the second Bank of the United States and had much of the economy controlled and regulated by his power over the money and prices. Jackson in an effort to “free” the people from the “evils” of bankers decided that he would veto the charter of the bank when presented it by Biddle. Biddle tried hard to get the bank re-chartered but Jackson wouldn’t do it and after Biddle showed the power of the bank and caused a huge panic because of it, the people were scared into siding with the President. Andrew Jackson had good intentions but unfortunately, without a big bank to regulate paper notes and a reliance on precious metals, the economy faced a second panic. Before this time though, there hadn’t been much experimenting with banks so it was hard to know that shutting down the national bank would be bad. Due to his good intentions and often good results, President Andrew Jackson was a great man and president for his time.
Steven Fraser
period 6
During the 1820s and 1830s, the Jacksonian Era in America was in full swing under the leadership of Andrew Jackson. He defined what it meant to be an American and revolutionized the role of the government through his belief in the common people. First, Jackson transformed the presidency from what the Founding Fathers had originally intended; second, he delivered democracy to the people with the rise of his Democratic Party ; and third he fought to save both democracy and capitalism from the grasps of the rich elite. Through his controversial policies and actions, Jackson impacted America and steered its path toward greatness.Andrew Jackson was born from the common people, and believed that the government was a representation of the will of the masses. After he overwhelmingly won the popular vote in the election of 1828, he went to work restructuring the White House, and left behind a huge legacy for his successors. Unlike the Founding Fathers who believed that Congress led the nation, Jackson believed that the president was the true representation of the people's will and that it was the duty of the president to provide for the well being of the citizens of America. He brought previously unknown power to the presidency through his decisions and policies regarding the Spoils System, the Indian Removal Act, and the Nullification Crisis with South Carolina. Jackson was the first, but certainly not the last, to use the spoils system, which is where he rewarded political supporters with public office. In his eyes, he was getting rid of the allegedly corrupt officeholders and replacing them with his people who would uphold his ideals of mass democracy.The Indian Removal Act, although controversial, was an attempt by Jackson to satisfy the wishes of the people. Georgia wanted the 5 Tribes to be removed so that America could further expand and at the time hostilities between the two were at dangerous high so Jackson removed the Indians for both their own safety and to fulfill the wishes of Georgia. Although the Supreme Court had ruled that the Native Americans had the right to stay where they were, Jackson defied the ruling and ordered their removal, undoing the Constitution's system of checks and balances. Also, his actions during the Nullification Crisis with South Carolina over the Tariff of Abominations showed how desperately he wanted to save the Union and keep respect for the government. When South Carolina declared the Tariff null within its boundaries, Jackson was ready to fight the state into submission, but this ended up not being necessary since a compromise was achieved.
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Andrew Jackson was also hugely responsible for the descent of democracy onto the common people. The Democratic party was an opportunity for the masses to assemble behind Jackson and give him the support he needed in the White House. According to historian Frederick Jackson Turner, Andrew Jackson was a hero from the western frontier who was sent to protect the people and establish their will in government. He also stated that the western spirit, not the eastern aristocracy, was the reason for the survival of the United States. Although Jackson was not a poor westerner as many believed, but rather a rich farmer and slave owner, he still fought for the rights of the common people, such as allowing free African Americans to fight alongside him in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. He gave the "common man" more say and power in government than before, forever changing the role of politics in America. Based on his previous policies regarding the rise of the common people, it was not surprising that Jackson despised the power that the rich had over both capitalism and democracy. He was an ardent enemy of monopolistic banking and big businesses. When the Second Bank of the Unites States' renewal charter lay before him, he vetoed it because he despised the enormous power it held. He believed the such institutions belittled the common man and placed power in rich capitalists rather than farmers and workers. Therefore,Jackson was responsible for democratizing capitalism so the wealth could circulate the nation and be put to a greater use which would benefit the masses.
Steven Fraser
Throughout the Jacksonian period (1820-1850) Andrew Jackson would redefine American politics and change this country forever. During his presidency, Andrew Jackson, from his campaign for president till long after his death, would affect the history of America in three major ways; first, Jackson and his followers would forge the nation’s most successful and durable political party; second, his struggle to rebalance the national economy; finally, his aggressive movement of Native Americans west of the Mississippi river. Therefore, for political, economic, and social reasons, Andrew Jackson would affect this country for years to come.
Andrew Jackson and his followers have created the longest lasting and most successful political party this nation has seen, known as the democrats. Jackson was strictly for the people and he favored the common man, like the poor farmer. This is mostly because he was self-made and before he was a part of the world of politics, Jackson lived a poor life. And the people wanted a president who would relate to them rather than a high ranking candidate who would merely overlook them. When Andrew Jackson took office democracy was opened to the people for the first time and their voices were heard by the government. During Jackson’s presidency the “Spoils System’ was introduced, in which Jackson gave government jobs to faithful followers. The spoils system led to incompetent people being brought into the government.
In his two terms as president, Andrew Jackson was faced with a major problem with the Second Bank of the United States that would later be known as the “Bank War.” The Second Bank of the United States was believed to be a greedy monopoly controlled by wealthy Americans and foreign interests. Of Course Andrew Jackson did not agree with the Second Bank of the U.S. because he believed it was “unauthorized by the Constitution.” So when Senator Henry Clay, Jackson’s opponent in that year’s election, suggested rechartering the Bank early but was vetoed by Jackson even though it was passed by Congress. In his second term, Andrew Jackson declared the U.S. Government would no longer be depositing Federal fund in the Bank and would instead deposit them in state banks. The Bank of the United States’ charter expired in 1836 and was never renewed.
Another major problem Jackson was faced with was the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Act would allow Jackson to negotiate with Native Americans in the south for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi in exchange for their homeland. Jackson knew if he did not go through with the Indian Removal Act then Americans would eventually forcefully move west, most likely killing more Native Americans than the number that would die on the trail of tears. Andrew Jackson going through with the Indian Removal Act meant an easy westward movement. Part of his deal with the Native Americans, the United States government would pay for their move west, beyond the Mississippi river.
Based on all of these examples, Andrew Jackson, not only changed the political structure of the country, but he also paved the path for westward movement. He allowed for a more peaceful growth of the U.S. and created one of this country’s strongest political parties.
Nick Palmares
Per. 4
Andrew Jackson was important because of his bravery; political tactic tics; and because he looked out for minorities as well as majorities. I believe Andrew Jackson was a major force in early 18th century America, and without him America would have turned out differently.
Off Andrew Jackson was a brave man for example when he was captured during the revolutionary war , when a British general told him to polish his boots Jackson refused and even when Jackson was threatened and then slashed across the face he didn’t obey the general. This shows a great amount of courage on Jackson’s part but also this started Jacksons hate for the British. Jackson grew to hate the British even more when he and his brother were gravely ill their mother made a trade, she would work to help the sick if Jackson and his brother were released however his brother died. Later on while his mother was working on a prison ship she died of cholera. This made Jackson even more hate for the British.
Jackson was a brilliant at politics for example when Jackson was defeated by john q Adams he saw a potential corrupt bargain because the other political candidate besides Jackson and Adams was Henry clay who gave his votes to Adams so Adams would win but after this Adams hired clay as his secretary of state. Andrew Jackson, a big believer that the government was corrupt pounced on this and in the next election he used this against Adams to win the presidency. This shows that his belief that the government was corrupt true and that he knew how to use this information against his opponent but he also had some troubles with corrupt government officials when one of his cabinet members was caught in an affair with another woman and also he employed the spoils system, where you throughout the opposing parties officials and put your own political members in their place.
He protected minorities as well as majorities. For example when he passed the Indian removal act to most it seems like he was against the Indians but if you look at it closer you see he was looking out for the Indians because he recognized that if the Indians stayed where they were that westerners would eventually grow even more land hungry and would turn and slaughter the Indians for their land. This shows he was looking out for the Indians and that if he hadn't passed this the world would be vastly different. Also when he vetoed a road making bill that wouldn't help the national defense he saved a ton of money enough to pay off the national debt, probably one of the best times in America. Also he made many spending cuts with increased revenue he gave the government a lot of money to be used to better the country.
During the Age of Jackson from 1820's through 1840's politic became more democratic. A man by the name of Andrew Jackson would become the President and the Political and Social aspects of the United States would become something that even the Founding Fathers were not expecting, a time where the people would be more involved in the Government. Andrew Jackson was the first President to have come from the West from a humble background, so he knew that the people should always come first; Jackson was seen as a National Hero, second to George Washington, appealing to the People to reinvent the role of the President and even expanding it; and lastly with almost everything going wrong during his Presidency he realized that there was no room for error. Andrew Jackson was indeed a great President, although his choices were questionable at times he would change this Country in almost every way possible.
Growing up on the frontier and born to a poor Irish family, he understood what struggles the people that lived on the frontier faced and what it meant to be one of the people. Andrew Jackson was seen as the first President from the West since he was the First President that was born West of the Appalachian Mountains. He was a true believer in Democracy and believed that everyone despite their socail class, should have a say in their government and would continue to fight for that belief. Perhaps his greatest feat as a President came when he destroyed the Second Natioanl Bank of the United States. He realized what the Bank was doing to the Common American and would not rest until he saw the demise of it. He lost many supporters in the Upper Class but he made it clear that he supported the people.
After he was orphaned at the young age of 17 he would become an irregular soldier in the Revolutionary War and would rise through the Ranks to become the Commander of the United States forces at the Battle of New Orleans which would make him a household name. At New Orleans he would do something that was unheard of, he recruited Black soldiers and pay them as much as his White soldiers which would spread his name through the States. His popularity was greatly intensified after his campaign through the swampy Florida where he would suppress the Native American Revolt and would drive the Spanish out of Florida which the Government had been long awaiting.
Despite all of the popularity he had gained during his lifetime the United States he would be faced with the pressing issue of the era, later known as the Jacksonian Era, with many Americans unhappy about how the government was being run, the major issue with the threat of seccession from South Carolina, and have to carefully make decisions with his opponents in Congress bearing down on his every move. He was strongly disliked by some and would even have an assasination attempt on his life. At the same time he would have to deal with the National Debt which simply would not go away. However despite all of the odds standing against him he would overcome all of these challenges and would become one of the Greatest Presidents would fought for the people. He was the first Modern President, the first President that relied on the people to get things done instead of the rich policitians and businessmen. During Andrew Jackson's presidency he would change American politic and Democracy.
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