preview

To What Extent Was Jackson A Dangerous Man

Good Essays

Jefferson’s’ 1824 comment, in which he suggests Jackson as both a dangerous man and “unfit man” for the position of the presidency is a loaded statement. As a simple answer, yes, Jackson’s history of bar fights, can beatings, duals to the death, and notable bouts of anger, one of which Jefferson even brings to light within the quote above, all point to Jackson being a dangerous man. Yet, dangerous in the sense that Jackson would fight when needed, not purely becuase he wanted to. The statement is loaded becuase of Jefferson’s prestiges, and the complicated meaning of the word as well as what actions Jefferson was referring to that made Jackson “dangerous”. While Jefferson knew Jackson as a peer, during their time in Congress, he did not know …show more content…

Jackson saw the power in his office and he used it to further the Union at every turn. His actions against the Indians was even brought about to preserve his response to the Nullification Crisis which threatened the Union. Jackson was a man that thought of the future, this is best seen in his thoughts towards Texas. A dangerous man would have flexed America's military power when attempting to purchase Texas from Mexico. Jackson did not, as he instead opted to purchase the land through a mediatory, one he thought was fit enough to negotiate for the Union. When this fell through he choose not to push further, even as the Texans began to fight he held back, fearing that military power would put the U.S. in a negative light with other nations (p, 178, Andrew Jackson, Southern). These are not the actions of a hot tempered or dangerous man, these are the actions of a thinker. Just like how he handled the Nullification Crisis, Jackson saw the importance of the Union, something he saw was at risk if Texas had been brought in so quick, especially as a slave state. There were no limits to a presidential term at this time, he could have run again, though he choose not to, opting to allow a successor take over. He passed up his power to Van Buren, through a cunning political handling of Texas. Jackson was not a man to cross, though he was not a man of rage and unpredictable, he was a man of codes and honor. Jefferson’s assertion that he was a dangerous man is far too extreme. Word choice was something so important to Jefferson, as primary author of the Declaration of Indepence, I would find it hard to believe he did not think over his words before choosing them. It is because of his choice in words that I disagree with him, as Jackson was not dangerous,

Get Access