The Tyranny of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson: the common man or the first king of America? He is viewed by history in many different ways, some see him as the man who granted universal white male suffrage, created a more democratic way to elect electoral voters to congress and replaced caucuses with national nominating conventions; and others, who saw past this false representation and saw how in his eight years in office, he vetoed 12 bills, forced Native Americans from their homeland, ignored supreme court decisions and let his personal life affect his presidential decisions. Jackson, as captured in his portrait in the National Portrait gallery was a stern man with a strong sense of self-reliance. And while these qualities can be seen as
…show more content…
However, when introduced the Maysville Road Bill, he was quick to shoot it down. Behind the Bill was Henry Clay, a politician from Kentucky. In previous years, Clay had earned credit from Jackson’s faults and publicly said that Jackson’s part in the Trail of Tears “stained the national honor.” The Maysville Road Bill was a plan to build a twenty mile stretch of highway within Clay’s home state of Kentucky. Jackson vetoed it after it had been passed by congress, declaring that the bill violated the economic affairs of the government and would put America is greater financial crisis. In reality, it was a personal attack against Henry Clay (Van Deusen 52-54).
Despite Jackson’s support for the growth and prosper of the West, both he and his constituents lobbied to raise tariffs on imported textiles such as fur, flax, hemp, liquor and wool to about 50 percent their intended value. The increase of prices from other countries was greatly beneficial to the Northern economy, who were able to sell more of their products, but detrimental to the South. Because the South simply produced raw goods, it was essential that they imported manufactured goods for their general well being. This tariff not only threatened to reduce the flow of goods from Britain, but the loss of money made it difficult for them to purchase raw materials. Representative of South Carolina and long time foe of Jackson, John C Calhoun spoke
Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States of America, can be debated as either a good president or bad president. But if one were to weigh out the positives and negatives of Andrew Jackson’s presidency, one would realize that his positives outweigh his negatives for a variety of historic facts. Andrew Jackson was a good president because he represented the majority of America’s people by being a common, prevented a civil war when South Carolina threatened to secede from the nation, and because he technically found or instigated the two major parties used in America today (Democratic and Republican). Many Jackson oppositionists despise him because of he is a hypocrite, however America was founded on hypocrisy so as an
Only one U.S. president has been censured by the United States Senate and this was Andrew Jackson for what the senate believed to be abuse of presidential power during the Bank War. Andrew Jackson should be removed from the $20 bill. While Jackson was the 7th president of the united states and a national war hero after defeating the British in New Orleans during the War of 1812 he got rid of a whole government program because it didn't go along with his viewpoints. In 1816 the second bank of the United States was created five years after the First bank's charter expired. The bank had been run by a board of directors with ties to industry and manufacturing, however Jackson disagreed with the ways that the federal money was being spent as well
In the span of 20 years, 42 states elected by the people, and 27 states elected by the legislature. (Document 1). The election of Jackson was considered a “revolution,” because of its peaceful transfer of power. This revolution was different from any other, because it was achieved by ballots rather than bullets. Jacksonians cried, “Shall the people rule?” and the answer was, “The people shall rule!” Andrew Jackson was so notable that people have come 500 miles to see him and think that the country is rescued from some dreadful danger. It is said Jackson’s victory accelerated the transfer of national power from the country-house to the farmhouse, from the East to the West, and from the snobs to the mobs. If Jackson was a hero of the gentleman farmer, he was surely a hero of the dirt farmer. Jackson was democratic because he granted all men equal rights, and believed that the common man is just as good as the wealthy. This is how he got all his support, most of which came from the common man. We must also consider that he was a common man who became successful as president. He disagreed with the wealthy, who tried to empower the common man/farmers, and was a large supporter of wester farmers, low tariffs, and pet banks, rather than a national bank. (Document 2).
Andrew Jackson was probably one of the most powerful and influential presidents during his time at the white house. He was hated, yet loved by many. Jackson was an American soldier, who gained fame as a general in the U.S and served in both houses of Congress. He was soon elected the seventh president of the United States. After Jackson took charge, he wanted immediate change as to how the government was being run. For starters, he came with a new idea of voting. Allowing the common people to vote for whom they believe was the right person for the job. Before the introduction to
The Maysville Road Bill suggested building a road in Kentucky which would be a federal expense. Jackson vetoed it and it
America has many presidents who are still remembered with their legacies, but President Andrew Jackson’s presidency is a history of which the Native American will never forget. Jackson’s democracy was not in support for women to vote, and black men to join in armies. The people who paid the greatest price through his presidency were the Indian tribes, whom he forced to move from their land which belonged to their ancestors.
Andrew Jackson probably would've been an acceptable president. On one hand, he probably had some notable ideas. He was also stubborn, a trait that can either make or break a president. He was also known as an authoritarian figure before he even became president, a trait that shows leadership, something a president needs to have. However, he was most likely not an ethically sturdy choice for president. He had slaughtered people, had scandal surrounding him, and acted like a complete lunatic. Overall, Jackson would've been a somewhat acceptable president. Certainly not astounding, for he was utterly insane, but not completely dreadful
Andrew Jackson’s influence on the politics of his time was remarkable. He was the only president to have an era named after him. He also changed the way this country was run and expanded the country’s borders. He changed much, but the four most important aspects of this era, in chronological order, were his victory over the British, his defeat in the presidential race of 1824, his successful presidential campaign in 1828, and his decision to remove Native Americans to land west of the Mississippi. His victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans lifted his popularity exponentially. He was a newfound American hero, and this pushed his political ambitions towards the White House. In 1824 Jackson was defeated in a close presidential
"I cannot be intimidated from doing that which my judgment and conscience tell me is right by any earthly power."
Andrew Jackson, though frequently caricatured as a rube with an uncontrolled temper and pretensions to monarchy, was in reality an overall wise leader, a defender of freedom, and a dynamic president. Jackson showed his leadership in averting the threat of succession. He held to his belief that it was wiser for the country to remain unified and gain strength through compromise and working together than to split and have each separate part squabble for privileges and fight to get what they wanted. He showed himself ready and able to use force to keep the nation together yet willing to use diplomacy and compromise. To this end, he was able to control his emotions and work together with those he disagreed with towards a common goal of unity. Jackson
Andrew Jackson was a significant person in the American history but dimly recalled. Jackson was a hard nut to crack, battle-hardened, warrior and the founder of the Democratic Party. His story is one of sex, tragedy, violence, and courage. With his bravery, connection to the people and powerful personality, he moved and shaped the White House from being an ordinary government house to the center of national activities with well-articulated visions for
At the time of Jackson's election, there existed a protective tariff that aided big businesses and domestic transportation initiatives. However, the tariff was met unfavorably by the South, which felt that the tariff's ultimate purpose was to strengthen the industrial north at the expense of the agrarian south. Jackson's vice president, John Calhoun, campaigned on behalf of the South and attempted to nullify the tariff law within the South Carolina state borders. His premise was based on a provision settled in 1798 declaring
America’s history is rich and full of countless heroes, scandals, and incredible stories. Perhaps one of the most interesting of those stories is that of Andrew Jackson’s. To some, he was a hero, but to others, he was their worst enemy. Being raised in the mountains of the Carolinas, he became the first “backcountry president” of the United States (Wilentz, 13). His fame, though, began years before his presidency.
Jackson was a groundbreaking President in many regards. He was an orphan and did not come from the upper class. He was the first President to actively campaign for votes and when elected in 1828, he would continue the previous policies for moving Native Americans to the Indian Territory as he believed this is what the voters wanted. During this time, many Southern states restricted the rights of Indian Nations. Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi all stripped Native Americans of their civil rights, abolished the tribal unit, rejected ancestral land claims, and would not allow them to vote or testify in court. Before the Indian Removal Act, Native Americans signed various treaties with the federal government in regards to keeping their land.
Andrew Jackson, whose presidential term lasted from 1829-1837, was the first president to ever be chosen by the people to lead. Because he was not born into a rich family, people felt that they could relate to him better. He too preferred supporting the common public over the wealthy aristocrats. During Jackson’s period in office he was able to shift the majority of power in the United States to farmers and small businesses in the western part of the country. Jackson vetoed many bills in order to benefit common people and also created the spoils system to balance out his cabinet. Like Jefferson, Jackson was extremely opposed to the Bank of the U.S., believing that it would only make the wealthy even