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What Is Andrew Jackson Necessary Evil

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This paper will account for the saga of the American President Andrew Jackson and his battles with the United States banking industry, most notably the Second Bank of the United States, and how President Jackson’s actions were a justified necessary evil. This paper will illustrate the specific battle President Jackson had with the second National Bank of America and how, like many battles President Jackson had as a general, was chosen wisely. To understand the saga of President Jackson and his battles with the national banking industry, it is wise to understand the man that was Andrew Jackson leading up to his major battle. It was no secret that President Jackson was not a fan of government, regardless of what title came before his name. …show more content…

Knowing that President Jackson was an opponent, Nicholas Biddle actively sought to renew the Second National Bank’s charter. This would require congressional approval and President Jackson’s executive approval. With a presidential election coming up, President Jackson’s congressional rival Henry Clay wanted this to be a central issue of the presidential election of 1832. Senator Clay believed that with the pressures of President Jackson seeking reelection, Jackson would be more inclined to re-charter the Second National Bank; whereas, if President Jackson was reelected, Jackson would not have anything to lose and decide to veto the re-chartering of the bank in 1836 when the charter was scheduled to end. Writing Nicholas Biddle, Senator Clay expressed this belief saying that “the President, in the event of the passage of a bill, seems to be a matter of doubt and speculation. My own belief is that, if now called upon he (Jackson) would not negative the bill, but that if he should be re-elected the event might and probably would be different.” Nicholas Biddle took the powerful senator’s words seriously, and applied for a re-charter in 1832. The bill passed the House of Representatives and the Senate and was sent to President Andrew Jackson’s desk for approval or a veto. Turning to his cabinet for advice, President Jackson relied on the advice of Attorney General Roger Taney. Taney wrote President Jackson, “I understand the application at the present time, it means in plain English this – the Bank says to the President, ‘your next election is at hand – if you charter us, well – if not, beware of your power.’” President Jackson accepted Taney’s interpretation of the bank’s attempted re-chartering as a direct challenge to his presidency, and decided

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