Andrew Jackson: A New Era Of Democracy

Jackson’s version of democracy was in fact a democracy. He was not a very wealthy man, he owned a home and some land. Which was more than could be said about most Americans at the time. About ten percent of the Americans living there at that time owned enough land to vote. There was a law, stating that only white males with a good portion of land could vote in the presidential election. Andrew Jackson thought this system was so unfair, he created a new way to govern the citizens of the newly formed United States.

Many people refer to Andrew Jackson has the “common man”. He grew up poor in the west, fought in the War of 1812, and later became a lawyer. His poor background helped him coin the nickname of "president for all the people”. I do believe that Andrew Jackson was was a president for the "common man".

The changing nation reflected a growing sense of national pride and identity by introducing many different acts and rights. After the War of 1812, there was a growing surge of nationalism all throughout the United States. This feeling of happiness originated from the United States recent victory of the War. The Era of Good Feelings, The Age of Jackson, and changing the states’ rights and the economy were all huge factors in the changing nation, and it all reflected from the nation's previous victory. With the new found sense of nationalism and pride, the government took advantage of the states’ and the people. They did this by putting tariffs on imported goods, separating the natives from their homeland, and setting many other

Andrew Jackson was a soldier, a lawyer, a husband, an orphan, and in his most famous status, the 7th President of the United States. Andrew Jackson was loved by the people, and hated by his political rivals. He pushed the limits of his power as the president, and at the same time restricted it, as to not overstep his place as the voice of the people. Through his terms as president he used his power to protect the rights of the people and to ensure that the United States would prosper. In the following paragraphs his contributions are highlighted and will show just what he did for America and its prosperity.

In 1828, otherwise known as “The Age of Jackson”, America was a country on its way to the West. America’s revolutionary generation was quickly fading, making room for a new balance of political power. As the class systems were breaking down, the “common man” was better able to cast his vote for the new President. Jackson was glorified by his impressive war accomplishments and humble background of the frontier. This made him the main target for presidency in election 1824. Once coming to power, Jackson no longer portrayed humble beginnings, but became a conundrum to the people he was leading by removing indians from their homeland and forcing them West. His use of power can be debated based on the state of the country thereafter. Although Andrew Jackson was dubbed “The People 's President”, his time in office reflected a very different outcome.

Conceived in time of poverty, Andrew Jackson had turned into a rich Tennessee lawyer. When the time came and the war broke out between Britain and the United States, his administration in that conflict earned Jackson national fame as a military legend. He would then go on to turn into America 's most influential and polarizing political figure between the 1820s and 1830s. After barely losing to John Quincy Adams in the 1824 presidential race, Jackson returned four years after the fact to win reclamation, soundly defeating Adams and turning into the country 's seventh president. As America 's political gathering framework was created, Jackson turned into the pioneer of the new Democratic Party. For a while, his legacy is discolored by his part in the migration of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi. Between the years of 1829 and 1837 is when president Andrew Jackson was an office. Many people recognize him from the twenty-dollar bill. Andrew Jackson has had a major impact on Tennessee history. Andrew Jackson had dominated the first half of the nineteenth century.

Finally, in 1828 Andrew Jackson became president. Andrew Jackson claimed he was for the people and had their best interest at heart, but he was an activist in slave-owning and never considered Native Americans as Americans. The question that remains today is "How democratic was Andrew Jackson". Andrew Jackson as seen through his actions in history was a dictator rather than a democrat.

But was what he did in his presidency really democratic? I think he was democratic for three reasons, the spoils system, the Indian Removal Act, the National Bank situation. The first problem Jackson caused has to do with the spoils system. This is when a person in a high position, like Andrew Jackson, takes out people more prepared for the job, putting in his supporters instead.

Whether or not Andrew Jackson was a Democratic President or not has been the topic of argument for many years. During the years 1820-1840, most people did not have the right to vote. The power was in the hands of the wealthy, not the common man. White male landowners were powerful because of their political rights and participation in government. Andrew Jackson lost the presidential election of 1824. He grew up a poor common man and was a hero in war. Andrew Jackson was a Democratic president because he put the power in the hands of the common man, however he selfishly used government power and abused minorities in the past.

“When I was President of the Senate he was a Senator, and he could never speak on account of the rashness of his feelings. I have seen him attempt it repeatedly, and as often choke with rage. His passions are no doubt cooler now...but he is a dangerous man.” (Bailey 250). This quote comes from Thomas Jefferson when talking about Andrew Jackson and how Jackson is as a person. Similar to Jackson, the Jacksonian Democracy is a dangerous, independent, but a productive way of looking at life. Dangerous because of the land policy he had regarding what to do with the Cherokee Indians especially with the resulting Trail of Tears, which included the Indian Removal Act. Independent because of his whole role in removing the Bank of the United States.

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States. He started out poor and worked his way up. Jackson was in some cases democratic and in others, he was not democratic. Democracy is a government where the people have the power. Jackson was undemocratic when he took over the Native Americans land and got rid of them and when he appointed Samuel Swartout and he end up stealing 1.2 million dollars, however he was democratic when he wanted the free blacks to join the army.

He was known as “Old Hickory” by his troops for that he was as tough as “the hardest wood in all creation” and opponents of his called him a crude and ignorant man who was unfit to be president (257). Even though he had a negative reputation, Andrew Jackson managed to become the seventh president of the United States in 1828. However, these negative attributes triggered many disputes within the nation, showing that Jackson was abusing democracy during his 2 term presidency. First of all, Jackson’s tough and stubborn way of approaching governing was to listen to other’s opinions but would end up doing what he felt was right (261). Therefore, the United States actually was not governed by the people, but was governed by a leader, making the government

Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States, elected in eighteen twenty-eight. Prior to his presidency Andrew Jackson was well known and favored for his success against the British in the war of eighteen-twelve. Upon election, Andrew Jackson became known as the people’s president gaining the majority of electoral votes over his opponent John quincy Adams.Throughout his presidency many events occurred that would shape America as a nation. During his time as President Andrew Jackson was both favored and hated by many individuals. His actions pleased certain groups of people, but would also cause for a loss of support amongst Americans. Jackson’s legacy would leave behind a strong willed group of supporters, known as the Democrat party, and the creation of opposed individuals known as the Whig party as well. His presidency would be viewed as time of improvements to some, but to others who strongly opposed his presidency, it would be seen as a time for unjust tariffs and conflict. Jackson’s presidency would be characterized by key events such as the Indian removal act, the nullification crisis, and the dispute known as the war against the bank, that would alter the nation forever.

During the 1820s and 1830s the Democratic Party grew under the influence of the politician Andrew Jackson. The Democrats believed in a limited federal government and supported more power in the states, rather than in the federal government. This party was concerned by the economic monopolies in the East and wanted more opportunity for white males in the South and West. By the 1828 presidential election, new amendments to voting qualifications allowed more white males to vote. With support from this new population of voters, Jackson swept the election, introducing the Jacksonian Era that lasted until 1836. President Jackson was admired for his respect towards the common man and his focus on fulfilling the interest of the people. During his time as president, Jackson expanded the power of the executive branch by vetoing proposed bills that were believed to be aiding the privileged elite and hurting the common man. Although Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the constitution and the values it instills, they were not adamant about protecting democracy and individual liberty.

The period known as the Jacksonian Democracy became known as the most impactful period for the democracy development in America. The policies that were put in place during this period extended the power of the common men, allowing them to be eligible to vote without owning land, as well as extending the borders of the nation, making it larger. However, Jackson also placed the spoils system, as his economic policy, which proved to be a major dividing factor in the country, causing a “decentralized economic system that would lead to cyclical recessions.” While many events triggered the development of democracy, there were two main contributions that enabled the start of democracy during 1820 and 1830. Many changes in politics caused people to be divided due to the difference between opinions however the Jacksonian economic policy and the Westward movement allowed many citizens in America to predict the type of government that would be produced between 1820 and 1830. Therefore the policies, that were democratic-based, and sectional changes, contributed to the development of a new governing technique.