Andrew Jackson was one of the most popular presidents in the history of the United States, and regarded himself as the “People’s President”. Born on the border between the Carolinas, Jackson had a lot of political experience before taking the role of the president of the United States; however, he gained most of his popularity from his military expeditions during the War of 1812. He viewed his presidency, which occurred from 1828 until 1836, as a marker of a new era of American politics, defined by a fierce democratic spirit and westward expansion. Jackson fought to support agriculture, making him popular amongst farmers and the common people. He believed that the government must listen to and follow the wishes of the People. However, he often …show more content…
Before Jackson’s election in 1828, the primary method of electing presidential electors was by state legislature (Doc. A). During and after his presidency, almost all states allowed citizens to vote directly for the presidential candidate of their choice. Jackson set out to eliminate the “corrupt” elitist class standing between the common man and the government. During the election of 1824, Jackson won the popular vote; however, he failed to take the majority of the electoral votes. This resulted in him losing the presidency, and the election being renamed “the corrupt bargain”. Seeing the electoral college as an unscrupulous threat against democracy, Jackson set out to limit state power in the electoral system. Although this allotted more power to the common man, the presidency became much more powerful. Because of Jackson’s popularity, the people often sided with him politically. Thomas Bailey and David Kennedy attempt to convince readers that the election of 1828 was indeed a political revolution, by indicating that the weakening of the elitist establishment led to a period of mob rule, in which the people we extremely supportive of Jackson and his policies (Doc. B). Through the weakening of state power, he faced less competition, and was able enact many more of his political and economical …show more content…
Born into a modest family himself, Jackson despised the Bank for catering to the wealthy elite who, in his view, “[bent] the acts of government to their selfish purposes” (Doc. F). That such a concentration of power was held by a disproportionate amount of people was antithetical to Jackson’s view of democracy, and abolishing the Bank of the United States was necessary to diluting the power and influence of the elite. When the Bank was due for renewal in 1832, Jackson set out to do just that. Exercising the executive privilege of veto power, Jackson denied the Bank’s recharter bill. The veto was sustained. Although the veto was a victory for Jackson, it was not well-received by many people. Daniel Webster, a whig party leader who was in favor of the renewal of the Bank of the United States, voiced just one criticism of Jackson’s decision when he claimed that Jackson’s message to Congress “[extended] the grasp of (the chief executive) over every power of government” (Doc. G). Similarly, some people viewed Jackson’s decision as an abuse of power, as he used his veto power to overturn a bill that did not align with his personal ideology. Although Jackson, fittingly depicted as a monarch in a political cartoon directed to the people of America against his reelection in 1832 (Doc. E), had the interests of common man in mind, the policies intended to further those interests
Andrew Jackson was like no other president before him. The previous presidents had one thing in common, they were all part of the founding fathers or in John Quincy Adam’s case was the son of a founding father. However Jackson was a plantation owner from the west who had no connections with the government. He also had different views from other presidents that made his presidency unique. Two things that separated Andrew Jackson’s presidency from previous presidencies were he reached out to the common people and he was disapproving of the Bank of United States.
Andrew Jackson was one of the most peculiar presidents of the United States. Jackson had a different past then most of the presidents because he was born in poverty and had to work for his wealth. Other presidents were born into wealth and had every opportunity handed to them. Although this played a big part on Jackson's presidency this did not play as big of a part as you would think. He had a military background, serving as a general in the war of 1812, along with experience with being an attorney, and his own private practice. Sadly, his wife died a year into his presidency causing him to become what this country knows as one of our worst presidents. The people started to view Jackson differently after this incident, he was seen as someone
Andrew Jackson’s form and thought of democracy was very different from the democracy the founding fathers originally wanted for our country. The founding fathers wanted a country mostly ruled by Congress and they didn’t want “average Americans to have a role in choosing… [the] president” (Reinventing the Presidency). The founding fathers thought of the presidential branch as being weak and only good for doing what Congress wanted. Andrew Jackson the seventh president of the united states quickly showed the people how powerful his government position was by enforcing his right to veto bills Congress passed. Over Jackson's presidential term, he was a very different president than the founders originally wanted in office, and many people thought of his presidency as being very democratic. Jackson’s term as president may have seemed democratic, but when you look deeper into his laws and policies you can realize how his term wasn’t really that democratic.
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.
Jacksonian Democracy describes the time from when Andrew Jackson became the seventh president of the United States in 1829 till the end of his second term in 1837 (Shi and Tindall, 319). He was the first president that didn’t come from a prominent colonial family. His “common man” background lead him to being a popular political figure among the common people. This lead to him and his supporters forming America’s democratic party. A democracy is a system of government where the people or citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body. Andrew Jackson and his supporters greatly supported the idea of democracy. They wanted the common people of America to have more power when it came to
The President of the United States is one of the most powerful officials. The seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, made the presidency more powerful because he represented the “common man.” Jackson grew up in the rural parts of South Carolina and when he was thirteen years old, he joined the army at during the American Revolution War. Jackson was involved in many wars and became a war hero. He fought in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. After serving at war, he would serve two terms as president from 1829-1837. Jackson is the father of the Democratic Party. Later on, people would realize that Jackson was a very controversial president. Jackson would be an inefficient and efficient president during his time in office.
As America’s most influential political figure during the 1830s, Andrew Jackson left a permanent imprint upon American politics and democracy. Born on the border of North and South Carolina, Jackson was left to confront the world on his own after the death of his parents. By the age of 29, he involved himself in law and politics as he was elected as Tennessee’s first representative in the U.S. Senate. Jackson’s first success came from war, specifically when he commanded American forces in the defense of New Orleans against the British in 1815. Soon after, Jackson decided to make his first run for the President of the United States and won both the electoral and popular vote in 1824. Jackson is often connected to a new spirit of democracy
President Jackson acted undemocratically because of his actions against the national bank. On July 10th, 1832, Jackson sent a bank veto message to congress. The message was sent to remove the US National Bank because it was only helpful for a wealthier class for things like investments. Citizens from wealthier classes were outraged by Jackson’s actions. Former senator Daniel Webster replied to Jackson message saying, “It manifestly seeks to
Furthermore, Jackson’s presidency was characterized by use of the spoils system and the systematic rotation of officeholders. These stipulated that federal jobs were strictly given to loyal Democrats and that federal offices could be held for only one term. While these practices were meant to emphasize equal political opportunities and build party loyalty, they inherently promoted government corruption. In fact, the power that Jackson wielded by trading federal positions for party loyalty both overextended his executive power and practiced the same corrupt bargaining of office that the Democrats accused John Quincy Adams of in the election of 1824. Thus, the Jacksonian democrats dealt clear detriments and hypocrisies to the system of popular democracy that they so strongly advocated, despite their encouragement of universal white male suffrage and participation in office.
Actually, political change began several years before Jackson became president. In the Election of 1824, Jackson had the most popular and electoral votes, but did not win the election. Because the vote was split four ways, he did not have the
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
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
Jacksonian Democrats were to a great extent the guardians of the United States Constitution which Jackson has rigid interpretation of, similar to Jefferson. During Jackson’s presidency, he used his veto power twelve times, which was more than the total combined vetoes of all previous presidents combined, which was ten. The reasoning for many vetoes on unconstitutional laws was in result to uphold and protect the United States Constitution. For example, Jackson vetoed the bill to recharter the Bank of the United States. On July 10, 1832, in his veto message, he stated, “I sincerely regret that in the act before me I can perceive none of those modifications of the bank charter which are necessary, in my opinion, to make it compatible with justice, with sound policy, or with the Constitution of our country" (Doc B). Jackson viewed the Bank of the United States as unconstitutional and a “money monster” supporting his reasoning of executing his veto power. Instead of a federalized banks, he favored the use of pet banks. On July 11, 1832, in response to Jackson’s veto, Daniel Webster stated, “It manifestly seeks to inflame the poor against the rich; it wantonly attacks whole classes of the people, for the purpose
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.
Andrew Jackson was the seventh president, serving from 1829-1837. Nicknamed "Old Hickory," he left an indelible imprint on the nation that extends beyond his face adorning the twenty dollar bill. Jackson split the preexisting Republican Party into the Whig and Democratic Parties, establishing the dual-party structure that exists today. He was the first president who came from a rural, deep Southern background (he was born in the rustic woods of South Carolina) and his impoverished country upbringing informed his presidential policies. As someone who also captained the premier national political position, Jackson is responsible for bringing the experience and voice of the common man to the federal government. This essay will explore three of the most salient aspects of Jackson's presidency: the Nullification Crisis of 1832, the National Bank episode of 1833-34, and the treatment of American Indians and slaves.