Category: Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States of America, inaugurated in 1829, and keeping the office to himself until 1837. Jackson can be considered one of the founders of the modern-day Democratic Party. His presidency marked the end of the Federalist party, which stopped taking part in presidential elections since 1816. However, his actions and policies towards ethnic minority groups such as Native Americans and African Americans were controversial. This can be seen in the 1830 Indian Removal Act, and the number of slaves Jackson owned.

Andrew Jackson managed to build his political career by exploiting the hatred of white Americans towards other ethnic groups living in the U.S. In his message to Congress announcing the Indian Removal Act, he constantly stressed his attention on the unwillingness of Indians to to submit to the laws of the States (Jackson 1830). Furthermore, in 1845 shortly before his death, Jackson had around 161 slaves (Cheathem and Mark 327). Therefore, the role of slavery in his political career should not be underestimated either, as he remained a slaveowner throughout his whole life. Andrew Jackson was simply advocating the importance of white Americans in the U.S. development, which the majority saw as the privileges of a few. (Corbett et al. 254).

To conclude, Andrew Jackson was a somewhat controversial president who laid the foundations for the Democratic Party of the United States. He managed to gain the support of the white majority by carefully playing around with their hatred towards the other ethnic groups living in the still-developing U.S.A. Jackson ignored the needs of the minorities, reassuring them that the American government can control their fate better than themselves. This is mainly seen in the 1830 Indian Removal Act.

Works Cited

Cheathem, Mark R. Andrew Jackson, Slavery, and Historians. History Compass 9.4 (2011): pp. 326-338.

Corbett, P. Scott, et al. U.S. History by OpenStax. 1st ed., XanEdu Publishing Inc, 2014.

Jackson, Andrew. Transcript of President Andrew Jacksons Message to Congress On Indian Removal (1830).

In the 19th century, the question of American civilization was frequently raised and discussed at different levels. It was expected that Native Americans could sell their forests and become farmers on the same grounds the whites had at the moment (Takaki, 2008). Andrew Jackson was the author of this idea who demonstrated his humane and just intentions. However, when he became the President of the United States, his goals were changed and led to the creation of one of the most ambiguous and provocative movements, the Trail of Tears. American Indians were imagined as unable to civilize, and the power of white settlers was great, which allowed the government to ignore Indians achievements, petitions, and readiness to cooperate and maintain the Trail of Tears.

The Indian Removal Act was the desire of the government to use Native American lands for the selfish purposes of the cotton planters and railroad companies. Cherokees and other Indian tribes were defined as an obstacle to American development as a nation (Takaki, 2008). During the Trail of Tears, it was officially reported that no more than 400 people died, but it was evident that the deaths in the containment centers and the camps where the Cherokees were held reached more than 4000 (Learn Liberty, 2021). In the chosen master narrative, many facts and factors of the removal were ignored, including multiple petitions and individuals eager to support American Indians. The Trail of Tears justified the possibility of taking everything from the Cherokees and offering multiple opportunities for white American citizens. In the past, this choice was based on language, education, and constitutional differences; in the present, the differences between the representatives of these communities also exist.

Despite the intention to create an equal American society, the example of Indian removal proves the superiority of skin color and the prejudice of the government. Instead of protecting all citizens and respecting their past, the Trail of Tears showed how people could lose everything in a moment. That historical event shaped the present treatment of the American Indians and demonstrated why minorities did not protect themselves, even if they were legally supported.

References

Learn Liberty. (2021). The trail of tears: They knew it was wrong[Video]. Web.

Takaki, R. (2008). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Back Bay Books.

Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay are some of the political figures whose input has greatly helped in shaping America. The high political opposition between these two politicians set a foundation for American politics after independence. Jackson and Clay differed in almost everything. The two politicians had differing opinions on various issues facing the country. As a consequence of the broad difference in their opinions, American masses were partitioned between the two leaders. The major rift between Democratic and Republicans in America today can be traced back to Jacksons and Clays political differences.

Andrew Jackson is considered one of Americas great presidents. He went to the elections as the president of the poor. He was considered a leader to the common.

American as his approach towards various issues had an impact on them. Jackson served as the president of United States of America from 1828 to 1832. Unlike other presidents before him, Jackson did not come from the western aristocracy. His election was considered a revolution because of how he was able to gain support from majority of people, despite the fact that he did not have material wealth as other politicians (Kennedy & Bailey pp. 317-368). Jackson was popular among majority of the people and used his popularity to counter opposition and carry out his political agendas.

The election of Jackson has a lot of significance to American politics today. Jackson was a populist president who used his popularity to win support of the people. His election marked a change in American politics and beginning of modern politics. His election brought new understanding of democracy. It was during Jackson era that the significance of a president grew immensely among American people. Jackson used his influence as president and the power vested on him to accomplish various goals. He used veto power vested on him extensively. He used this power to veto more bills than all the presidents before him. Jackson is also remembered for using an informal cabinet referred as kitchen cabinet to make decisions in his government. Jackson used his populist politics and veto power to accomplish various important issues.

Jacksons election led to a paradigm change in American politics. A new generation had developed from social economical conditions. The new generation was confident and wanted to separate itself from older political ideology. The new generation of people saw in Jackson a person that represented their world view. This new generation did not agree with the older notion of leadership but embraced Jeffersonian dogmas. Because of his personality and world view, Jefferson was appealing to the people. His leadership brought a new system of democracy. The new form of democracy was characterized by people being most divided along their support of an individual. Immediately after being elected, Jackson started a new form of leadership that was marked by redistribution of offices. As a result of the new democracy, American masses were partitioned to Jacksonian Democrats and National Republicans (Oates & Errico pp. 212-247). The democrats were centered on President Jackson while the republicans rallied behind Henry Clay, Quincy Adams and others. By so doing, Jackson election helped to define democratic and republican future principles.

Andrew Jackson rule was marked by high opposition from Henry Clay. The two politicians differed on various issues on governance and development but most of all on their world view. Jackson viewed the economic situation at that time as a threat to freedom. He viewed economic situation resulting from market economy as a hindrance to democracy. Jackson went into power as a representative of common people. On the other hand, Clay was more concerned with development and seemed to represent the early aristocracy. Clay was not comfortable with the new populist democracy and feared that such a democracy could lead to demagogy. Jackson believed of the freedom of common people through increasing their involvement in decision making. On the other hand, Clay believed on liberation of people, but through economic development. There were many occasion of opposition between the two leaders. For example, the two differed on the bank war, the removal of Indians, nullification and economic issues (Hofstadter 214). Jackson made use of his veto power to counter opposition from Clay and other opponents. Henry Whigs party opposed almost every proposal made by Jackson leading to one of the most competitive leadership.

American system was a plan aimed at improving the economic condition of America. The plan had been proposed by Whigs party led by leaders such as Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and john Calhoun. The national economy plan proposed to introduce high tariff in order to protect young manufacturing companies from excessive competition. The plan also wanted to ensure that prices of land were high in order to generate revenue. Another objective of the plan was to maintain Bank of the United States. Bank of United States was supposed to ensure currency stability and offer financial support to the state and other local banks. In addition, the plan proposed to implement various internal economic developments. The internal improvements, which included road, canal and other amenities, were to be financed through the increased tariff and sales on land. Clay was the main proponent of this proposal. He made various arguments for the plan but did not succeed to have the plan fully implemented. To support the economic plan, Clay asked people from the west to support the plan since it could create market for their products. People from the south were asked to support since it would create market for cotton (Berkin, Miller & Mainwaring 432).

This proposal for America system was heavily opposed by Jackson administration. Among the issues under contention was construction of Maysville road. Despite Clay being able to acquire support for the plan, Jackson used his veto power to stop the plan.

Henry Clays Whig party was the main opposition to Andrew Jackson. The party had a vision for a country that was economically free. The American System proposed by the party was aimed at ensuring that America was economically free from Britain (Baxter 137). The federal proposal was to protect young American economy from unhealthy competition from developed economies in Europe. The internal improvements were aimed at improving the living condition of Americans by ensuring that they had essential facilities.

Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay are very important figures in American politics. Election of Andrew Jackson led to a great paradigm shift in American politics. His rule led to new face of democracy and led to full development of Democratic and Republican parties. Political opposition between Jackson and Clay helped to develop democracy in America. Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay will always be remembered not for their differences but for how they helped to shape modern democracy.

Work Cited

Baxter, Maurice. Henry Clay and the American System. New York: University Press of Kentucky, 2004. Print.

Berkin, Carol, Miller, Christopher & Mainwaring, Thomas. Making America Brief Edition: A History of the United States. New York: Wadsworth, 2000.

Hofstadter, Richard. The American Political Tradition: And the Men Who Made it. New York: Vintage Books USA, 1989.

Kennedy, David & Bailey, Thomas. The American spirit 12 TH, edition. New York: Wadsworth Pub Co., 2001.

Oates, Stephen & Errico, Charles. Portrait of America: Volume 1: To 1877. New York: Cengage Learning, 2006.

Introduction

Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States, serving his two terms from 1829 to 1837. He was a controversial president, described by his biographer, James Parton, as a democratic autocrat, an urbane savage, an atrocious saint (as cited in Wilson & Byker, 2008, 113:46). This paper aims to discuss the most significant moments of Jacksons presidency, including his common man identity, mistreatment of Native Americans, negative legacy, and other issues that have a connection with modern America.

Jacksons Difference from Other Presidents and his Common Man Identity

Andrew Jackson was different from other presidents mainly by his background. He came from an ordinary family and made his way up to the presidency. He was a soldier who managed to become a general and helped the US to win the Battle of New Orleans, and this victory made him a national hero. His personality appealed to common people because they could identify themselves with him. Jackson was seen as the frontiersman, the poor boy made good, the classic self-made man (Wilson & Byker, 2008, 06:08). Many other politicians, such as Tomas Jefferson and Henry Clay, considered him unfit for the political career (Wilson & Byker, 2008). However, in the eyes of people, Jackson was not an insider in Congress, which meant he was not as corrupt as other candidates with experience in government service and politics (Wilson & Byker, 2008). Jackson and his supporters ran the first election campaign in US history, during which they let people feel that they had the right to choose their president. By establishing his common man identity and engaging people in voting for him, Jackson managed to win two elections.

Jacksons Treatment of Native Americans

Jackson was unfair toward Native Americans, whom he first cruelly defeated in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and then banished from their lands on the east of the Mississippi to the west of the Mississippi. These actions were aimed to clear the land so that American immigrants could live there. To remove Native Americans from the east of the Mississippi, Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The Act allowed Georgia to pass laws infringing Indians rights to their lands. It was illegal, which was proved by the Supreme Court decision, according to which states did not have jurisdiction over Indian nations (Wilson & Byker, 2008). Yet, Jackson responded that the decision of the Supreme Court has fallen stillborn and enforced the Act (Wilson & Byker, 2008, 85:10). As a result of the Indian Removal, thousands of Cherokee families were forced to leave their homes, and more than two thousand Cherokees died from diseases during their journey (Wilson & Byker, 2008). The Indian Removal was a genocide of Native Americans because it discriminated against them solely based on their ethnicity and led to the deaths of many of them.

Jacksons Legacy

As was mentioned, Jackson subverted the established policy regarding the power to regulate Indian nations. According to the policy that had existed before the adoption of the Indian Removal Act, only the US federal government could deal with issues with Indian nations, but state governments did not possess such authority. The Act of 1830 violated this policy, even though the Supreme Court ruled against it. Jacksons presidency is also famous for his challenging the banking system. Jackson disliked banks, especially the Second Bank, because bankers, who were not elected, had too much power and could control peoples lives, as well as the countrys economy and politics (Wilson & Byker, 2008). Before Jacksons second election, Congress passed a bill to issue a new charter for the Second Bank, hoping that Jackson would have to sign it (Wilson & Byker, 2008). However, Jackson vetoed the bill on July 10, 1832, which led to the shutdown of the Second Bank.

Overall, despite Jacksons large contribution to American democracy, his legacy has several serious negative aspects. The most negative Jacksons legacy causes contemporary people to view him as the slaveholder, the Indian oppressor, even the Indian hater (Wilson & Byker, 2008, 06:20). He owed his wealth to many black slaves who were working at his plantation, the Hermitage. Jackson is also remembered by Indians as Jack Cena, or Jackson the devil for his efforts to evict Native Americans from their homes (Wilson & Byker, 2008, 88:23). The president advocated for democracy, but his democracy applied only to white people.

Issues of Jacksonian America and Their Connection with Modern America

Jacksons presidency revealed several racial, class, economic, and regional issues existing in America, and some of them are still relevant. For example, Jackson was a racist president, who was convinced that whites were superior to both African Americans and American Indians. The issue of racial discrimination is still present in modern America, with people of color experiencing some oppression in various areas of life. As for the class and economic issues, Jackson was concerned with preventing rich people from exploiting the working-class citizens, which was why he eliminated the Second Bank (Wilson & Byker, 2008). Today, the class struggle is still evident since there are a few people possessing most of the wealth, which is a key characteristic of capitalism. Finally, in the Jacksonian era, regional issues were related to the countrys expansion, but, today, they are concerned with the division of power between state and federal governments.

Conclusion

To sum up, Andrew Jacksons presidency was marked with a lot of controversies. He was a democrat for whites but an autocrat for Native Americans and African Americans. His presidency was darkened by the fact that he made his fortune by owning slaves and made thousands of Indians leave their homes. Many problems that existed in the Jacksonian era are still present in contemporary America.

Reference

Wilson, M., & Byker, C. (2008). Andrew Jackson: Good, evil and the presidency [Film]. Red Hill Productions.

Populist, abrasive and defensive were among the names the general public called Andrew Jackson. Now, two centuries later, those words might sound familiar. Our current President, Donald Trump, has also been given those nicknames. Although, they did have some major differences because Trump unlike Jackson never served in the military and was never involved in the White House until once elected. However, they mirror each other in a way that makes it hard to believe they’re not twins. President Donald Trump could be the reincarnation of the late President Andrew Jackson. They were both heavily criticized by the elites for being outsiders, they are/were extremely wealthy, and they both got rid of the previous cabinets and instead added controversial advisers who they were loyal too.

Andrew Jackson was an American soldier and our seventh President of the United States. Before he became the president, he was a general in the US Army and served in both sides of Congress. Andrew Jackson was a strong-willed man that nobody messed with. Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States and he never served in the military or in Congress. It may seem like Andrew and Donald had nothing in common, but that is not the case. This takes me to my first point, that they were both criticized by the elites.

President Andrew Jackson redefined what it meant to lead a country. Jackson introduced a new system while he was serving at the White House; the ‘spoils system’ was its name. The spoils system is a system where he appointed his civil servants to work in government jobs solely because they were loyal to him and his political party. The elites didn’t agree with that because they wanted to be in the White House (Cheathem). When Old Hickory did this, they were major inconveniences to him and they didn’t enjoy not being able to make decisions. Andrew also signed the Indian Removal Act which was another reason why they wanted him out of office (Sustain Atlanta). The Indian Removal Act was an act that resulted in the removal of tens and thousands of Native Americans.

Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton which made a lot of people upset but most importantly made the elites upset because they wanted her to win (Gingrich). The President of the United States also repealed and replaced Obamacare. He didn’t like the health insurance because he assumed other Republicans didn’t like it either. They actually did like the benefits of Obamacare, but didn’t enjoy it as much as they could have because Obama created the healthcare.

An additional reason why Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump are similar is because they are both affluent. Jackson possessed his fortune by owning several slaves on his plantation in Nashville called ‘The Hermitage’. Jackson owned close to 300 slaves in his lifetime. The Hermitage was a profit-making enterprise and Andrew allowed people to whip the slaves. The slaves were whipped to increase productivity and if he thought they needed a severe punishment. He would have advertisements all over town which were to capture fugitive slaves that had fled off the plantation. He offered “ten dollars extra, for every hundred lashes any person will give him, to the amount of three hundred” (Wikipedia). Jackson also made profit off speculating on Indian lands. As an army general he removed land from Indians.

In conclusion, Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson are what could be considered the rebirth of one another. There are bounteous reasons how Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson are duplicates, they both were heavily criticized by the elites, they are without a doubt extremely wealthy and they both expressed loyalty to controversial advisers. In the years to come there will be more opinions, comparisons and disagreements about those two. However, the public cannot say that Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump didn’t build an entirely new political movement.

Works Cited

1. “Andrew Jackson, America’s Original Anti-Establishment Candidate”. Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 31 Mar. 2016, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/andrew-jackson-americas-original-anti-establishment-candidate-180958621/.
2. “Andrew Jackson”. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Sept. 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson
3. Cheathem, Mark R., and the Washington Post. “Mark R. Cheathem, Washington Post: President Andrew Jackson Made Decisions Based on Loyalty”. WacoTrib.com, 21 Sept. 2018, https://www.wacotrib.com/opinion/columns/guest_columns/mark-r-cheathem-washington-post-president-andrew-jackson-made-decisions/article_871c9f98-304c-5723-9cb6-1a18bd67790e.html.
4. Gingrich, Newt. “Newt Gingrich: Like Andrew Jackson, Donald Trump Is an Intensely American President”. Fox News, FOX News Network, 22 Mar. 2017, https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-like-andrew-jackson-donald-trump-is-an-intensely-american-president.
5. Inskeep, Steve. “Donald Trump and the Legacy of Andrew Jackson”. The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 30 Nov. 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/trump-and-andrew-jackson/508973/.
6. “Remembering the Time Andrew Jackson Decided to Ignore the Supreme Court In the Name of Georgia’s Right to Cherokee Land”. SustainAtlanta, 27 Sept. 2018, https://sustainatlanta.com/2015/04/02/remembering-the-time-andrew-jackson-decided-to-ignore-the-supreme-court-in-the-name-of-georgias-right-to-cherokee-land/.
7. The American Historian, https://tah.oah.org/february-2017/donald-trump-is-not-a-twenty-first-century-andrew-jackson/.

The names of the ex-Presidents of USA, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson are taken in the same breath, and there is even a Jefferson Jackson Day that is celebrated by the democrats for fundraising endeavor. The two democratic presidents had similar views, and there were great similarities in the policies of these two towering personalities of US polity. However, there were also differences that will be talked about in this article.

Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a towering personality who wrote the declaration of American Independence and became the third President of the country. He was the founder of the Democratic Republican Party and even served as the Secretary of State in the cabinet of George Washington. He was first elected President in 1801and is known as the President who purchased Louisiana from France. During his second term, he passed a bill that banned the import of slaves into the country. He is till date considered as one of the greatest Presidents served the country.

Jackson

Jackson was the 7th President of the US and considered as a great democratic President by the historians. He is hailed for his role in protecting liberty and democracy. He is also known for his policies that supported power for individual states though he wanted a strong federal government too. He is the President who was strongly against a central bank and, in fact, ensured that the national bank collapsed by vetoing the renewal of its charter. He is also known for the passage of the Indian Removal Act that resulted in relocation of thousands of natives into a territory now known as Oklahoma.

Jefferson VS Jackson

• Jefferson was portrayed as a man of the people, but he was a wealthy farmer who did everything to protect the interests of the rich and the wealthy as a President. He let the Bank of the US continue and even purchased Louisiana from the French. On the contrary, Jackson was actually the man of the people who pushed for the demolition of the National Bank. He was a President who could easily mingle with the common people.
• Jefferson believed that to be able to vote a man should have property as if having property was a qualification. Jackson did not believe in this doctrine. Jefferson was of the view that only the educated elite should be given a chance to rule as it had the experience of managing men (read slaves). Jackson believed that all white men were eligible to hold office.
• Jefferson feared industrialization as he felt it would harm the interests of farmers. However, Jackson felt that industrialization was essential for the development.
• Jefferson opposed the Bank of the United States (BUS) but allowed it to continue. On the other hand, Jackson saw to it that the BUS was actually demolished.
• Both owned slaves and Jackson had no particular views on slavery though Jefferson believed slavery was an evil that would eventually end.
• Jefferson did not view natives as equals. Jackson also had a negative attitude towards the Native Americans.

Between 1824 and 1848, commonly referred to as the Jacksonian Period, American rights and ideals of the common man were implemented. This idea was pioneered by Andrew Jackson, the self-proclaimed ‘champion of the common man’. Jackson, unlike the candidates preceding the election of 1828, had come from humble beginnings. Jackson grew up in relative poverty with his widowed mother. As a young man, he moved to Tennessee to become a prominent self-taught lawyer and congressman, eventually becoming a renowned military leader in the War of 1812. Jackson’s inspirational background and support of the common man drove his popularity in the election of 1828. After winning the election, his focus on the common American man shaped the characterization of American politics, economic values, and resulting reform movements during the Jacksonian Period.

Recognizing the impact of the common people’s vote on Jackson’s chances of winning, he specifically tailored his campaigns and political values to common men and gaining their favor. As opposed to previous elections, Jackson’s campaigns and his opponents’ became a spectacle to appeal to mass audiences. Jackson held wildly popular rallies, parades, and even barbecues that focused on fair treatment and opportunity for common men. These exciting events led to more and more American people becoming interested in politics, and ultimately voting. This way of campaigning appealed to a much wider audience of Americans seeking to move up the social ladder as Jackson had previously done. Jackson’s way of political campaigning varied greatly from previous runners who had focused on the higher aristocratic classes for their vote, but it stuck with American society. Instead of focusing on those of the aristocratic upper class, candidates, following Jackson’s lead, focused on giving common men more say in how their country was run. As more white men gained rights to vote during the 19th century, politics became centered around gaining their popular vote. In order to appeal to and be understood by lower classmen, who were largely uneducated, politicians like Jackson adjusted their content so every man would be able to understand their ideals. With the rise in voter turnout came major competition between candidates to win the popular vote of the common man, now a vital part in the election. Politicians moved from largely talking about political issues to pointing out untrustworthy or unsatisfactory actions of their political counterparts in order to gain favor over them. Even in the beginning stages of the Jacksonian period, these directed attacks could be observed. In the election of 1828, Jackson and John Quincy Adams went head-to-head to win over the American people. John Quincy Adams directed most of his attention on Jackson’s ‘adultery’, when he married his wife, unknowingly, before her divorce had been finalized. Jackson, on the other hand, pointed at the “corrupt bargain” that took place between Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams that allowed him to beat Jackson in the election of 1824. They both thoroughly displayed the shift that had occurred in American politics during the Jacksonian period. Coupled with the increase in the distribution of newspapers, American political issues and propaganda became widely accessible to the American public. With this extensive political understanding available to the American people, voter turnout increased greatly. With his immense political popularity among the common men of America, Jackson had to restructure the American economy to reflect their values.

One of the most significant areas of economic concern characterized during the Jacksonian Period centered around the National Bank of the United States. Jackson, like many common Americans, saw bankers of any kind as men who didn’t work hard, but profited off of the labor of hard-working Americans. He even went as far as to say that ‘hard money’ like gold and silver was the only viable currency. This was based on the history of banks, especially that of the national bank, in overissuing paper money, which reduced the value of the dollar and income of these hard-working Americans. When Jackson came to power in 1828, he strongly shared this negative view of banks, mainly the national bank, with the American people. Run by Nicholas Biddle, the Second Bank of the United States regulated currency and was established to maintain stability within the American economy. During the 1820s, Biddle successfully used the National Bank’s power to prevent overissuing of money in local banks and maintain a stable currency within the country. Though Biddle was intelligent in running the National Bank, the running of his mouth got him and the National Bank into ultimate disfavor with Jackson. In 1832, Biddle was quoted as saying that the National Bank could ‘destroy’ any state bank if they desired to. Jackson saw this as an overstretch of power and a threat against the hard-working local banks of America. Like many Americans at the time, Jackson felt something must be done to remove this kind of threatening power out of the hands of the National Bank. So, in 1832, when Biddle convinced Congress to approve the extension of the National Bank’s charter for another twenty years, Jackson vetoed it. Reflecting the values of his ‘humble’ American supporters, Jackson thought that Congress gave the National Bank too much power and influence on the nation’s economy. Jackson’s veto also exemplified the amplified power that the presidency had gained during the Jacksonian period. In his second term (1832-36), Jackson began placing federal funds into state or ‘pet’ banks rather than the National Bank. Without regular federal deposits, the Bank of the United States had no control over the actions of state banks. Coupled with the rapid westward expansion, industrial, and agricultural improvements during the time period, state banks began to print more and more paper money to facilitate the country’s development. Prices increased greatly, along with wages, but these wage increases were not able to offset the dramatic increase in prices. Due to this, the actual value of workers’ wages greatly depreciated. Then the economic boom collapsed. This resulted mainly due to England’s demands that American merchants pay in hard money and Jackson’s implementation of the Specie Circular, which said the government would only accept gold or silver for land. Coupled with Britain’s lack of demand for cotton, a major American export, the US economy collapsed in the Panic of 1837. This would create a subsequent depression that would last until 1843.

With the rise of democracy during the Jacksonian Period, there emerged multiple influential reform movements. Because of the destruction of the previous aristocratic society, American men disconcerted themselves with society as a whole. They became more focused on their own inner feelings and how the government affected them, which drove reformers to effect change within individualist America. Reforms within society became focused on improving American society by restoring social harmony to a world of individuals, and to continue to blur the gap between the poor and wealthy. Many reform movements were religiously sparked by the Second Great Awakening which had democratized American Christianity, but even secular convictions of fair treatment drummed up support for change. An example of this was Abolitionism, which became one of the most important reform movements of the Jacksonian period. Religious men felt convicted of slavery, seeing it as a terrible sin posed upon African-Americans, while secular men viewed it as a contradiction of the ideals in the Declaration of Independence. Both sides viewed slavery as unacceptable, and therefore it needed to be immediately removed from American culture. One of the most prominent speakers on abolitionism was Frederick Douglas, a runaway slave who pushed against slavery and called for equal women’s rights. He published books on his experience as a slave, held rallies, and utilized newspaper articles to promote his cause. Similar to the new political campaigns of the period, Douglas and many other reformers utilized the media to reach more people. This allowed many reform movements to become known and supported by all types of Americans. More strict religious reformers sought to reform society by creating their own utopian societies. They made these communities to model what a perfect society in America would and should look like. These communities pictured society in America to be more cooperative as opposed to divided by individualism. These utopian societies, though not entirely effective to the desired extent, pushed for equal treatment between all people, particularly women, considered minorities at the time. Another rampant problem within America that promoted female protest and voiced concern was alcoholism. Men in the United States tended to drink large amounts of alcohol, which drained American families of the money they needed to stay afloat. Due to this, many women began to speak up, causing many states to pass anti-alcohol laws. Reforms during the Jacksonian period exemplified the response to the increase of individualism and rights for the common man, while still displaying the desire of American people for freedom. Due to seeing the heightened rights given to common men in government, it drove minorities like women and African-Americans to voice their desire for equal and fair treatment. In conjunction with the increase of media access and knowledge, these movements became very powerful and influential in American society.

The Jacksonian Period substantially developed the role of the common man in American government. Characterized by changing political strategies and economic values, the common man shaped the focus and interests of American society. Because of this, Americans became focused on protecting and exercising their rights and freedoms. The move from aristocratic hierarchy in the government to the common man elicited many reform movements to improve society, promote freedom, and give voices to minorities. These changes made during the Jacksonian Period moved America towards values of democracy, human equality, and freedom that have permeated American politics ever since.

Works Cited

1. ‘ANDREW JACKSON, BANKS, AND THE PANIC OF 1837’. The Lehrman Institute, http://lehrmaninstitute.org/history/Andrew-Jackson-1837.html
2. ‘Abolitionism’. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., http://www.britannica.com/place/United-States/Abolitionism
3. Brown, Alice, and Kathleen Day-Ketel. ‘The Expansion of Democracy during the Jacksonian Era – America in Class – Resources for History; Literature Teachers’. America in Class, 4 Dec. 2015, http://americainclass.org/the-expansion-of-democracy-during-the-jacksonian-era/
4. Corps, Terry. ‘The A to Z of the Jacksonian Era and Manifest Destiny’. Scarecrow Press, 2009.
5. History.com Editors. ‘Bank War’. History.com, A&E Television Networks, 15 Dec. 2009, http://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/bank-war
6. Kohl, Lawrence Frederick. ‘The Politics of Individualism: Parties and the American Character in the Jacksonian Era’. Oxford University Press, 1992.
7. Shmoop Editorial Team. ‘Economy in The Jackson Era’. Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008, http://www.shmoop.com/jackson-era/economy.html

On March 4th, 1829, Andrew Jackson was elected the 7th president of the United States. Jackson rose to his military heroism and to the fact that he was a man who started his life from scratch to reach the top. After being elected to power, President Jackson believed that all white men had a dire need to extend the right to vote. This move by Andrew Jackson was meant to remove the image that a classist society was the United States. Skin color became the determinant instead of using wealth as the set parameter to determine whether a man could vote. Jackson, however, failed to recognize the fact that the United States was not just made up of white men. He did not extend suffrage rights to women and African Americans who, during his presidency, were also part of American society.

The fact that he carried on the idea of the Manifest Fate was the second national development that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Under President Andrew Jackson, the United States continued to expand westwards. Native Americans were among the populations that were affected by this expansion. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed and President Andrew Jackson emphasized this. This Act was intended to force all the tribes of Native Americans residing in the country west of the Mississippi. This legislation required Native Americans to collaborate during this eviction with the federal government. President Andrew Jackson argued that Native Americans would move to areas east of the Mississippi but would be protected during their migration by the federal government, which would provide federal troops to ensure that the migrating Indian tribes were safe. However, the fact remains that as the various tribes continued to be displaced from the areas that were to the west of the Mississippi, thousands of Native Americans continued to die. In fact, the continued expansion of the United States caused the Native Americans to be confined in reserves while the expansion operations were carried out by some of the Native Indian tribes who were completely killed or died due to diseases subjected to them by the troops.

The third significant political development that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson is the fact that all the political parties that existed when he was elected to office were disbanded and he put a new party in their place, which he named the Democratic Party (Ward, 31). This party, even to date, still exists within the United States. In order to offer substantial opposition to the National Republican Party, which was at that time the only formidable party, Andrew Jackson created the Democratic Party. President Andrew Jackson can therefore be credited for being the Democratic Party’s pioneer in the United States. Andrew Jackson’s formation of the Democratic Party helped him clinch the presidential seat for the second term by unifying all the small parties that had been disbanded to form a strong Democratic Party.

The other significant national development that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson is that Jackson took advantage of presidential powers in Congress to veto bills. The reason why President Andrew Jackson chose to veto most of Congress’ bills is the fact that representatives belonging to the National Republican party occupied most of Congress. The other significant national development that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson is that Jackson took advantage of presidential powers in Congress to veto bills. The reason why President Andrew Jackson chose to veto most of Congress’ bills is the fact that representatives belonging to the National Republican party occupied most of Congress. It was therefore difficult for any of the bills from Andrew Jackson to make it through the floor of the house. This encouraged President Andrew Jackson to come up with what he called the System of Spoils. Critics have argued that President Andrew Jackson used the Spoils System to ensure that top jobs in the country, as well as political positions in government, are secured by most of his friends. President Andrew Jackson argued under the Spoils system that there should be a system where officials should undergo a form of rotation in federal offices (Kennedy, 185). This rotational system benefited President Andrew Jackson in that he was able to put most of the people in federal offices who were loyal to him. President Andrew Jackson justified the Spoils scheme by arguing that it was not possible to allow federal officials who were ineffective to be in their positions for a long time. According to him, the newly introduced Spoils System meant that government services would be more effective at the federal level. President Andrew Jackson justified the Spoils scheme by arguing that it was not possible to allow federal officials who were ineffective to be in their positions for a long time. According to him, the newly introduced Spoils System meant that government services would be more effective at the federal level.

The fact that he was able to pay the US national debt fully in 1835 is one of the major economic national developments that occurred during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. This made President Andrew Jackson the first president in the whole history of the United States to be able to repay the national debt entirely. The US national debt reached an all-time low of $ 33733.055 in 1835 (Remini, 180). Scholars argue that this is the lowest value ever reached by the US national debt since the first US fiscal budget in 1791 was created. It is important to note, however, that the economic achievement of Andrew Jackson was short-lived in that between 1837 and 1845 the United States faced a huge economic recession, meaning that Martin Van Buren assumed the presidency of the United States while the country was in the midst of an economic turmoil.

President Andrew Jackson is also known for his abolition of the Charter of the Federal Bank. President Andrew Jackson argued that it was necessary to abolish the federal bank because it created a situation where all federal financial wealth was concentrated in one place that, due to the lack of diverse financial institutions, exposed the country to financial risk. Andrew Jackson also argued that, in terms of currency exchange, the Federal Bank made the United States vulnerable to foreign market forces. Moreover, Jackson felt that the rich people in society could continue to increase their wealth by having a single federal institution that concentrated the financial wealth of the country in one place, while the poor people would continue to remain poor due to the lack of diverse financial sources that could allow a power man to establish himself. Andrew Jackson also felt that the legislature was focused on the idea of a federal bank. Andrew Jackson clearly benefited from presidential veto powers to preserve the executive’s power and to prevent a strong legislature from being created. Furthermore, it was during the presidency of Andrew Jackson that the 1834 Coinage Act was passed. This Act maintained that the main trading coinage was to be gold and silver. In relation to gold, the impact of this Act was that it reduced the value of silver. This caused certain losses for those individuals who were in possession of silver. However, the overall effect of many individuals choosing to change their gold to minted money resulted in an increased decrease in silver in transactions.

In conclusion, the presidency of Andrew Jackson coincided with important changes in American politics, some of which benefited Jackson. Increased suffrage rights for white men, the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the creation of the Democratic Party is just some of the national developments that took place in the 1830s.

Before the Jacksonian period, the Era of Good Feelings was a time of rapid American expansion and growth. The cotton gin revived slavery, and the mass adoption of cotton as a cash crop created a wave of Southern expansion, forming states such as Alabama and Tennessee. Republican President Monroe was able to consolidate political power as the rival Federalist party would continue to lose support, never again fielding a real presidential contender. However, this period of a unified America would soon be over with the election of Andrew Jackson. A hero of the War of 1812 and a self-stylized ‘common man’ Jackson would greatly enlarge the powers of the presidency. Riding on a wave of populist support, Jackson used his influence to pass legislation that he believed would aid the ‘common man’, often to the detriment of the aristocracy. Much of the legislation passed during Jackson’s presidency, especially concerning economic and political reform, democratized government power and supported a white populace that Jackson felt were being suppressed by the wealthy. For these reasons, the Jacksonian period saw a shift in political power as later presidential candidates would attempt to appeal to a less educated and poorer, yet more politically influential, subset of the white American populace. Thus, the Jacksonian period was to a significant extent, the era of the ‘common man’.

The Jacksonian period was marked by universal white male suffrage, one of the many expansions of political power for the poor, white Americans. Before the Jacksonian period, western expansion had ramped up as the allure of free land drove many Americans to migrate west, settling new territories and eventually forming new states. To attract more settlers, newly formed western states would often lower voting requirements. This allowed poor white farmers to participate in the democratic process that had, until then, been reserved for wealthy landowners. This shift by western states forced many of the original thirteen English colonies to adopt similar policies, fearing that they would lose political power. By the end of the Jacksonian period, almost all white men in all states met the requirement to vote. The effect of this drastic shift was that more Americans participated in the election process, resulting in a shift of power to the ‘common man’. Presidential candidates that followed Jackson would attempt to replicate his mass public appeal, as they now needed the support of a less educated, and poorer constituent. Universal white male suffrage was promoted by Jackson who made political reforms that were aimed at increasing political participation among the ‘common man’. He replaced the national caucus system with the national convention system, changing the way presidential candidates would be elected. Jackson believed the national caucus system was elitist as wealthy aristocratic supporters had the sole power to determine presidential candidates, allowing well-connected individuals to win the party nomination without popular support. The national convention system, however, was meant to empower the people by requiring presidential candidates to win the nomination by garnering the support of a majority of elected delegates. The effect of this change created more political opportunities for the ‘common man’ at every stage of the electoral process, and it required presidential hopefuls to appeal to popular support within their party. Jackson believed that unlike Congress or the Supreme Court, the president represented the will of the people, derived his power from the people, and as such, Jackson’s policies were aimed at empowering the people.

Of the many institutions that Jackson disrupted during his time in office, none was more controversial than the supposed Bank War he had with Nicholas Biddle, the president of the National Bank. Jackson believed that a centralized, National Bank stifled economic growth and only stood to grow the wealth of the aristocratic elite. When the renewal of the Bank’s charter was passed by Congress, Jackson vetoed it, vowing to destroy the National Bank. This made the National Bank the central issue of Jackson’s reelection. When Jackson won reelection, he believed that the populace supported the removal of the National Bank and he took steps to ensure its demise. Jackson removed all federal funds from the National Bank and deposited them in state banks. Biddle responded by calling in loans and reducing credit, believing that a financial crisis would convince the public of their need for a centralized bank. While Biddle’s actions did hurt many businesses that could not secure the funds to pay back their loans, the US economy boomed as state banks started loaning large sums of money to industrialists and farmers and printing large amounts of money. This led to rapid inflation that eventually caused the Panic of 1837. The effect of Jackson’s Bank War was a recession, initiated by the Panic of 1837, which would last until the mid-1840s.

While Jackson’s actions were indeed aimed at empowering the ‘common man’, the effects were mass unemployment, starvation, and a shrinking US economy.

Introduction:

The early years of the United States witnessed two influential presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, who shaped the political landscape and contributed significantly to the development of American democracy. Although both leaders championed the ideals of democracy, their approaches and policies differed in several key aspects. This essay aims to compare and contrast Jeffersonian democracy and Jacksonian democracy, highlighting their distinct visions for the nation and their impacts on American politics and society.

Body:

Background and Ideological Foundations:

Jeffersonian Democracy: Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, believed in agrarianism, decentralized government, and strict interpretation of the Constitution. He envisioned an agrarian society of independent farmers, emphasizing individual liberty, limited government, and protection of civil liberties.

Jacksonian Democracy: Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, advocated for the expansion of suffrage, popular participation in politics, and a stronger executive branch. He championed the interests of the common man, while also promoting a more assertive and centralized federal government.

Suffrage and Political Participation:

Jeffersonian Democracy: Jefferson’s vision of democracy was more restricted, favoring property qualifications for voting and limited political participation. He believed that an educated and informed citizenry was essential for a functioning democracy.

Jacksonian Democracy: In contrast, Jacksonian democracy sought to broaden political participation. Jackson championed the expansion of suffrage to include white males of all economic backgrounds, thereby increasing the number of citizens involved in the democratic process.

Economic Policies:

Jeffersonian Democracy: Jefferson’s economic policies focused on agrarianism and rural development. He favored a decentralized economy with an emphasis on agriculture, rural self-sufficiency, and limited government intervention.

Jacksonian Democracy: Jackson’s economic policies centered around the idea of economic populism. He opposed the privileges of the wealthy elite and supported policies such as the dismantling of the Bank of the United States, increased government regulation of the economy, and the promotion of westward expansion and land ownership for common farmers.

Native American Policies:

Jeffersonian Democracy: Jefferson’s policies toward Native Americans reflected a contradictory stance. While he expressed support for Native American rights and cultural preservation, he also pursued policies of assimilation and land acquisition that ultimately displaced Native populations.

Jacksonian Democracy: Jackson’s policies toward Native Americans were marked by forced removal, notably through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. His administration implemented the Trail of Tears, a tragic event in which thousands of Native Americans were forcibly relocated, leading to immense suffering and loss of life.

Legacy and Impact:

Jeffersonian Democracy: Jefferson’s legacy lies in his contributions to the idea of limited government, individual liberties, and the promotion of agrarianism. His ideals influenced subsequent political thinkers and shaped the early foundations of American democracy.

Jacksonian Democracy: Jackson’s legacy is characterized by the expansion of democratic participation and the growth of executive power. His influence on American politics and society can be seen in the rise of populism and the strengthening of the presidency as an institution.

Conclusion:

Jeffersonian democracy and Jacksonian democracy, though both rooted in the principles of democracy, differed significantly in their approaches to governance, suffrage, economic policies, and treatment of marginalized groups. Jefferson’s emphasis on agrarianism and limited government contrasted with Jackson’s populism and executive assertiveness. Understanding the distinctions between these two democratic traditions allows us to appreciate the complexities of American political history and the ongoing evolution of democratic ideals in the United States.