Andrew Jackson: Roughshod President
Andrew Jackson, more than any of his other predecessors, was elected by the popular vote. He was a president who "sought to act as the direct representative of the common man" (whitehouse.gov). In 1828 "Old Hickory", the nickname he received from his numerous conflicts with the Indians, won numerous state elections and gained control of the Federal administration. His ideals were very similar to those of former President Thomas Jefferson, representing "the common man". He believed in the rule of the poor people representing themselves. His presidency consisted of a continual battle between the Second Bank of the United States. "Jackson objected to the existence of a bank that had a powerful voice in national affairs yet was not responsive to the will of the people" (whitehouse.gov). As national politics revolved around Jackson and his opposition, two parties grew out of the old Republican Party-the Democratic Republicans which supported Jackson, and the National Republicans whom opposed him. His presidency was also marked by his pursuit of policies aimed at removing the five so-called "Civilized Tribes" from their lands in the Southwest: The Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, and Seminoles. He is also noted for his In
During Jackson's presidential years two states were admitted to the Union (Arkansas in 1836 and Michigan in 1837). He also made a very important good choice in choosing Roger Taney as one of his Supreme Court appointments. Taney had an impact on American life long after Jackson's retirement. In 1836, the last year of Jackson's administration, Taney succeeded John Marshall as chief justice. He became well known for his pro-slavery position in the Dred Scott case in 1857. After succeeding John Marshall, Chief Justice Taney reflected Jackson's views when he refused to recognize Congress' authority to ban slavery in territory areas. He also made it known that "Blacks were 'inferior' beings who had 'no rights which the white man was bound to respect'"(statelibrary.dcr). Jackson's Presidency is marked by his huge battle with the Second Bank of the United States, charted by congress in 1816. He hated banks, all banks. He believed that bankers were like "parasites who preyed upon the poor and honest working people of America" (americanpresident.org). The Second Bank had the right to hold all government money, sold all government bonds, and made commercial loans. However, voters could not dictate its policies or reign in its power. The Bank worked much like an autonomous government with few democratic controls over it. Jackson objected to it because although it had a powerful voice in national affair, it "was not responsive to the will of the people"(library.advanced). The bank, he claimed, "benefited only the creditor, investor, and speculator at the expense of the working and agrarian classes that produced the real wealth of the nation by their labor"(library.advanced). Wealth became concentrated in the hands of the few, and Jackson was determined not to let that happened. Because of these things, Jackson worked hard throughout his presidency to kill it. dian Removal Act of 1830, the Tariff of Abominations and his Kitchen Cabinet that he assembled relying heavily on the spoils system. When Jackson returned to the White House in 1832, Congress passed an even higher tariff. South Carolina seriously threatened to secede when it "passed an Ordinance of Nullification to (1) nullify the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 and (2) authorize the state government to block the collection of customs duties at the Port of Charleston"(Americanpresident.org). The state also called the militia to s
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Approximate Word count = 1616
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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