The presidential election of 1836 is approaching. Besides heating discussions of the nominees such as Willie Person Mangum, we should also look back into Andrew Jackson’s presidency and ask ourselves: what type of president he is?
Andrew Jackson was elected as the President of the United States in 1829 and was re-elected in 1834. Born in poverty and became a successful self-made man, Jackson won the popular vote with a lie that he would be a “President of the People” and a “Spokesman of the Common Man”; being a military hero at the Battle of New Orleans, he failed his obligation to protect the 12 million people in America, but instead trying to turn the whole country into a place where the people were his soldiers and he would be the Commander
…show more content…
When the bank just established its branch in South Carolina, people was dubious about what it would bring. However, doubts soon turned into cheers. International cotton and tobacco trading flourished because the British partners trusted our financial system, and the convenience of withdrawing money in any state in America pleased people who travelled frequently for business. “As the demand of cotton from Britain increases, the best thing about the nation bank is,” said Edward Burgess, owner of Burgess Plantation, “ I can borrow freely and store my money safely, and investing the bank seems to be very profitable. It facilitates private business growth and overall economic progress.” We thought this was the future of the United States. But once again, Andrew Jackson ruined everything single handedly. “ I have always been afraid of banks,” he said, “The Bank is trying to kill me, Sir, but I shall kill it!” He vetoed the recharter bill for the most ridiculous excuse that the BUS created “artificial inequality” by financially benefiting “the few at the expense of the many”. When did it become a crime to make money through hard working? Being completely ignorant about business and economy, Andrew Jackson’s destruction of the bank was a sheer disaster. The credit contractions the massive bank business suspension and unemployment have severely hindered …show more content…
He used the veto rights extensively, putting his arbitrary will above the Congress and the states. One of the most prominent political newspapers, White House Insiders, has expressed their concern that “the Congressmen have been complaining about President Andrew Jackson’s use of executive power to overturn legislative decisions. According to the congressional records, Jackson has vetoed over 900 bills. 100 times more bills vetoed than in George Washington or John Adams’s periods.” Horrible! Think about this. We can’t know for exact which bills he vetoed, except for the bank charter, but it’s a fair guess to say that among the 900 bills, many would benefit our country. For example, it could be tobacco protective laws, or international trading custom rules, or improved domestic transportation systems. But, what bills did Jackson pass instead? The Tariff of Abomination, the Force Act, and the Specie Circulation! Andrew Jackson has rejected everything that could potentially help the country grow and people have better lives, but enforced unconstitutional laws to inflict us, his people! If we didn’t stop the executive power from growing stronger and eating up the congressional and states’ power, our country would turn into a perfect copy of the British monarchy. The monarchy that our ancestors had bleeded to fight against. What’s the difference between a “President of People” who can run
Following the legacy of Alexander Hamilton, Clay was a strong supporter of the Bank of the United States, which was a part of his American system. Clay saw the bank as a necessity for economic growth in America. However, when the bank was up for re-charter in 1832, Andrew Jackson vetoed the bill. In his well-written veto Jackson, explained his decision to veto the bill citing it unconstitutional. Jackson believed “if the government would stop creating inequality by giving artificial stimulation to the engines of the Market Revolution…men would be left in a state of modest but natural inequality” .
Although some of Andrew Jackson’s actions were questionable, he always had good intentions for the people. Known as the “Champion of the Common Man” (ushistory.org) , Jackson was loved by the majority. For example, in the Election of 1824, he had more popular votes than his candidates and during his inauguration, the American people had acted like he had “rescued them from a disaster” (Hart 186). Andrew Jackson made sure that the rich did not get any special privileges and had done many things, that he believed, would create peace and equality among the people. The Campaign of 1828, his selection of cabinet members, the Spoils System, the expulsion of the Bank of the United States and the Indian Removal could be considered questionable and
The founders of the United States did their best to create a government that would not allow erroneous decisions to greatly harm the nation. They set a percent of presidents being politically sound and well-known; their beliefs for how the nation should be handled were essential to their campaign. President Andrew Jackson, however, did not follow this system, instead winning primarily by his personality and popularity amongst the common American. While his actions in office often appeared to be for the people, most had a hidden selfish side to them that he easily covered up. With the election of 1828, Jackson radically changed American politics, focusing them more on public appearance and personal character than on intelligence and political views, making personality just as, if not more important than the actual politics of a political term.
Andrew Jackson was seen as a common man the voice of the people by some. By others he was King Andrew, trampling the constitution and instigating tyranny. Jackson’s presidency impacted democracy, through his use of the veto power, and his claim of Clay creating a “corrupt bargain”, which is not a turning point for a rise in democracy despite him giving white male suffrage. During Jackson’s use of executive power weakened voice of the people.
He gave his friends and supporters government jobs putting untrained people in places of power. Andrew Jackson used the veto twelve times during his presidency, which is more than any other president
Andrew Jackson presidency focused a lot on small government and pleasing the common man. He attempted to shut down national banks to make government smaller. Jackson also enforces things like the Indian Removal Policy, which strengthened the bond between Jackson and the common man. Jackson was the first and only president to make the country debt too. All of these impacted are government today very much as well as other governments around the world.
Andrew Jackson was one of the greatest presidents who made very difficult decisions for our country. Although his choices were not always the popular decision, he made choices that were always promoting democracy. The things that make a good democracy are: giving people a say in government, having a good leader that you can trust to make wise decisions, peace and stability between each country and other states, and having equal power in the government (checks and balances). Andrew Jackson came into office with a popular vote and great support. His supporters viewed him as a man of the people.
Because of these infringements on the rights of the people, Andrew Jackson was not a champion of the common man; the nickname “King Andrew,” from his opponents was accurate. When he was elected president, Andrew Jackson felt that he needed to remove John Quincy Adams’ appointees from office. To him, the clear answer was to replace them with his own followers and friends, creating a government where only one political party was effectively represented by presidential appointments. This use of the spoils system put people who were not qualified in powerful positions simply as a reward for supporting Jackson. He also had thirteen unofficial members in his cabinet to advise him.
This is just one of the many examples of Jackson’s vetoes. While Jackson vetoed 12 bills in his time of presidency, other presidents at the time vetoed either none or no more than about 7. At the time, 12 vetoes was quite a lot compared to the other presidents. He had vetoes so many laws because he wanted to be the only person running the government. This is another example of his abuse of power.
Does Andrew Jackson Deserve to be on the 20-dollar bill? In my belief Andrew Jackson does not belong on the 20-dollar bill, due to the simple fact of that in 1836 Andrew Jackson tried over throwing the U.S national bank because he believed that hard currency like gold and sliver should be used. Andrew Jackson in some sense is an ironic placement on any paper currency in the United States. Although this topic is very controversial in the United States. I will try and clarify my belief about why Andrew Jacksons placement on the twenty dollar bill and why he should be reconsidered.
From what I read and what he said, I thought it sounded like he didn’t want to shut down the United States Bank. And then in Document 5, Webster acted like Jackson should put an end to the bank by saying, “It manifestly seeks to inflame the poor against the rich, it wantonly attacks whole classes of the people, for the purposes of turning against them the prejudices and resentment of the other classes.”
Andrew Jackson was a tough man. He even went by the name of ‘Old Hickory’. Andrew Jackson was a terrible president, but also a good president. There are many reasons why Andrew Jackson was a bad president. These are only the few reasons that we all already know or they are major events stated in US history.
Jackson ignored the Supreme Court. He continued forcing indians out the west. This journey is known as the Trail of Tears. One-fourth of indians died from this journey. Just because Jackson was put on the $20 bill doesn’t mean he did not do bad things.
He is saying that the bank is being taken over by the rich and that the bank isn’t helping the common men at all. This shows his concern for economic equality because he cares about the common men and how they are being treated economically compared to the rich and wealthy. Jackson’s veto killed that power and by 1833 the bank was gone. Andrew Jackson also showed his concern for economic equality in 1828 when he supported the common men even though they weren't rich and wealthy. He took in their concerns and he treated both rich and poor with the same amount of respect and they respected him.
Jackson though he was helping the common man when he struck down the banks. in spite of these developments and the rosy observations of Harriet Martineau, there clearly were groups in society that were no part of the “equal” economic opportunities. Philip Hone, a Whig businessman in New York City, for example, recorded his impressions of “dreadful riots” between the “Irish and the Americans” as well as “hostility to the blacks” in New York and Philadelphia in 1834 . Certainly, we might assume that Hone was “anti-Jackson” and therefore willing to paint a dark picture of urban life, but the historical evidence is clear that America has always had “out-groups”. Which simply didn’t have the same economic opportunities as the mainstream of society