Andrew Jackson Dbq Essay

Andrew Jackson Did Not Advance Democracy

Andrew Jackson once stood as the United States seventh president. However, he did not just get this job handed to him. When he was a child, Andrew Jackson did not have the same affluence as other presidents. He was an orphan when he was young, living in a cabin. Without any money or support, Jackson had to work to gain a high position. He rose through the ranks to a more esteemed position as a general in the War of 1812. As a result, Jackson earned a reputation as a war hero for beating the British in New Orleans. Jackson won the election in 1828 because people believed he was a man for the people and very democratic. Andrew Jackson may have seemed like a democratic candidate at the surface, but his

This act allowed states to remove Native Americans from places east of the Mississippi River. Jackson supported this act because he wanted to make more land available for American farmers. Only because of Andrew Jackson did congress approve the removal. For instance, “Under pressure from Jackson, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830” (“RCE”). Congress clearly passed the law as a result of the pressure Jackson applied to them. Jackson’s support for the removal of Native Americans demonstrates how he was not truly very democratic. Jackson believed that the people ought to constantly have a say in how the government makes decisions. However, the removal of Native Americans without any consent indicates how this may not have been entirely his intention. Even though Andrew Jackson performed this service for Americans, there were numerous alternative ways he could have carried it out. The Indian Removal act was not the only way that Jackson showed his anti-democratic views, the way he used the spoils system also demonstrated the opposite of

Georgia case is another occurrence where Andrew Jackson failed to advance democracy. The Cherokee, in collaboration with Worcester, created this legal dispute as a means of defense. According to the Cherokee, Georgia should not have any power over them because they are an independent nation. The Cherokee were friends with Worcester, who supported their right to remain. Aside from that, Worcester was a white man who resisted orders to leave the Cherokee land. In court, they ruled that Georgia was not allowed to do anything to the Cherokees because they were declared to be a separate nation. However, this ruling did not let them off so easily. According to “HMH”, it reads, “Georgia, however, ignored the Court’s ruling, and President Jackson’s response was to take no action to make Georgia follow the ruling. “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it,” Jackson supposedly said” (“RCE”). This confirms that Jackson had no intention of pushing Georgia to follow the ruling. However, it can be seen as if he supported it. Because he disregarded the presidential oath to obey the law, this can be perceived as being