Jacksonian Democratic Ideals

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

Andrew Jackson emerged as a war hero from the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. In the election of 1828, Jackson’s campaign brought the common man into voting booths by sweeping votes in the south and west, mainly agrarian farmers and frontiersmen looking to expand west, while John Quincy Adams took most of the Old Federalist votes in the New England region. While Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the Constitution and protectors of political democracy, individual freedoms and equality in terms of economic opportunity, they also took credit for increased white male suffrage, as voting participation increased dramatically through the Jackson era. However, the problems such as slavery, Indian removal policies, woman’s and

The era of Andrew Jackson which was nicknames the era of the “common man” certainly lived up to its name. As the seventh President of the United States, Jackson had a major effect on the life of the common man, in such a way that the life of the common man would never be the same again. Jackson’s aim, after the manner in which he was defeated in the Presidential Election of 1824, despite receiving more popular votes than John Quincy Adams who took on the office, was to reduce the power and the authority of the elite. When he came into power after the 1828 election Jackson began to carry out his proposals. Jackson expanded the voting right to all men, in accordance with the Declaration of Independence of 1776 which declared that “all men are created equal” instead of just the elite.

Overall the Indian removal wasn’t exactly the smartest thing Andrew Jackson had done in office. I selected Andrew Jackson since he seemed like an interesting president. I knew that he had founded the Democratic Party. I was told that most people loved him or hated him there was no in between. This brought up questions about why that was the case and what he did terrifically right or wrong.

Andrew Jackson, being a tyrant, abused his power in his time of presidency.   He was the 7th president, but before Jackson’s presidency, he had no political experience. One of the only things that really qualified him was the hardships he went through when he was younger. His father had died while Jackson was young and Jackson received the reputation as a “self-made man”, or an independent man.

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. Andrew Jackson promoted democracy well. This is true because he kept peace and stability between the nation and he provided people equal rights.

Andrew Jackson’s presidency is one of the more debated presidencies in American history. Many see him as a hero while others view him as opposite. Depending on which history book is read, portrayals of him are sometimes of “the common man,” who attacked a political system that ignored the will of the common citizens. Other texts would portray Jackson as tyrant, one who disrespected many of the institutions outlined in the Constitution. He is usually celebrated by some because he defended the rights of the common people.

In Andrew Jackson’s time, there was a great deal of cultural and political phenomena that made his populist agenda relevant to the people of the United States. For example, one of the prominent concerns among Americans during Jackson’s era was the rampant corruption which had become prominent throughout the Monroe administration. Indeed, during the 1824 election the issue of corruption was of prominent concern, and Jackson’s engagement with the issue helped achieve him a plurality of electoral votes. However, Jackson’s electoral victory was dismissed when the House of Representatives came together to elect John Quincy Adams in a contingent election. The dismissal of Jackson’s victory at the whim of the political establishment seemed to prove Jackson’s and the country’s concerns over the corrupt political elite undermining the interests of the people.

Andrew Jackson was the first "people’s president”. His humble frontier heritage and heroic title won support throughout the nation. Jackson was in touch with the common man and had respect for him. This for once, allowed the “people” to have a more dominant role in government, which is something that America prides itself upon today. However, this “people’s president” presidency was plagued with controversy.

The government tried to force assimilation on Native Americans as well as an attempt to “kill the indian, save the man.” These ideas and policies are similar to those popular during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Jackson developed a sense of ‘paternalism’ towards indians and believed he was saving them by forcing them to live out west of the Mississippi river away from white culture. The difference was that Jackson did not believe in assimilation of indians into white culture, he believed they should be kept separate. With the help of the Federal government removing indians from land west of the Mississippi, Americans were

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.

Others, on the other hand, believe he was far from accomplishing that. Politics are a way that expresses how the Unites States was not democratized during this time period. Jacksons animosity towards the Indians exposed his undemocratic actions during his first years of his presidency. However,

One of the biggest thing that Jackson had done as a president was in 1832. Jackson vetoed a bill that would renew the second bank charter early. Jackson stated “I will kill it!”. He said this because he didn’t like the bank at all and he believed that it made the rich richer and the poor poorer. He said in his veto message “It is easy to conceive that great evils to our country and its institutions might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people.”

Jackson had a great vision of running the country from a common man’s perspective but failed to oversee beyond this perspective and see the bigger picture. At the start of the new nation, the government was bouncing back and forth wether power should stay with the states or within the central governmetn intself. Jackson followed many of the Jefferson’s idea for government and also belived on states rights. This idea slowly began to change when one of the states, south carolina, began to threat the government of seceden from the union.

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” .