Josh+M.+-+AJ+-+FA12

Andrew Jackson March 15, 1767, Waxhaw-June 8, 1845, The Hermitage, Nashville Political Party: Democrat Terms in office: 1st 1828-1832 2nd 1832-1836 Vice President: 1st 1828-1832 John C. Calhoun 2nd 1833-1837 Martin Van Buren Jackson had a rather harsh mentality towards the Native Americans in the west and in Georgia. He helped to keep the standard of abuse to the Native Americans when he forced them to leave their homeland and go to reservations only to be moved again. This was shown in the Trail of Tears, which was the forced march of Cherokees out of their homeland to move them further to the west. The harshness of the treatment was observed by many people who were ordered to force the Native Americans out of their land. Mexico allowed Americans to settle the land that is now known as Texas, under the stipulation that they would follow Mexican laws, and become Mexican citizens over time. The stipulations placed by Mexico were completely ignored especially over the issue of slavery, because slavery was abolished in Mexico, but the Texans had slaves. Tension grew as Mexico tried to enforce their laws, but the Texans didn’t see Mexico as their government so they broke off and became the Lone Star Republic. As time went on the Lone Star Republic began attracting attention from European powers, especially France and Britain, who wanted to have them as a way to trade into America and bypass American tariffs, and this violated the Monroe Doctrine. Near the end of Jacksons second term he formally recognized the Lone Star Republic, which started discussion of the annexation of Texas as a state. This did not affect the Jacksonian administration as future administrations because it was right at the end of his second term. Jackson had a sweeping victory for the presidential election in 1828 after having the previous election taken through “the corrupt bargain. Jackson broke the mold set by his presidential predecessors and gave the presidency, and the Executive Branch, new power over the federal government. He also helped America to grow through economics and politics. However Jackson pushed the boundary of the constitution with many of his actions, which caused many people to feel as if he was being unconstitutional. Jackson set the standard for presidency in the future and caused some huge changes in America, but because of the reckless way that Jackson acted to do these things he is deserving of a B+. Jackson’s main goal of his presidency, which got him into office, was to represent the common man and not only appeal the minority aristocracy. One way he did this was through the spoils system that he put into place for his administration. He placed many of his supporters into political office in the Executive branch which was able to give more common men offices in the government. This was a wonderful idea in theory, but many of the people that were placed into office by Jackson were unfit for office and made Jackson look bad. Jackson also wanted to keep executive power which he kept with a questionable iron fist. He did not allow any opposition from the states over his laws which were shown with the Force act, which allowed him to use force to enforce his laws, in response to the nullification crisis in South Carolina. Jackson’s relationship with congress changed as his presidency went on. In the beginning during his first term it was the 21st and 22nd U.S. Congress and during this time both the House of Representatives and Senate has a Jacksonian majority. This changed however in his second term for the first two years during the 23rd U.S. Congress when there was an Anti-Jacksonian, or National Republican, majority in Senate while the House of Representatives still had a Jacksonian, or Democrat, majority. This would seem that Jackson got together very well with legislature however there were multiple major bills that were vetoed by Jackson, including bills for a federal bank and expansion of roads at federal expanse. He was able to get bills passed through congress though when he was in favor of congress, like the Indian Removal Act. This caused the Native Americans to be forced out of Georgia because Jackson felt that land should be for Americans. The positive relationship was shown in the nullification crisis when Jackson asked congress to pass the force act so that he could use military force to control the crisis in South Carolina. A positive action by Jackson was how he handled the Nullification crisis in South Carolina. The Nullification crisis came about in response to the tariffs of 1828 and 1832. The South Carolinians felt that the tariffs were unconstitutional and felt that they could nullify it. This could have brought on secession and the end of federal power because any state could nullify anything that the federal government passed. This led to Jackson asking congress to pass a force bill allowing him to go into South Carolina with military force and put an end to the nullification crisis. Jackson said that he would sweep through South Carolina and hang all of the nullies, which is what those supporting nullification were called. This action although to some seems to be an overreaction, was necessary to show that federal government had the power to pass federal laws and annul the laws, and not annulling laws was not the power of an individual state. This was critical at that time to hold the country together and keep a form of union in the country. A negative action by Jackson was the Indian Removal Act, which caused the trail of tears. From the beginning of Jackson’s presidency he made treaties with Native American tribes to move them further west, so that the land would be open for further expansion west by Americans. Promises of moving the Natives to a land that was and would be theirs was what was said during the treaties, but after some time the Natives would be moved again even though the treaty said it would be their land. The trail of tears which came from this was caused when a small group of Cherokees signed a removal treaty that the whole Cherokee tribe didn’t agree to. Those who agreed left, however most of the Cherokee didn’t so Jackson ordered that they be forced from the land. This went on to impact the administration of Van Buren when he continued the orders and the forced march of the rest of the tribe north occurred, which was known as the trail of tears. Jackson’s action that made the largest impact on the future of America was his decision to recognize the Lone Star Republic. Although this had very little effect on Jackson’s own administration because it was at the end it had a huge impact on the future of America. His recognition of the Lone Star Republic being independent from Mexico allowed for discussion over annexation of Texas as a state. The discussion of annexation of Texas brought up larger issues that were not only about the state. It brought up the issue of slavery in America again as the balance of slave to Free states was threatened. It also caused many Americans to begin moving into the land to the west and Texas and settling there now that it was free from Mexico. These were all issues that Jackson did not have to deal with and were left for future administrations. The United States was better off after the Jackson administration because he was able to keep the country together under his tight control. Although he did pass some things that hurt the United States, Jackson did more good for the country by keeping the states together under his iron grip over the states and the government. During his administration there was no question of the government or else Jackson would bring down the hammer on those who opposed him. Although a bit strong handed Jackson made sure that the country was better off after his presidency. **Bibliography** "Andrew Jackson: Inaugural Address." //Andrew Jackson: Inaugural Address//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "Andrew Jackson." //The White House//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "Andrew Jackson." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . Degregorio, William A. "Andrew Jackson." //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. 4th ed. Avenel: Wings, 2005. 105-20. Print. "Haysville Community Library." //Haysville Community Library//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "Miller Center." //American President: Andrew Jackson//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "21st United States Congress." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "22nd United States Congress." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "23rd United States Congress." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. . "24th United States Congress." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. .
 * Thematic Content**
 * Thesis**
 * Goals**
 * Relationship with Congress**
 * Positive**
 * Negative**
 * Future Impact**
 * Conclusion**