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 * __Andrew Jackson __**

//March 15, 1767 - June 8, 1845 // //Terms of Office (years): 1829-1833; 1833-1837(two terms) // //Vice Presidents: John Calhoun; Martin Van Buren // //Political Party: Democrat //  A member of the Democratic Party, Jackson was known for being a rough frontiersman, which appealed to the many people pushing towards the western half the United States at the time. Although his political party believed in a weak federal government, Jackson’s abuse of power doing such things as the spoils system, Indian removal act and demolition of the Bank of the United States earns him the grade of a C. **__Goals as President: __**  Jackson had various goals coming into the seat of president. These goals included removing non supporters of the democrats, expanding westward and ultimately removing the Bank of the United States. Influenced by his party, Jackson Implemented the “Spoils System” this system awarded public office on the condition that they were a supporter of the Democrats. Jackson defended this obvious action to remove the old non democratic politicians still remaining in office by remarking “Better to bring in new blood; each generation deserved its turn at the public trough.” This ultimately completed the goal of Jackson and his fellow Democrats.
 * __Thesis: __**

Jackson was also dedicated to the expansion of the west, however, this expansion led to obvious confrontations with the Native Americans currently using this land as their home. In the 1820’s there was roughly 125,000 Native Americans living east of the Mississippi. The government attempted to civilize these Indians into the “white society” of America. Despite their best attempts, Georgia’s legislature declared the Cherokee tribe council illegal and took over all Indian affairs and lands. The Cherokees appealed the decision to the Supreme Court who upheld the Indian’s rights three times. The frontiersman in Andrew Jackson caused him to ignore this ruling and began the “Indian Removal Act” which bodily removed the Indians west of the Mississippi where he believed they could carry on their traditions and culture. It was supposed to be a voluntary movement to avoid being cruel and unfair. Ultimately Jackson’s policy forced the movement of 100,000 Indians opening new lands for Americans to occupy.

Jackson’s last goal was seen after his victory in 1832. During the political debate leading up to his re- election he faced a bill renewing the Bank of United States which he quickly vetoed saying the monopolistic bank was unconstitutional, contrary to the Supreme Court already declaring it constitutional prior to Jackson’s veto. Slowly, Jackson siphoned Federal funds from the bank slowly killing it, the death of the Bank of United States hurt the economy of the United States Greatly but accomplished Jackson’s goal of demolishing an institution he believed too powerful.

**__President and Congress: __**  Jackson was on good terms with congress during his presidency. Due to Thomas Jefferson’s revolution of 1800, this eliminated the Federalists from presidency, and completely during Jackson’s term. This revolution for the most part created one Democratic Party without much opposition. During Jackson’s term there was a Whig party forming, which Henry Clay, a rival of Jackson, was a part of. The Whig party was not able to stop several questionable acts to pass such as the spoils system, certain tariffs (tariff of abominations), and the Indian removal act. In the end Jackson and Congress met on one conflict regarding the bank. Congress had passed the renewal for the bank charter quickly when Jackson vetoed the charter; he had to “shuffle” his cabinet twice before he found a secretary of treasury willing to do what he wished regarding siphoning the banks funds and making pet banks; that in the end hurt the economy with overflowing the country with paper money.

**__President’s Administration: __**  Jackson backed by his administration had passed two acts, one being positive, and the other being negative. Jackson’s positive act proved to be the “Indian Removal Act”. This act was meant to open up westward expansion for the Americans while protecting the Indians. Jackson at first attempted to civilize the Indians so they had the opportunity to become cohesive with American Society. Georgia’s legislation ended this attempt to civilize Indians when they declared the Cherokee council of tribes’ illegal and assumed control of their land and affairs. Heated debate began as Americans began lashing out with physical violence towards the Indians for not leaving. Alarmed, Jackson made a policy, The Indian Removal Act, which would voluntarily remove 100,000 Indians west of the Mississippi. If not for their removal to lands where Indians still inhabit today then more Indians and Americans would have died in the conflict between the two making this an overall positive outcome for both Americans and Indians.

With his success of the Indian removal act Jackson saw many negative effects with what is called “Species Circular”. This was made by Jackson who wished to control the flooding of paper money into the American economy caused by his pet banks that were springing up. Simply the Species Circular was a decree that public lands must be purchased with “hard” (metallic) money. This decree halted westward expansion as metallic money was few in a land where paper money was overly abundant. This was negative because it halted westward expansion, also the over excess of paper money was the fault of the pet banks he created.

**__President’s After Effects: __**  Jackson’s most influential decision he made affecting the future is the removal of the Bank of the United States. When he vetoed a bill renewing the banks charter, close to the election of 1832, Jackson declared the bank was too powerful and unconstitutional. Jackson then decided to begin siphoning federal funds from the bank slowly killing it. Once he had officially vanquished the bank he began placing money in “pet banks” that flooded the United States with paper money effectively making the value of the paper money drop significantly. This led Jackson to issue a decree known as the Specie Circular which demanded metallic money in payment for all public land. This halted westward movement altogether affecting the future. Also Jackson had a hand in collapsing the economy which led to the panic of 1837 as well as other financial troubles to follow in the future.

**__Conclusion: __** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Jackson was the man of the people. There was rebellion when he was cheated in the corrupt bargain and booming support when he came into the position to run for president on his first and second term. Despite all this support Jackson was abusive of his federal powers as seen mostly in his single handedness in collapsing the Bank of the United States crippling America’s economy greatly. Coupled with other negatives Jackson deserves the grade of a C for the tyrannical behavior he exhibited throughout his terms.

**__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Work Cited: __** Cohen, Lizabeth, and Thomas A. Bailey David M. Kennedy. //The American Pageant, A History of the Republic (2002 12th Edition)//. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Print. Degregorio, William A.. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents)//. 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.