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 1. Andrew Jackson: March 15, 1767- June 8, 1845 2. Political Party: Democratic 3.Terms: two terms March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837 4. Vice presidents: John C. Calhoun (1829-1832) Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)

Andrew Jackson is described by some as being the greatest president after the founding fathers; others describe him as an Indian hater and a president that trampled the democratic system. But after you take into consideration the thinking of those times, and the fact that he was elected by the popular vote, you’ll find Andrew Jackson a man of vision, a patriot and president that spoke for the common man. He is a president who deserves a B for his handling of the Bank Wars and the South Carolina tariff nullification, as well as his part in the beginning of the two party system we still have today.

Jackson was convinced that big business and banks would harm the political rights and negatively influence the common man. For this reason, one of his goals was to oppose the chartering of the Second Bank of the United States. He felt the bank, being backed by the government, had too much unregulated power over the nation's economy and could manipulate the value of paper money. He also believed it exposed the government to control by foreign interest, favored the northeastern states and had too much control over Congress. Although many believed that the country was growing and that businesses were thriving due to credit, available through the bank. Jackson believed the bankers were getting rich off of others hard work. Eventually, Jackson won by vetoing the extension of the bank’s charter, eliminating additional government funds to the bank. While his financial intentions were good for the country (he was the only president to eliminate the national debt), his vetoing of the bank charter had a direct affect in the economic ‘Panic of 1837’.

As president, the goal of relocating the Indian population to the west of the Mississippi was also important. Many people of the time shared Jackson’s views. As the cotton business grew in the south, farmers needed the Indian’s land to meet the demand of growth. To accomplish this, Jackson worked with Congress on the Indian Removal Act in 1830. This funded and legally forced the Indians off their land. The Indians were given, in exchange, lands to the west. Although an unpopular in the north, the act was praised in the south. The treaties gained about 100 million acres in exchange for 68 million dollars and 32 million acres of land in the west.

Changing the views of what the president’s duties were was on the top of his list when it came to dealing with Congress. Jackson believed the president, not Congress would lead the country. During his two terms, Jackson vetoed twelve bills in Congress (seven times while congress was not in session – ‘Pocket Veto”), more than all the presidents before him combined. The fact was, the president used his executive powers to muscle the legislative power of congress, as seen in the Indian removal act, and the House of Representatives accused him of interfering with the legislative process.

The most notable positive outcome of Jackson’s presidency was his actions, in regards to executive power. It has become practice for presidents to push the limits of presidential power and the role of the executive branch. Although not originally the design of our founding fathers and the constitution, the idea of visionary thoughts and process through an active executive branch has been appealing to all presidents after Jackson. The president showed belief in a strong unified country in his dealings in the South Carolina tariff of 1828 nullification. South Carolina, disagreeing with the Tariff, called it unconstitutional and threatened to secede from the union if federal government forced the collecting of the taxes. Jackson would not stand for the uprising and privately talked of sending military troops to South Carolina to quite the rebellion. The president wrote a proclamation in 1832 against the nullification of the tariff, however in 1833; Henry Clay developed a compromise Tariff that would lower the rate. The Bill was passed, along with the Force Bill, which allowed for military use to enforce revenue laws. His response, much like George Washington during the Whiskey Rebellion, was one that was meant to show strength and unification as a country. The most negative, the Indian removal act. Although Jackson was involved with Indian treaties for ten years, not all the treaties or the inhuman treatment of the Indians were of his doing, unfortunately his administration takes most of the blame.

One lasting item that developed during the Jackson administration was the two party system of government that is still in use. The Democratic-Republicans (Jackson’s party), or Democrats and the National Republicans, or Whigs. These political parties solidified the opposing thinking needed to make a democracy work for a nation. It was ironic that Republican Party was started out of a hatred of Jackson and his views.

So, was the country better off with or without Andrew Jackson as president? After weighing the positives and negatives, and understanding the mentality concerning slavery and race in the early 1800’s, Jackson was a very good president. He fought for what he thought was right for the majority of people and what was good for the country he loved. Bank Wars and the South Carolina tariff nullification, and the two party system we still have today all shaped the country for the better.

“Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil, & the Presidency." __Pbs.org__. 1995. Public Broadcasting Service. 15 Oct. 2009. <  []>.
 * Works Cited: **

"Andrew Jackson." //The White House //. White House U.S. Government. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. < [] >.

"The Andrew Jackson." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia //. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <[]>. 

William A. Degregorio,. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents //. 6th Edition. Fort Lee: Barricade Books Inc., 2005. Print. 