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Andrew Jackson (1767-June 8, 1844) Democratic Dates in office: 1829-37 Vice President: John C. Calhoun Rating: B+ __Theme:__ American Identity The citizens of the United States of America were in love Jackson because of his wartime heroism. The American identity in 1828 (the year Jackson was elected) was coming out of the era of good feeling and stepping into Democracy. The democratic-Republic party was put against the National Republicans. In these years running for the presidency meant banners, badges parades and free stuff, anything to catch the attention of the voter. Jackson was portrayed as a frontier farmer, born in a log cabin. Being the first president from the west. After the corrupt bargain of 1824 many Americans were against JQ Adams and old hickory won the election of 1828 178 to 83. Throughout his presidential campaign the identity of the people changed with every decision there were sides chosen. Like that of the trail of tears some thought that his decision to move the natives to Kansas was a good one because they wanted expansion of the nation. But others believed that it was wrong and that the Indians should be able to lie freely within white America.

__Goals:__ President Andrew Jackson’s goals in his first term were to not transcend the authority of the executive power. Also regarding foreign nations he resolved to preserve peace and build friendship, but if a trial did come along he would not hesitate to use military action. He would try not to interfere with state government and the rights that they had reserved for themselves. He wanted a strict and faithful economy and would look toward congress “ for the specific appropriation of public money and the prompt accountability of public officers.” He wanted to see internal improvement. He does not want to build the now standing army. He wanted to treat the Indian tribes with the a liberal policy and to consider there rights and wants that don’t offset the American government and her people interests.

__Relationship with Congress:__ President Jackson’s relationship with congress was interesting. Many of his Cabinet members believed that he would only serve one term and so positioned themselves for presidency after Jackson. He would later get rid of all but one member of his cabinet and replace them. Naysayers referred to this cabinet as the “Kitchen Cabinet”. Jackson used the spoil system to get rid of 10% of the congress that was seated before him and put in new members who had no right to be in.

__Positive/Negative Outcomes:__ Andrew Jackson did a lot as president some good some bad. One good thing that he did was to pay of the national debt and keep it that way until his term ended. He also made major changes in the presidency making the president and the executive branch more powerful. One thing that he did was that he vetoed a road bill that would only help one area of the country and was too costly. This was new because past presidents only vetoed something that they felt was unconstitutional. Now it was to be looked at a measure of policy. But a bad decision he made was to push the Indians into Kansas because it led to the trail of tears in which many Indians died on the journey away from the homes. This can also be looked at as good like it was for southerners who saw it as a means of moving slavery westward. In South Carolina due to the “Tariff of Abominations” there was talk of nullification it got so bad that there was almost a civil war fought. But a compromise was made. And threw this compromise the presidents role got stronger threw the Force Bill. The bill states that the president can use the army and navy to collect federal tariff duties. He also made the Specie Circular that said that in order to buy land you must use hard money not paper. Finally the bank war Jackson hated the power that the bank of the U.S because it had too much power. When the bank tried for a re-charter Jackson vetoed it and said it was unconstitutional. Threw this he gave the president power seeing that the judicial branch saw it as constitutional. So he was saying that he saw the president as more powerful than the judicial branch. At the end of Jefferson’s presidency he left the nation in a economic panic. But he had influenced the power that the president has, he defended the Union, and made America respectable to foreign eyes.

__Worksited:__ "Andrew Jackson: Inaugural Address." //The American Presidency Project//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. .

Partner Place: National Trust for Historic Preservation. "President | Andrew Jackson | Jackson Family | The Hermitage." //The Hermitage - Nashville, Tennessee//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. .

"Andrew Jackson." //NNDB: Tracking the entire world//. NNDB, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. .