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Andrew Jackson

March 15, 1767 in Waxhaw region of Carolinas – June 8, 1845 in Nashville, Tennessee

Political Party: Democrat

Terms: March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1837

Vice President: First term – John C. Calhoun in 1829-1832; Second term – Martin Van Buren in 1832-1837

The American Identity went through confusing times at home during the Jackson administration. Jackson, in his history and campaign promises, represented the common man. With the election of Jackson in 1828, the common men of the country saw one of their own in the White House. His rhetorical championship of the plain people against the aristocrats, whatever its substance or sincerity, was itself the sign and harbinger of a massive social shift toward democracy, equality, and the primacy of the common man. Through the spoil system Jackson implemented his own supporters into political office. Some of these appointed men were under qualified for their respective positions and were met with heated opposition from the Whig party. The common man loved the spoil system for just like Jackson, they saw these appointees as common folk and embraced their leadership. However, President Jackson would disappoint his western followers in 1830 by vetoing the Maysville Road bill which would have given federal funds to build a highway in Kentucky. He continued to ostracize sections of the country through Tariffs reform. In 1832 Jackson passed a Tariff that effectively created a sectional crisis within the country. The tariff failed to satisfy southern states, especially South Carolina who quickly enacted the Ordinance of Nullification making the federal tariff null and void within the state’s borders. These issues of sectionalism were eventually resolved by an 1833 compromise tariff but not before Jackson issued a sneering declaration toward state’s leaving the Union with the Force bill allowing the government to use military to enforce federal legislation. These conflicts over sectionalism confused the country of its own identity as they were united but with great differences. Through his terms Jackson vetoed a dozen bills, more than the combined totals of every president before him and he was also the first president to veto a bill not on constitutional grounds. This usurpation of power greatly contradicted the democratic and common man principles he ran his campaign on. The country was confused because on one hand Jackson preached democracy and the power of the electorate and with the other Jackson struck down every piece of legislation that didn’t personally appease his purposes. Other than George Washington, no other president has had a greater influence on the position than Andrew Jackson. His common man roots and fiery personality captured the people and ushered in an era of politics dubbed the //Jacksonian Era.// The first “people’s president,” Jackson was advertised as a man solely influenced by what the democratic masses wanted. However, like his war with the Bank of the United States, many of his decisions as president were interjected with personal opinions and past prejudices. A feverish and ardent man, he surrounded himself with unfavorable characters and gave little thought to the consequences of his actions, as shown in the lasting effects of the Bank War. Andrew Jackson, in his extension of executive power and sometimes disregard for legislative process, can be seen as a tyrant. In the end, Andrew Jackson’s presidency did more bad then good and deserves a grade of D+ Andrew Jackson set incredibly ambitious goals for himself. In his first inaugural address he aimed to eliminate the national debt, even out tariffs, and reform the Bank of the United States. A prevalent theme in his address was approaching these issues with caution and fairness. This was a process that Jackson plainly ignored throughout his presidency, acting with extreme prejudice when dealing with the Bank of The United States and going against his own claims of a “just and liberal policy,” toward Native Americans with Trail of Tears being anything but “humane and considerate toward their rights.”. The contradictions between Jackson’s goals and his actual results show his inefficiency as president and support his grade of D+. More than any of his predecessors, Andrew Jackson used executive authority to implement his own policies and thwart the opposition. Jackson ruled over congress with an iron pen, vetoing any legislation he didn’t like while being the first executive to exercise the pocket veto. In the whole of his presidency Jackson only passed one legislative victory which removed Indians east of the Mississippi River in 1830. Most measures that crossed Jackson’s desk met an icy death at the tip of his poisonous pen. Jackson’s constant disregard for congress’s authority also caused schisms between the two branches. Even though Jacksonians controlled Congress for much of Jackson’s presidency, Jackson still disagreed with and challenged the legislative body constantly. In 1834 the Senate, under Whig control, attempted to censure Jackson for assuming, “authority and power not conferred by the Constitution and laws, but in derogation of both.” Jackson’s constant bickering with Congress and the eventual attempt by the Senate to censure him reinforce his grade of D+. In a sea of misguided and miscalculated political ventures, it can be difficult to find the golden fish that positively reinforced Jackson’s presidency. One potential acclaim winner could be the resolution of the South Carolina Nullification issue. While privately Jackson talked of military force and hangings, he publicly championed for Union support. Along with asking congress to lower the tariffs in question Jackson also issued a ringing proclamation against nullification. His ideas on Unionism changed minds toward compromise and in 1833, at the able hands of Henry Clay, the country was saved from civil war. Easier to spot in the whole of Jackson’s administration were the negative events that plagued his presidency. The most negative was Jackson’s handling of the Bank of the United States. In 1832 Jackson vetoed the renewal of the bank’s charter and congress held it up. This gave Jackson the reassurance necessary to pursue his personal attacks on the bank further. Trying to limit the countries dependence on the bank, Jackson began withdrawing funds from the bank and placing them into “pet” banks around the country. He defied Congress's intent, rode roughshod over the treasury secretary's statutory control over the public purse, and removed the public funds from the lawfully authorized, responsible hands of the Bank of the United States to an untried, unregulated, and perhaps wholly irresponsible collection of state banks. Jackson cared little about the possible panic this shift could make or the implications this made about the executive rights of the president. This political folly would eventually lead the country in its largest economic panic to date and is a major reason why he deserves a D+. An influential decision in the Jackson Administration would be the annexation of Indian lands. Jackson promised numerous tribes east of Mississippi River western lands where they would be able to enjoy complete sovereignty forever. Acting under the Indian Removal Act of 1830 the Jackson administration coerced these tribes to surrender some 100 million acres of Indian land and settle west. This decision led to the 1838-1839 forced removal of some 15,000 Indians from Georgia on a forced march to what is now Oklahoma. This march would later be coined as the Trail of Tears and would influence Indian-American relations for the remainder of the 19th and 20th centuries. Andrew Jackson was a complex individual. His calls for democracy and pleas for the common man made him endearing to the historians eye and served as fodder for the speeches of future politicians. But Jackson should not be judged on the inspirational anecdotes of his past; he should be judged on the merit of his presidency. The country after Jackson was in much worse shape than before. Sectional divisions, economic crisis, and a confused public identity threatened to swallow the Union whole. Yet through his passionate leadership Andrew Jackson was able to shape politics in America for future generations. His influence saves him from complete failure but his actions prompt a grade of D+.
 * Thematic Context **
 * Thesis **
 * Goals **
 * Relationship with Congress **
 * Positive Event **
 * Negative Event **
 * Influential Decision **
 * Conclusion **

Andrew Jackson: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1829. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, //The American Presidency Project//. []. DeGregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of US Presidents: From George Washington to Bill Clinton.// New York: Wing, 2005. Print. Feller, Daniel. "Miller Center." //American President: Andrew Jackson: Domestic Affairs//. University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. Wikipedia contributors. "23rd United States Congress." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Jan. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013
 * Bibliography **