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

Andrew Jackson, the first president from the west, rose from the masses to become “the people’s president.” He cared about the common man in his decisions though, some of his actions ended up hurting the people. Andrew Jackson deserves a “B” for his presidency because of his dedication to the good of the people.

Jackson’s goals as president were to maintain the Union, improve the rights and opportunities of the common people, to continue westward expansion, and strengthen executive power. He protected the Union by being a president of the people. He focused on the good of the country, not specific regions. Although he was from the west, he did not undertake improving just the west. One example of this was the defending of the Tariff of 1828 which the South despised because it raised prices of imported goods to protect the factories of the North. To help the common people, he used the spoils system as an opportunity for anyone, even the poor, to take a turn in public office. He also vetoed the recharter bill for the Bank of the United States because he thought it was to powerful and helped only the rich. To continue the movement westward, Jackson proposed and supported the Indian Removal Act through Congress. This Act forced all Native Americans west of the Mississippi and into reservations, providing Americans with ample land to farm and live on. Jackson also strengthened executive power with his many vetoes and by the passing of the Force Bill which authorized the president to use the army and navy when needed to collect federal tariff duties. At the end of his presidency, his goals were accomplished because the Union remained while the common mans’ condition was improved, people were further west, and the executive branch was stronger.

Andrew Jackson did not get along with Congress even though the majority party was democratic. He actually wanted to weaken legislative power. Jackson vetoed twelve bills. This was the most bills a president had vetoed so far. Some bills he vetoed were the Maysville Road Bill, which would have given federal funds for the construction of a highway in Kentucky, and the recharter bill for the Bank of the United States. He vetoed the Maysville Road Bill because it would only help one state. He vetoed the recharter bill because he believed the bank was too powerful and unconstitutional. Jackson was also the first to use the pocket veto. This is when a president does not sign a bill within ten days of the end of the Congressional term so that the bill does not become a law. Even though Jackson and Congress mostly disagreed, they did agree at times. Jackson proposed the Indian Removal Act and it was passed through Congress in 1830.

The most positive outcome of Jackson’s presidency was his handling of South Carolina during the nullification crisis which began with the Tariff of 1828. The South referred this tariff as the “Tariff of Abominations.” It was a high protective tax on imports to help northern manufacturers. The South believed this tariff discriminated against them because they sold goods in a world market unprotected by tariffs but were forced to buy their manufactured goods in an American market protected by tariffs. They protested against this “Black Tariff”; especially South Carolina. A pamphlet, //The Exposition//, called for the states to nullify the tariff. After much argument, a new tariff was passed in 1832. It was an improvement from the Tariff of 1828 but the South was still unhappy. South Carolina decided to ignore the tariff and threatened to separate from the Union if the government tried to collect the customs duties by force. Jackson threatened to invade the state to enforce the tariff but a compromise tariff was passed in 1833 so there was no need. Also, the Force Bill was passed for the authorization of force by the president to collect federal tariff duties. South Carolina remained in the Union, keeping the country together.

The most negative outcome of Jackson’s presidency was Jackson’s veto of the recharter bill for the Bank of the United States. Jackson vetoed it because he believed the bank was too powerful. It held all of the federal governments’ funds. He thought it was corrupt and only helped the rich. Jackson decided that the bank was unconstitutional and harmful for the nation, so he vetoed it. Then, Jackson removed the federal funds and placed them into wild cat banks. This flooded the nation with paper money, ruining the economy. He tried to fix this by issuing a Specie Circular but it did not help. Jackson left the presidency in the 1837 financial panic.

Jackson’s focus on westward movement influenced future generations. He helped lead to the entire inhabitation of the continent by encouraging expansion. As a man of the west, expansion was important to him. He helped westward expansion with his Indian Removal Act. It was passed by Congress in 1830. This Act uprooted over 100,000 Indians and forced them west of the Mississippi so that Americans could have their land. There were barely any Indians living east of the Mississippi after this Act. In the Americans eyes, Jackson was a hero for this Act because America gained plentiful land to populate. To the Indians, Jackson was the devil. The Indian Removal Act caused the Trail of Tears, which was the heartless, forced march of the Indians to reservations west of the Mississippi. Around 4,000 died during the march.

Andrew Jackson left the country better off. He was a great president of the common man. He helped all regions of the country prosper and he expanded the land westward. Jackson also helped strengthen executive power with his vetoes. However, he also left the country in a financial panic because of his veto of the bank recharter. Therefore, Andrew Jackson deserves a “B” for his presidency.


 * Bibliography**

"Andrew Jackson: Second Inaugural Address." //Bartleby.com//. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <[]>.

DeGregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. Fort Lee, N.J: Barricade Books, 2005. Print.

"Jacksonian Democracy." //Digital History//. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <[]>.

"Jackson Vetoes Bank Bill." //Miller// //Center// //of Public Affairs//. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <[]>.

"Tariff of 1828: South Carolina." //Lycos//. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <[]>.