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Andrew Jackson Born: March 15, 1767 Waxhaw, South Carolina Died: June 8, 1845 Nashville, Tennessee Political Party: Democrat Terms of Office: March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1837 (2 terms) Vice Presidents: John Calhoun (1829-1832); Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)

Andrew Jackson became the 7th president of the United States with a popular vote. With the “Corrupt Bargain” that took place during Quincy Adam’s presidency, the Jacksonian’s next campaign was based mainly on personality and name-calling. Jackson was nominated due to his attraction to the common people. He personified the spirit of a democratic society compared to the eastern aristocracy. After Jackson was elected as president, he faced a few dilemmas. Overall, Andrew Jackson deserves a “C” for his presidency. Some of his successes as president include maintaining the Union when South Carolina threatened to secede. Unfortunately, Jackson has far more failures. These failures include the spoils system, the veto of the bank charter, and the removal of the Indians.

Some of Jackson’s goals as president include managing the country’s revenue, and to watch over the people’s interest and act accordingly. He says during his inaugural speech that his goals are, “to execute the laws of the United States, to superintend their foreign and their confederate relations, to manage their revenue, to command their forces, and, by communications to the Legislature, to watch over and to promote their interests generally.” He also states during his speech that he will tend to the Indians within the country’s limit and give “humane and considerate attention to their rights” according to the wants of the people of the nation. This goal was addressed through the Trail of Tears. The Supreme Court had already voted that the Cherokees that resided in Georgia were a civilized community by themselves and Georgia had no authority to kick them out. Georgia disregarded this and forced the Cherokees out, and Andrew Jackson made no effort to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling. Obviously this was a violation of the Indian’s rights and although this goal was addressed, it led to the death of many Indians. While trying to address the goal of managing the country’s revenue, he led the nation into a financial crisis, leaving the problem to Van Buren to deal with. Although he addressed many of his goals as president, very few of them were successfully accomplished.

Jackson’s relationship with Congress could be described as fair. Andrew Jackson definitely showed his executive power during his presidency. He vetoed various amounts of legislation that was passed through Congress. Although his party held the majority in Congress, Jackson showed his executive power by vetoing the renewal of the bank charter. He claimed that this bank was unconstitutional and that it took advantage of the common working people. He also vetoed the Maysville Road Bill because it would help the building of a highway within Kentucky with the assistance of federal funds. This bill would be helping only one state rather than the whole Union which is why Jackson vetoed it. Jackson did support national improvements though. Jackson and Congress did agree at times too. When South Carolina was showing signs of secession, Congress gave Jackson the power to use arm forces to collect import duties. His relationship with the Judiciary branch of government was not on good terms either. On more than one occasion he went against what the Supreme Court had deemed constitutional (Indian tribes and the bank).

Something that could be considered an accomplishment of Jackson’s presidency would be his efforts to maintain the Union while South Carolina openly showed its opposition to the Tariff of Abominations. In attempt to preserve the Union, he passed a more moderate tariff. South Carolina was still not satisfied, eventually declaring that the tariff was null within their state. As mentioned above, Jackson then took matters into his own hand and used force to implement the tariff and collect the import duties. A compromise was reached due to Henry Clay that was accepted by both South Carolina and Jackson. Although this problem was not handled in the best way, Jackson still managed to keep the Union together with the help of Henry Clay. Another success that came from Jackson’s presidency would be from the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Although this led to death of many Indians, it helped with westward expansion of the nation. Many of Jackson’s successes were minor, or made with the help of someone else. During his presidency, Jackson also managed to lower the national debt. His successes do not compare to the extent of the failures that he had during his presidency.

Some negative decisions made by Jackson during his presidency were his usage of the spoils system, the veto of the bank charter, and lastly the removal of the Indians. The spoils system allowed common folk to hold government positions. Jackson promoted many of his followers into the system. This would lead to corruption, scandal, and manipulation. Although there was abuse of power, this idea of the spoils system led to different political parties to be formed. The veto of the bank charter is a negative decision because it ultimately led to the financial crisis and the Panic of 1837. Due to Jackson’s determination to get rid of Biddle’s Bank, he stopped depositing funds as well as removing federal funds that were placed in the bank. He gave this money to state banks. In order to restore the economic balance, Jackson issued the Specie Circular. This required using gold and silver to pay for goods and services. All of these events led to the Panic of 1837. One last negative decision made by Jackson was in the Indian Removal Act. Although it is mentioned as a success above, it can also be considered as a failure. He used his executive power and abused the rights of the Indians. He technically had no right to remove the Cherokees from Georgia because the Supreme Court had ruled that society as its own community. Jackson did not enforce this ruling and forced the Cherokees out past the Mississippi River. This removal led to many Indians dying of disease and sickness.

Andrew Jackson definitely had an impact on future presidencies. Van Buren had to deal with the financial crisis that was left by Jackson. He also admitted Arkansas and Michigan into the Union during his presidency which helped the expansion of the nation. His campaign and presidency created a new form of politics. He is essentially a model for the modern day politician. He also left a two-party system after his presidency. Jackson also expanded the powers of the president. Basically, Jackson nomination and presidency created a new way of viewing politics and created the more modern way of politics of that we see today.

In the end, the U.S was somewhat better off in the end with Jackson as president. Although he led America into a financial crisis by the end of his presidency, Jackson made several contributions to the nation as well as future presidents. He allowed further westward expansion and formed the political parties that will eventually develop into what we know today. Andrew Jackson deserves a “C” because the decisions he made eventually led America into a crisis, but the impact and legacy he left after his presidency set the basis of modern politics.

Work Cited

American President: Andrew Jackson: Impact and Legacy." //Miller Center of Public Affairs // . N.p., n.d. Web. 10 March. 2011. < http://millercenter.org/president/jackson/essays/biography/9 >.

"Andrew Jackson Inaugural Address." //The American Presidency Project //. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 March. 2011. < http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25810#axzz1GEnM5IKS >.

DeGregorio, William A.. "Andrew Jackson." //The complete book of U.S. presidents //. 6th ed. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books, 2005. 105-120. Print.

"Party Division in the Senate, 1789-present." //United States Senate //. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 March. 2011. .