Andrew Jackson was truly a president unlike any other. Born in the south, Jackson lacked the formal, wealthy background of the previous presidents before him, while Jackson’s past as a war hero as well as his strong demeanor gaining him comparisons to the founding president of the United States, George Washington. One of the most important credits to his unusual presidency is the establishment of the “era of the common man” during his time in office. During the “Jacksonian period”, (1824-1848) so called because it covered the period of his presidency; Andrew Jackson changed the face of American Politics by implementing his own strong will, erasing the past perception of elitism in politics, and changing legislature to benefit the people instead of his own political career.
There is no doubt that Andrew Jackson had very strong personal morals and very little reservations of his own judgment. This, at first perceived by politicians to be a flaw in his political strategy, helped win him the heart of the people of the United States of America. An acclaimed general in both the Battle of New Orleans and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Jackson used his past military expertise to run the country. An example of his character is present in his first campaign for president. Although the popular vote, Jackson lacked the 131 votes needed in order to indefinitely win the election, causing the House of Representatives to decide the outcome. After several tied ballots, Henry Clay, who had also at one point been running for the presidency, transferred his votes to Quincy Adams, who won the election as a result. Later, when Adams appointed Clay as treasure of state, it became apparent that the two had cheated Jackson out of the presidency, a disappointment that Jackson harbored against both of them for the rest of his political career. Jackson’s extreme dislike of Clay was especially present in Jacksons dislike of the national bank, and during Jackson’s third campaign for presidency. Another example of Andrew Jackson’s hard will is his harsh laws and regulations involving Indians. During the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Jackson allied himself with various tribes, most notably the Cherokee people, in order to defeat the opposing Indian army. But, when Jackson began to push the Indians out of their homeland, nullifying all previous treaties in between the Indians and the United States, the same tribes that had fought alongside Jackson were shipped out on the Trail of Tears. This gruesome act led to the relocation of 80000 Indians, 10000 of which died due to the harsh conditions they were put under, despite the supreme courts ruling that the Cherokees were a separate nation and should be treated as such. Many believe that Jackson’s poor treatment of the Indians was due to his mother telling him that Indians had caused the death of past family members, causing Jackson to hold a grudge against them. Andrew Jackson was not the kind of man to take no for an answer, and would fight to obtain his own source of personal justice, much alike the spirit of many Americans at this time.
Another important aspect of Jackson’s involvement in “the era of the common man” came from Jackson’s personal life. Jackson, the son of a recently immigrated scots-Irish American, came from very humble upbringings, building up his on empire through his military career as well as a slaveholder in the south. Jackson had lived the American dream, transforming himself from a poor born scots-Irish American into a wealthy, cunning leader. This idolized the idea that any man, no matter the education, upbringing, or social status, could run the country; that the common man had the power to aspire to be a leader. Also, Jackson had a profound effect on the voting system in the United States. Previously to Jackson’s campaigns, voting was mainly comprised of wealthy white plantation owners or wealthy merchants who owned land. The Jacksonian era changed this, when for the first time in history, everyday people began to cast in their ballots. Voting was no longer for the rich, but vey much for the common man; any person who wished to vote would have the opportunity. The Jacksonian era was in fact very much the era of the common man, with a leader who shared both the back ground and aspiration of the people, changing the face of american politics.
The most striking thing about the Jacksonian era is the lack of Andrew Jackson’s political schedule in the entire legislator that Jackson passed. Before this era, the government was considered very corrupt, with the majority of politicians looking out for their own well being before their own. Jackson, on the other hand, believed that he was summoned to office for a purpose, that “if the people are calling you to office”, then he had no other choice than to go to Washington and support the rights of the people. An example of this is the veto of the national bank. Towards the end of Jackson’s first term in office, Jackson was in a bitter fight with the national bank and Henry Clay about whether to get rid of the national bank. When Biddle, the director of the bank, and Clay came up with a bold proposition to extend the banks charter, they thought that Jackson would not dare veto the bill so close to a reelection campaign. Jackson, knowing that the National bank was extremely corrupt, vetoed the bill despite the damage it would cause his political career. As a result, Biddle tried to pressure Jackson to reject his decision by not allowing small businesses loans and other necessary financial endeavors, harming the economy and well-being of the people. Andrew Jackson responded by taking all of the United States money from the bank, and putting it into state banks. This caused the National bank to go under, unable to cope with this expediential loss of funds, and Jackson to protect the interests of the people.He had risked his own reelection in order protect the rights of the people, an action that few, if any, would have risked.
Andrew Jackson marked the first of a different breed of politicians, leaders who truly enveloped both the spirit and likeliness of everyday people. Politicians were no longer wealthy new Englanders, but self-made heroes with a dream to better the country. This marked a huge turning point in American Politics, and for democracy itself. Andrew Jackson truly created “the era of the common man” and enveloped the phrase in every action he would perform; through his strong personality, erasing past boundaries surrounding qualifications in being a leader, and putting the peoples needs before his own political career. He was truly a president like no other, and a leader for future politicians to aspire to.
There is no doubt that Andrew Jackson had very strong personal morals and very little reservations of his own judgment. This, at first perceived by politicians to be a flaw in his political strategy, helped win him the heart of the people of the United States of America. An acclaimed general in both the Battle of New Orleans and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Jackson used his past military expertise to run the country. An example of his character is present in his first campaign for president. Although the popular vote, Jackson lacked the 131 votes needed in order to indefinitely win the election, causing the House of Representatives to decide the outcome. After several tied ballots, Henry Clay, who had also at one point been running for the presidency, transferred his votes to Quincy Adams, who won the election as a result. Later, when Adams appointed Clay as treasure of state, it became apparent that the two had cheated Jackson out of the presidency, a disappointment that Jackson harbored against both of them for the rest of his political career. Jackson’s extreme dislike of Clay was especially present in Jacksons dislike of the national bank, and during Jackson’s third campaign for presidency. Another example of Andrew Jackson’s hard will is his harsh laws and regulations involving Indians. During the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Jackson allied himself with various tribes, most notably the Cherokee people, in order to defeat the opposing Indian army. But, when Jackson began to push the Indians out of their homeland, nullifying all previous treaties in between the Indians and the United States, the same tribes that had fought alongside Jackson were shipped out on the Trail of Tears. This gruesome act led to the relocation of 80000 Indians, 10000 of which died due to the harsh conditions they were put under, despite the supreme courts ruling that the Cherokees were a separate nation and should be treated as such. Many believe that Jackson’s poor treatment of the Indians was due to his mother telling him that Indians had caused the death of past family members, causing Jackson to hold a grudge against them. Andrew Jackson was not the kind of man to take no for an answer, and would fight to obtain his own source of personal justice, much alike the spirit of many Americans at this time.
Another important aspect of Jackson’s involvement in “the era of the common man” came from Jackson’s personal life. Jackson, the son of a recently immigrated scots-Irish American, came from very humble upbringings, building up his on empire through his military career as well as a slaveholder in the south. Jackson had lived the American dream, transforming himself from a poor born scots-Irish American into a wealthy, cunning leader. This idolized the idea that any man, no matter the education, upbringing, or social status, could run the country; that the common man had the power to aspire to be a leader. Also, Jackson had a profound effect on the voting system in the United States. Previously to Jackson’s campaigns, voting was mainly comprised of wealthy white plantation owners or wealthy merchants who owned land. The Jacksonian era changed this, when for the first time in history, everyday people began to cast in their ballots. Voting was no longer for the rich, but vey much for the common man; any person who wished to vote would have the opportunity. The Jacksonian era was in fact very much the era of the common man, with a leader who shared both the back ground and aspiration of the people, changing the face of american politics.
The most striking thing about the Jacksonian era is the lack of Andrew Jackson’s political schedule in the entire legislator that Jackson passed. Before this era, the government was considered very corrupt, with the majority of politicians looking out for their own well being before their own. Jackson, on the other hand, believed that he was summoned to office for a purpose, that “if the people are calling you to office”, then he had no other choice than to go to Washington and support the rights of the people. An example of this is the veto of the national bank. Towards the end of Jackson’s first term in office, Jackson was in a bitter fight with the national bank and Henry Clay about whether to get rid of the national bank. When Biddle, the director of the bank, and Clay came up with a bold proposition to extend the banks charter, they thought that Jackson would not dare veto the bill so close to a reelection campaign. Jackson, knowing that the National bank was extremely corrupt, vetoed the bill despite the damage it would cause his political career. As a result, Biddle tried to pressure Jackson to reject his decision by not allowing small businesses loans and other necessary financial endeavors, harming the economy and well-being of the people. Andrew Jackson responded by taking all of the United States money from the bank, and putting it into state banks. This caused the National bank to go under, unable to cope with this expediential loss of funds, and Jackson to protect the interests of the people.He had risked his own reelection in order protect the rights of the people, an action that few, if any, would have risked.
Andrew Jackson marked the first of a different breed of politicians, leaders who truly enveloped both the spirit and likeliness of everyday people. Politicians were no longer wealthy new Englanders, but self-made heroes with a dream to better the country. This marked a huge turning point in American Politics, and for democracy itself. Andrew Jackson truly created “the era of the common man” and enveloped the phrase in every action he would perform; through his strong personality, erasing past boundaries surrounding qualifications in being a leader, and putting the peoples needs before his own political career. He was truly a president like no other, and a leader for future politicians to aspire to.