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Andrew Jackson A major part of modern historians consider Andrew Jackson the greatest President of the United States who made valuable contribution into development of the U. S. government. While most of them agree that he made a lot of successful changes, some historians examine his failures together with his successes. Some historians have argued that because Andrew Jacksons reforms were untimely, whereas some of them have countered that position by demonstrating that Andrew Jacksons politicians and people were not ready for changes. Some historians describe Jackson as a person with reputation of politician who granted democracy to America.
At the same time, all historians agree that Jackson effected a profound market revolution during his government and consider his administration as successful step forward for the United States. Lets examine Andrew Jacksons political career and his administration more thoroughly. Brief facts of Andrew Jacksons biography President: the 7 th president of the U. S.
Born: South Carolina, March 15, 1767. Years of presidency: 1829 - 1833 and 1833 - 1837 (two terms) Died: Tennessee, June 8, 1845 Party: Democrat Occupation: soldier, lawyer Andrew Jackson was the American President during the golden age of American individualism (Syrett, 17). In political consciousness of American people Andrew Jackson is the first President of the United States who didnt originate from the elite of Eastern cost that usually strikes the keynote of policy and social life. Especially for his political opponents Andrew Jackson embodied adventurous and uncouth natives from the West on that side of Appalachian Mountains.
He married in 1791 and became the member of one of the most influential families in Tennessee. Married couple considered that Rachel Danielson was legally divorced from her first husband. Yet, as they found out later it wasnt true due to judicial mistake and they had to re-contract their marriage in the beginning of 1794. However, it didnt make any impact on his career of authoritative lawyer, planter and public man.
In 1796 he was elected to constitutional convent of Tennessee and was sent to Washington Congress as the first deputy of Tennessee. He left for Tennessee in 1797 as a senator. He got his chance in 1813 during the war with England. Jackson managed to suppress the Indian revolt and decided the destiny of Indians by draconian Peace Treaty. The Peace Treaty opened wide possibilities for the whites and allowed them occupying vast territories of Georgia and Alabama. Jackson was known and admired for his firm and decisive military actions and got the nickname Old Hickory.
In 1817 federal government asks him to undertake measures against the Indians who caused troubles in the southern border of U. S. Jackson entered Florida, occupied its capital Pensacola, took the whole region under his strict control and ordered to hang two British accused of cooperation with rebelled Indians. By these measures Jackson provoked considerable diplomatic complications and, what is more, obtained numerous political opponents in Washington, who reproached Jackson with exceeding his commission. These reproaches resulted in thee beginning of political investigation. Although Jackson was fully rehabilitated, the government undertook nothing to protect him and one of the Congress members Henry Clay called him dangerous.
Yet, so-called Transcontinental Treaty concluded with Spain in 1819 became an indirect justification of Jacksons actions. Owing to this conflict Andrew Jacksons political career was sharply defined. In 1821 he was appointed the military governor of Florida and in 1823 - 1825 he became the member of Washington Senate. These appointments gave him possibility to underpin his claims on presidents post. The elections of 1824 seemed to be the ideal moment to realize his ambitious and pretentious plans. Virginia was traditionally considered the motherland of all previous presidents with the exception of John Adams.
Luckily for Jackson, Virginia wasnt able to nominate a convincing successor to James Monroe. Jackson was the most appropriate candidate. However, the political elite circles werent going to make way for Jackson, the popular Western national hero. After John Calhoun was nominated for election, Tennessee nominated Jackson. In response to this, Kentucky nominated Henry Clay and Massachusetts nominated John Adams. The Republicans, who represented the minority in Congress, nominated William Crawford from Georgia.
The situation was so debatable that John Calhoun withdrew his candidature to run for vice-presidents chair. Political fragmentation served a bright example of fundamental changes in the country. Jackson, as the representative of New America, was opposed by three representatives of old country regime. In such a way, political contradiction between the South and the West played the decisive role during elections. Despite of the fact that Adams became President, Jackson didnt give up and threw down a challenge during the next elections in 1828.
During the years of Adams presidency, the re-shaping of political parties occurred. Adams supporters called themselves the National Republicans (Ward, p. 142). Honest and active Adams gradually lost his popularity and his administration wasnt very successful. He came to grief in program of roads and channels construction. The years of Adams administration reminded of an endless pre-elective campaign whereas restraint and sullen disposition prevented him from making close and reliable friends.
Andrew Jackson, in contrast to Adams, enjoyed wide popularity. He was extremely popular and his supporters united in a new democratic party. Andrew Jackson won the elections and became a President. For the first time since 1800 the President currently in force didnt succeed during the reelections.
Jackson called it a victory of democracy and nation. Historians underline revolutionary and critical character of that period. They speak about general market revolution that changed all economic, social and political structure. Jacksons presidency is characterized by market forces resulting in future development of American cities. Agriculture directed its efforts to the world market. National trade and taxation policy conditional limits established by financial markets all these features are peculiar for years of Jacksons presidency.
Businessmen, landed classes, entrepreneurs derived benefit from Jacksons policy. On the other hand, Indians, African Americans, workers and minorities became the victims of his regime. Although universal suffrage was widely democratized long before the elections, it didnt bring much benefit to women and their participation in social life. Besides, Jackson was the first president who used military resources against strikers. Some historians claim that Jackson was a diffident person early in his presidential career.
However, it sounds quite doubtful. Andrew Jackson focused much attention on meetings in the ruling circles and this fact gave his opponents possibility to call these meetings a Kitchen Cabinet. At the same time, Jackson always had political firmness of purpose. He achieved much success in the most doubtful actions during the period of his presidency, - for example, in so called bank war. Alexander Hamilton has brought into life the First Bank of United States, which was replaced by the Second Bank of United States in 1816 (Taylor, p. 1). The Second Bank of United States was the only deposit bank used by the government.
Jackson remembered that bank policy contributed to bankruptcy of Western farmers and became the staunch opponent of this monster. Jackson considered that bank policy was beneficial for rich people and had negative impact on freedom and welfare of the nation. The downfall of the Second Bank of United States can be called one of the main positive Jacksons achievements. The South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification was the main conflict of Jacksons presidency.
The tariff controversy resulted in crisis. New tariff reduced some rates, but the general situation remained unchangeable. The situation was so dangerous that could hardly result in civil war. Finally, Jackson finds a solution.
Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun fashioned a bill to reduce the tariff in a series of stages over nine years. (Feller, n. p. ). The Congress passed this Compromise Tariff and also a force bill to enforce the revenue laws. (Feller, n. p. ). Andrew Jackson managed to find a way out and made all efforts to give both state and federal governments what they wanted to get and the same time retaining favorable relations.
He defined the supremacy of Federal and at the same time satisfied South Carolinas requirements. In such a way, the South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification can be recognized as the second Jacksons positive achievement during the years of his administration. When Jackson left his post in 1837, he could be sure that he was the most popular American in his times. Lets sum up the results of his presidency. The country became more democratic (especially in the North of the U. S. ).
Jackson gave to the Southern States free hand in colonization of lands belonging to Indian tribes: The era was one in which the West guided public policy; and it was the West that was chiefly interested in further circumscribing Indian lands, trade, and influence (Ogg, 201). (Indian Removal Treaties: regulated removal of Indians to the West of Mississippi in 1830). He executed deportation of the Indians outside Mississippi border. Jackson protected slave-owners and was against abolitionism. Besides, he gave cheap credit to farmers.
Although cheap credit made him extremely popular among the Americans, it resulted in economic crisis of 1830 ies. Some researchers of Oregon path history consider that economic crisis contributed to transmigration to the West. New bipartisan system based on democracy was established all over the country. The political parties became more public.
Jackson cancelled property qualification for elections to Congress and Legislative Assembly. Andrew Jackson became a founder of spoil system the practice, according to which formation of governmental structure was made according to party principle. Threatening collapse of the union was successfully prevented. Jackson also foresaw and prepared his political successor. Two new States (Arkansas and Michigan) entered the Union (1836). Texas became independent from Mexico.
This fact enabled to give an opportunity of further peaceful settlement of Americans to the southwestern part of the country. Constitutional institutions of America justified hopes and contributed to new political-social changes. The historians give Jackson a credit of all these important events. Jackson not only prevented Constitution from changing into mirage, but also gave a lead to new American policy.
Firmness of purpose in combination with moral certainty in his correctness, success-orientated position and material grounds characterize him to a greater extent than careful introspection, intellectuality and talent in education or self-perfection. Andrew Jackson wasnt only the good example of American president but also the right person in the right place. He left an indelible impression on American times of radical turn and crisis. No other American president could be equal to his task. Bibliography: Feller, D. (2005). Andrew Jackson (1829 - 1837).
Retrieved November 1, 2005. < web > Ogg, F. A. (1919). The Reign of Andrew Jackson: A Chronicle of the Frontier in Politics. Yale University Press: New Haven. Syrett, H. C. (1953).
Andrew Jackson: His Contribution to the American Tradition. Books-Merrill: Indianapolis Taylor, J. R. (1949). Jackson Versus Biddle: The Struggle over the Second Bank of the United States. D. C.
Heath: Boston Ward, J. W. (1962). Andrew Jackson, Symbol for an Age. Oxford University Press: London
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Research essay sample on President Of The United States Andrew Jackson
