8.8.1
Discuss the election of Andrew Jackson as president in
1828, the importance of Jacksonian democracy, and his actions as president
(e.g., the spoils system, veto of the National Bank, policy of Indian removal,
opposition to the Supreme Court).
Mainly between Democrat Republican Andrew Jackson and National Republican John Quincy
Adams, the election of 1828 noted the revival of the two party system. The
Democrat Republicans, or later simply known as the Democrats, consisted of small
farmers, new city workers, and small businesses. It opposed a strong central
government, and urged greater democracy. Basically, it supported Jefferson’s
original Republican ideals. The National Republicans, later called Whigs, and
later just Republicans, derived their strength mainly from the higher classes –
bankers, manufacturers, merchants, and large landowners. It resembled Hamilton’s
Federalist Party.
Benefits to the United States through Jacksonian Democracy were overwhelmingly dependent
on the use of governing through an overwhelmingly powerful executive
branch. The Jacksonian democrats depicted themselves as saviors of the common
people. They attempted to destroy aristocracy in America. However, they were
exceptionally wealthy, therefore they supported equality between white men only,
and enacted catastrophic economic policies, and neglected the capability of the
federal government. Further, they did not introduce democracy in America, but
simply used it and benefited from preset democracies. Economically, they
benefited from governing during a time of advances in transportation, which
boosted commerce and helped the common man.
Jacksonian Democracy believed that the people should manage government
affairs. They reflected an agricultural and rising industrial society. The
Jacksonian Democracy also expanded democracy beyond political aspects to include
social and economical aspects as well. Cheap land was also an accomplishment of
the democracy.
Jackson was the first President to introduce the spoils system to national government,
basing appointments on political support. Patronage became dominant on a
national level. President Jackson was known for vetoing bills. He vetoed more
bills in his term of office than all the previous presidents put together. He
vetoed the National Bank. Jackson was also the first to use the pocket veto, a
delaying tactic in which the President does not sign a bill within ten days of
the end of the Congressional term, preventing it from becoming law.
As President, Jackson came over the issue of tariff and nullification. This
conflict concealed the greater issue of states rights. There had been rising
territorial upsets over the higher import tax imposed by Jackson’s federal
government. South Carolina was outraged at the tariffs and counteracted them by
passing a nullification act. Jackson refused to tolerate this and overruled it,
but the tension created by the tariff issue eventually led to the Civil War.
Jackson was a major opponent of the Second Bank of the United States, considered an
instrument of the Eastern establishment. He succeeded in having the bank's
charter repealed. He also supported the Indian Removal Acts and overruled a
Supreme Court decision to allow Cherokees to remain in Georgia and allowed the
Trail of Tears. See: 8.8.2.
More Information:
1.
http://cvip.fresno.com/~jsh33/Jack.html
Jacksonian Democracy – Andrew Jackson.
2.
http://www.nv.cc.va.us/home/nvsageh/Hist121/Part3/AgeofJackson.htm
More on Jacksonian Democracy. Also covers presidency.
3.
http://www.multied.com/Bio/presidents/jackson.html
Andrew Jackson as President.
4.
http://www.multied.com/elections/1828.html
Graphs and diagrams about election of 1828.
5.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h325.html
Description of election of 1828.
6.
http://www.eosmith.org/willett/PPs/2JacksonPolitical/sld001.htm
Slide show of backgrounds to and the Jacksonian Democracy.
7.
http://americanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nv.cc.va.us%2Fhome%2Fnvsageh%2FHist121%2FPart3%2FJacksonBankVeto.htm
Jackson vetoes charter for National Bank.
8.
http://www.multied.com/Bio/presidents/jackson.html#aspres.
Jackson was the first president to introduce the spoils system. He vetoed many
bills and vetoed more bills than all previous presidents combined.
9.
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/1777/papers/hjackson.html
The Jacksonian Democracy benifited the country economically, because they
benefited from exercising authority during a time of major advances in
transportation. Politically, they place most power into a powerful executive
branch.
10.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761569591¶=70#endads.
Jackson believed that his reelection depended on whether he took action against
the bank and complete what he attempted earlier. Do do so, Jackson decided to
remove government money from the bank to pay current expenses and to deposit
future government taxes in selected state banks, forcing the national bank to
lose money and admit defeat.
Recommended Books:
1.
Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars
by Robert V. Remini, July 2001
2.
The Life of Andrew Jackson
by Robert Vincent Remini, September 1990
3.
Liberty and Power: The Politics of Jacksonian America
by Harry L. Watson, Eric Foner, October 1990