Presidency Of Andrew Jackson Essay, Research Paper
Andrew Jackson and his policies strengthened the new American
nationalism. Through his actions during his presidency, he changed the
nation into a more nationalistic country. Jackson was a man of the
people, and he strongly felt that the common man was the power behind
government. There were many different aspects that mirrored Jackson
and American nationalism. Many factors, including his personality, his
policies, his actions, and the way he mirrored American nationalism
changed America into what become less of an aristocracy and more of a
democracy to benefit the common man. Jackson was a man of humble
background. In his time, a man that was born in a cabin was looked
upon highly, and some of those with more noble upbringings actually
apologized for not being born in more humble surroundings. Jackson was
a brash, strong-willed man. He first got his fame in 1815 when he
defeated the British Army at New Orleans with his untrained militia.
Then in 1818, he violated Spanish territory without any authorization
and hung 2 Spanish subjects for supposedly aiding some of the Indians
that were being hunted. He lost the election for presidency in 1824,
and claimed it was done so by a “corrupt bargain: between Adams and
Clay. He finally got his presidency in 1828. Most of his votes came
from the West and South. When he was in office, he made it clear that
he would get his way. He was labeled “King Jackson the First” by some
and he expanded the power of the President. He supported a strong
national government and used his power to get what he wanted. He
vetoed 12 times in his 2 terms in office. His presidency was one of
violence, and a sort of monarchy rule.
The second main point that Jackson strengthened nationalism is
his policies while in office. Jackson firmly believed that the
government should be restricted to become the “simple machine which
the Constitution created”. He was truly a man of the people. He also
ignored many of the decisions made by the Supreme Court. Another thing
was the Jackson had a strong personality and was well liked. However,
I feel that many of Jackson’s supporters didn’t know where he stood on
the views, but they supported him because he was a man of the people.
He didn’t make his view clear many times, but still received support
from the people. Violence was a thing that he used also to get his
way. A person was either for him or against him. Jackson usually
implemented what he wanted personally, not what was good for the
people. For example he was a slave owner, and he supported the ban of
antislavery pamphlets in the mail. Jackson’s policies caused the rise
of American nationalism and the strength of the office of the
President of the United States of America.
Many of the actions took by Jackson reinforced the new
Jeffersonian Democracy. His actions were those of a strong President
and a strong national government. They all were part of the rise of
American nationalism. He vetoed bills he did not like, he threatened
using national troops in South Carolina to enforce the tariff, and
many others. His actions however were also not always consistent. He
seemed to support a strong national government, but also was a states’
rights champion too when he didn’t interfere when Georgia violated the
Native Americans rights laid down by a federal treaty. One of his
biggest actions however was the veto of the Second Bank of the United
States. This awarded honest labor, and was a great setback for
monopoly and aristocracism. Jackson took actions to try to benefit the
common man, and strengthened American nationalism.
Jackson’s presidency mirrored American nationalism. American
nationalism was growing, and the aristocracy was dying out. He was a
common man, and stood up for the common people. His actions were all
to push for a government that acted within the limits of the
Constitution. That is showing nationalism by only allowing the
government to do what the people have given it power to do. He also
did what was in his power to better the common man in the economy. He
did not like the National Bank because it hurt the common man, and
strengthened the aristocrats and corporations. His actions were what
became known as Jacksonian Democracy, and raised the American
Nationalism.
Jackson’s time in office raised the American nationalism in
many different ways. Jackson was the first true president of the
common people, and he acted accordingly. Jackson believed in a strong,
but limited national government, and he used it to benefit the common
man because he was too a common man. Throughout his presidency, he
took many actions that led to the strengthening of American
nationalism. He strengthened the presidential powers and the power of
the people also.