Andrew Jackson is a controverial figure of American history. A hero of the War of 1812, inexorably linked to the victory at New Orleans over the British, and a successful indian fighter, he is an American Icon. Yet as the 7th President of the United State he recieves mixed reactions.
He was the president who authorize the Indian Removal Act that led to the Trial of Tears, ignoring both the Treaty of Ghent and overturning a Congressional ruling in favor of the Cherokee's in modern day Georgia to force the Indians to relocate.
He used what he described as a "spoils system" of government where he simply rotated the members of his cabinet into new job and replaced federal appointed staff for party appointed officials, which in turn led to growing corrupting within the halls of power.
He declared war on his own banking system and justified it with these six reason. 1) it concentrated the financial strengh of the US into on institution 2) it open the country to influence by foreign powers, 3) it made the rich richers 4) it had too much power over members of Congress 5) it favored Northeastern States more than Southern or Western State and 6) it was controlled by only a handfull of individuals from elite families. When he had taken office had had paid off the national debt but his war with the bank would plunge the nation into a new depression that would last until the Whig's retook power.
He attempted to abolishe the Elecotial College in favor of giving the choice to decide who would be President or Vice-President to the people instead of the politicians. He called for a single term of officer for the President.
During his presidency the Nullification Crisis reached boiling point and South Carolina came very close to seceeding. His cabinet began to crumble through in-fighting and resignations and he and his Vice-President - John C. Calhoun - split apart politically. In response to South Carolina's nullification claim he sent Soldiers to the State as a threat of both enforcing the tariff and warning the State off of secession. He denounced both nullification and secession as unconstitutional. He was prepared to have Congress pass a "force bill" allowing him to use force to make South Carolina follow orders but while that bill was pass a compromise tarriff was agreed and the force bill became obsolete.
After the nullification crisis Jackson, somewhat prophetically, wrote that: "the tariff was only the pretect, and disunion and southern confederacy the real obect. The next pretect will be the negro, or the slavery question."
Famously he survivd an assassination attempt in 1835 due to his would-be assassin's guns failing to fire. Legend Jackson then attacked the would-be assassin with his cane while David Crockett restrained and disarmed the failed gunman.
And when his presidency came to an end Jackson state only two regrets. That he "had been unable to shoot Henry Clay or to hang John C. Calhoun."
He was the president who authorize the Indian Removal Act that led to the Trial of Tears, ignoring both the Treaty of Ghent and overturning a Congressional ruling in favor of the Cherokee's in modern day Georgia to force the Indians to relocate.
He used what he described as a "spoils system" of government where he simply rotated the members of his cabinet into new job and replaced federal appointed staff for party appointed officials, which in turn led to growing corrupting within the halls of power.
He declared war on his own banking system and justified it with these six reason. 1) it concentrated the financial strengh of the US into on institution 2) it open the country to influence by foreign powers, 3) it made the rich richers 4) it had too much power over members of Congress 5) it favored Northeastern States more than Southern or Western State and 6) it was controlled by only a handfull of individuals from elite families. When he had taken office had had paid off the national debt but his war with the bank would plunge the nation into a new depression that would last until the Whig's retook power.
He attempted to abolishe the Elecotial College in favor of giving the choice to decide who would be President or Vice-President to the people instead of the politicians. He called for a single term of officer for the President.
During his presidency the Nullification Crisis reached boiling point and South Carolina came very close to seceeding. His cabinet began to crumble through in-fighting and resignations and he and his Vice-President - John C. Calhoun - split apart politically. In response to South Carolina's nullification claim he sent Soldiers to the State as a threat of both enforcing the tariff and warning the State off of secession. He denounced both nullification and secession as unconstitutional. He was prepared to have Congress pass a "force bill" allowing him to use force to make South Carolina follow orders but while that bill was pass a compromise tarriff was agreed and the force bill became obsolete.
After the nullification crisis Jackson, somewhat prophetically, wrote that: "the tariff was only the pretect, and disunion and southern confederacy the real obect. The next pretect will be the negro, or the slavery question."
Famously he survivd an assassination attempt in 1835 due to his would-be assassin's guns failing to fire. Legend Jackson then attacked the would-be assassin with his cane while David Crockett restrained and disarmed the failed gunman.
And when his presidency came to an end Jackson state only two regrets. That he "had been unable to shoot Henry Clay or to hang John C. Calhoun."
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