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| Andrew Jackson |
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Born on March 15th, 1767, Andrew
Jackson was the 7th President of
the United States as a member of
the Democratic Party. Jackson was
in office from March 4th, 1829 to
March 4th, 1837. Jackson is featured
on the U.S. twenty-dollar bill.
More nearly than any of his
predecessors, Andrew Jackson was
elected by popular vote; as
President he sought to act as the
direct representative of the common
man.
Born in a backwoods settlement in
the Carolinas in 1767, he received
Jackson was the 7th President of
the United States as a member of
the Democratic Party. Jackson was
in office from March 4th, 1829 to
March 4th, 1837. Jackson is featured
on the U.S. twenty-dollar bill.
More nearly than any of his
predecessors, Andrew Jackson was
elected by popular vote; as
President he sought to act as the
direct representative of the common
man.
Born in a backwoods settlement in
the Carolinas in 1767, he received
sporadic education. But in his late teens he read law for about two years, and he became an
outstanding young lawyer in Tennessee. Fiercely jealous of his honor, he engaged in brawls,
and in a duel killed a man who cast an unjustified slur on his wife Rachel.
Jackson prospered sufficiently to buy slaves and to build a mansion, the Hermitage, near
Nashville. He was the first man elected from Tennessee to the House of Representatives, and
he served briefly in the Senate. A major general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a
national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans.
In 1824 some state political factions rallied around Jackson; by 1828 enough had joined "Old
Hickory" to win numerous state elections and control of the Federal administration in
Washington.
In his first Annual Message to Congress, Jackson recommended eliminating the Electoral
College. He also tried to democratize Federal officeholding. Already state machines were
being built on patronage, and a New York Senator openly proclaimed "that to the victors
belong the spoils. . . . "
Jackson took a milder view. Decrying officeholders who seemed to enjoy life tenure, he
believed Government duties could be "so plain and simple" that offices should rotate among
deserving applicants.
As national politics polarized around Jackson and his opposition, two parties grew out of the
old Republican Party--the Democratic Republicans, or Democrats, adhering to Jackson; and the
National Republicans, or Whigs, opposing him.
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and other Whig leaders proclaimed themselves defenders of
popular liberties against the usurpation of Jackson. Hostile cartoonists portrayed him as King
Andrew I.
Behind their accusations lay the fact that Jackson, unlike previous Presidents, did not defer to
Congress in policy-making but used his power of the veto and his party leadership to assume
command.
The greatest party battle centered around the Second Bank of the United States, a private
corporation but virtually a Government-sponsored monopoly. When Jackson appeared hostile
toward it, the Bank threw its power against him.
Clay and Webster, who had acted as attorneys for the Bank, led the fight for its recharter in
Congress. "The bank," Jackson told Martin Van Buren, "is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!"
Jackson, in vetoing the recharter bill, charged the Bank with undue economic privilege.
His views won approval from the American electorate; in 1832 he polled more than 56 percent
of the popular vote and almost five times as many electoral votes as Clay.
Jackson met head-on the challenge of John C. Calhoun, leader of forces trying to rid
themselves of a high protective tariff.
When South Carolina undertook to nullify the tariff, Jackson ordered armed forces to
Charleston and privately threatened to hang Calhoun. Violence seemed imminent until Clay
negotiated a compromise: tariffs were lowered and South Carolina dropped nullification.
In January of 1832, while the President was dining with friends at the White House, someone
whispered to him that the Senate had rejected the nomination of Martin Van Buren as Minister
to England. Jackson jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "By the Eternal! I'll smash them!" So
he did. His favorite, Van Buren, became Vice President, and succeeded to the Presidency when
"Old Hickory" retired to the Hermitage, where he died in June 1845.
outstanding young lawyer in Tennessee. Fiercely jealous of his honor, he engaged in brawls,
and in a duel killed a man who cast an unjustified slur on his wife Rachel.
Jackson prospered sufficiently to buy slaves and to build a mansion, the Hermitage, near
Nashville. He was the first man elected from Tennessee to the House of Representatives, and
he served briefly in the Senate. A major general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a
national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans.
In 1824 some state political factions rallied around Jackson; by 1828 enough had joined "Old
Hickory" to win numerous state elections and control of the Federal administration in
Washington.
In his first Annual Message to Congress, Jackson recommended eliminating the Electoral
College. He also tried to democratize Federal officeholding. Already state machines were
being built on patronage, and a New York Senator openly proclaimed "that to the victors
belong the spoils. . . . "
Jackson took a milder view. Decrying officeholders who seemed to enjoy life tenure, he
believed Government duties could be "so plain and simple" that offices should rotate among
deserving applicants.
As national politics polarized around Jackson and his opposition, two parties grew out of the
old Republican Party--the Democratic Republicans, or Democrats, adhering to Jackson; and the
National Republicans, or Whigs, opposing him.
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and other Whig leaders proclaimed themselves defenders of
popular liberties against the usurpation of Jackson. Hostile cartoonists portrayed him as King
Andrew I.
Behind their accusations lay the fact that Jackson, unlike previous Presidents, did not defer to
Congress in policy-making but used his power of the veto and his party leadership to assume
command.
The greatest party battle centered around the Second Bank of the United States, a private
corporation but virtually a Government-sponsored monopoly. When Jackson appeared hostile
toward it, the Bank threw its power against him.
Clay and Webster, who had acted as attorneys for the Bank, led the fight for its recharter in
Congress. "The bank," Jackson told Martin Van Buren, "is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!"
Jackson, in vetoing the recharter bill, charged the Bank with undue economic privilege.
His views won approval from the American electorate; in 1832 he polled more than 56 percent
of the popular vote and almost five times as many electoral votes as Clay.
Jackson met head-on the challenge of John C. Calhoun, leader of forces trying to rid
themselves of a high protective tariff.
When South Carolina undertook to nullify the tariff, Jackson ordered armed forces to
Charleston and privately threatened to hang Calhoun. Violence seemed imminent until Clay
negotiated a compromise: tariffs were lowered and South Carolina dropped nullification.
In January of 1832, while the President was dining with friends at the White House, someone
whispered to him that the Senate had rejected the nomination of Martin Van Buren as Minister
to England. Jackson jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "By the Eternal! I'll smash them!" So
he did. His favorite, Van Buren, became Vice President, and succeeded to the Presidency when
"Old Hickory" retired to the Hermitage, where he died in June 1845.