Andrew Jackson Dbq

Jackson believed that since he was voted president by the people of the United States that he was the most legitimate represented of the

Curtis is extremely knowledgeable about the life of Andrew Jackson. It can be said that Curtis’s main purpose for writing this book was to give extensive information about Andrew Jackson’s life. Curtis is able to show the readers the positive things in Jackson’s life by telling more about his flaws. In the author’s preface, Curtis tells us that “To recognize that Andrew Jackson was troubled, that he feared death, that his emotions ran to extremes may diminish his reputation as a demigod but not as human being” (Author’s Preface X).

The conceptual appeal of the Jeffersonian heritage is important in understanding the Jacksonians. Jackson and his followers “Jacksonians” were suspicious of the new industrial society developing around them and wanted instead for the restoration of the agrarian, republican virtues of earlier times. In destroying the bank of the United States, minimizing federal economic activities, and highlighting state's rights, they made efforts to rebuild a simpler, more decentralized world. Oddly enough, their actions added to the expansion of unregulated capitalism.

Throughout time Andrew Jackson is portrayed in different ways. When first elected in 1824 many felt that he won the title unjustly. There was a controversy of a “corrupt bargain”. At the start of the nineteenth century historians “damned Jackson as a backwoods bargain” and believed Jacksonians was “an irresponsible, ill-bred outburst”. As time went on many viewed Jackson as a hero and leader.

The reason that Jackson’s background and personality were so appealing to Americans in the 1820’s was that it was something that no one had ever heard of before. The story of how Jackson’s parents were Scott-Irish immigrants who came to America with children to have a new life appeals to the vast majority of immigrants in America. The unexpected death of Jackson’s father and then when his older brother Hugh dies of heat exposure and fatigue appeals to the vast majority of Americans who despised the British. Likewise when Jackson and his second oldest brother Robert were taken as prisoners of war by the British and when they were being taken to the British prison camp both Andrew and Robert would contract smallpox, of which Robert would die

Although Jackson was orphaned as a teenager and fathered no children of his own he did have a family. His marriage to Rachel Donelson brought him into her large family of brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces and nephews. Several of these children lived at The Hermitage at some point in their lives. In 1808, Jackson and Rachel even adopted one nephew, the son of Rachel’s brother Severn, naming him Andrew Jackson,

The story about his wife, Rachel, caught my attention. I can’t imagine how she must have felt for having her past pointed out, and to have Jackson’s rivals using that against him was just…awful. Besides that, it was interesting to see everyone’s perception of Jackson back then. The Indians saw him as someone cruel as the devil, while those from the lower class liked him because they could relate to him. I wonder what opinions we might get if we asked people nowadays about their views on Andrew Jackson.

Jacksons powerful personality played an instrumental role in his presidency. Jackson was a charismatic figure. He was combative, quick-tempered, and thin-skinned. To his friends, he was generous, considerate, and above all loyal; to his enemies, mean-spirited and spiteful. He could hate with a fury and would resort to petty and vindictive acts to nurture his hatred and keep it bright and strong and ferocious.”

According to this site, he was an American soldier, merchant, speculator, and politician, and the Collector of the Port of New York and stole $1,22,705.09 from Americans. Not only did the president take old friends so they will listen to him as said by Ronald, when the official Cabinet became useless to him he turned to his trusted friends also known as the Kitchen Cabinet (blairhouse.com). They would continue to play an important role until 1831 when word spread of the Kitchen Cabinet. Andrew Jackson’s so called “trusted advisors” are really just old friends looking to hang out and smoke some pipes

While President Jackson might’ve been remembered as a national hero, with his image being immortalized onto the $20 bill, I believe that President Jackson was simply bad at his job of managing the United States, and should be guilty all for the crimes he performed. Not only did President Jackson introduce the spoils system, a method of assigning government positions simply to any person who supported one’s campaign, whether or not they were good at the job, but Jackson also jeopardized the entirety of the US’ economy, leading up to the Panic of 1837, and finally, committed atrocious crimes against the indigenous Native Americans who lived there. While he was viewed as a champion of the people, he should be remembered as a terrible president,

Jackson was a strong advocate to eliminate restrictions on land ownership. He also encouraged the spoils system. He felt that this system better incorporated public opinion into government policy. He believed that because each party had to compete for public support in meeting their wants and needs, the public would become more active in elections. Although he protected political democracy, Jackson did not grant everyone the right to vote, which would make a truly democratic president.

According to Thomas P. Abernethy, Jackson was “a frontier nabob who took sides against the democratic movement in his own state…an opportunist for whom democracy was good talk with which to win the favor of the people and thereby accomplish ulterior objectives.” Different views of Jackson continued the debate about who he really was as a leader. It was not until historian Arthur Schlesinger, took a different look at the study of Jackson. He believed that Jackson’s presidency was designed to suppress the power of capitalists, and try to help those of the lower classes. Other historians continued to disagree with Schlesinger, while others supported his idea or enhanced it, saying Jackson was almost similar to a Marxist.

Andrew Jackson contributed many conspicuous matters to the United States throughout his presidential term. Many debates remain active concerning the intention of the seventh president of our nation. When some retrospect the essence of Jackson, they would confirm that he is accurately known for representing the rights of the common man, and for being at the forefront of our modern democratic party. On the contrary, others will condemn this once so ordinary, “common” man for possessing an insatiable crave of power that was occupied within this insidious prime minister. Jackson revealed his underlying intentions through his colossal aggregate of slaves, serving as the basis of the Trail of Tears, and his overabuse of the Spoils System.

Coming into the courtroom I believe Jackson was a vicious president who just wanted to kill to get his way, but in the trial, I came to the consensus that Jackson isn’t always that angry old man people perceive him to be. Sure, he’s killed many people and could’ve possibly led to many more deaths, but his crimes against humanities was never fully brought to light. I believed, that prosecution proved that he was an immoral, violent and at times vicious president, but they never proved he committed a large enough crime to affect humanity. In the opening statements, prosecution called Jackson a president that failed to do his job.

Jackson’s election as president marked an end to the wealthy politician’s steak. People viewed Jackson as the representation of the up-and-coming middle and working class of America. Therefore, Jackson embraced the role of protecting the “common men”.