Andrew Jackson
Hero or Villain?
Andrew's Childhood
Andrew and his family
Andrew and his family
Andrew as a child
Jackson's Politics
Jackson's U.S. Presidency
Jackson didn't submit to Congress in policy making, but was the first president to assume command with his power to veto. He believed in giving the power to elect the president and vice president to the American people by destroying the electoral college, garnering him the nickname the "people's president." He also implied the theory of rotation in office, which became known as the spoils system. Perhaps his greatest success as president, Jackson became involved in a battle with the Second Bank of the United States, a theoretically private corporation that actually served as a government-sponsored monopoly. Jackson openly displayed his hostility toward the bank, vetoing its re-charter bill and charging it with disproportionate economic privilege. The American public supported his views on the issue, and in 1832, Jackson won his re-election campaign against Henry Clay; he won his second term with 56 percent of the popular vote, and nearly five times as many electoral votes. He became 7th president of the U.S.A Despite his popularity and success, Jackson's presidency was not without its controversies. One particularly troubling aspect of it was his dealings with Native Americans. Though Jackson had negotiated treaties and removal policies long before his presidency.
Praise Jackson
Promoting Democracy
Andrew Jackson was a great inspiration of Thomas Jefferson and his democratic ideas. They both believed that the President should help the common people. "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none," was one of Jackson's slogans.
Jackson served two terms as President. During those eight year he showed how powerful a strong President could be. He had carried out his policies against determined opponents. He had vetoed more bills than all the Presidents before him combined and he had defied the Supreme Court.