Andrew Jackson
Hero or zero?
Andrew Jackson is a hero
Andrew Jackson did many important things as president, some very good, some not quite as good as some people would hope. However, I believe that all the good he did outweighed the bad and he should be remembered as a good president.
A website about Jackson:
Reasons Jackson is a hero:
"Jacksonian Democracy"
During Jackson's presidency, suffrage was expanded to all white males (no longer any limitations on amount of land owned). This helped him win the election because more "common men" voted for Jackson because he, too, had been a "common man."
Battle of New Orleans
Jackson led troops against the British in the Battle of New Orleans. This battle actually took place after the war was over, but the news hadn't reached Jackson yet. He got the nickname "Old Hickory" from this battle because he stood like a hickory tree, unable to be knocked over. This battle shows Jackson's leadership and determination.
Resolved the Nullification Crisis
Following the Tariff of 1828 and the Tariff of 1832, the South was very upset and South Carolina threatened to secede. Jackson had a bill called the Force Bill passed which allowed him to use the army to make South Carolina pay the tariffs. This was resolved by the 1833 Compromise Tariff.
Jackson and the National Bank
Jackson opposed the national bank because he felt that it had become corrupt and not helping the common American citizen, only the rich. He destroyed it, and this cartoon depicts the bank as a many-headed monster and Jackson slaying the monster.