Andrew Jackson
The Supposed Hero That was Really a Zero
Shutting Down the National Bank
The national bank was a central point for federal funds. Jackson saw the National Bank as favoring the elite, or wealthy. This bank was a follow up to the previous bank whose charter had expired. Jackson viewed the bank as unconstitutional and wanted to shut it down, but Nicholas Biddle - the Director of the bank - fought against him. He got Senator Henry Clay as an ally, and most of congress thought Jackson was wrong in saying it was unconstitutional. In 1832 Jackson vetoed congress when they tried to get a new and fresh charter bank, and in 1836 when the charter was finally expired, Jackson made sure it was not renewed and put the money in various state banks.
Nullification Crisis
During Jackson's presidency, he passed the tariff of 1828, which was designed to protect the industry in the North. This tariff was named the 'Tariff of Abominations' by the South because of the ways it hurt the Southern economy. One state in particular was not happy with this tariff. South Carolina decided they could nullify, or declare invalid, the Tariff of Abominations. They would not pay the tax, and if the government tried to interfere, they would secede from the Union. Jackson and Congress respond to South Carolina's nullification act by passing the Force Bill, which gave the government the power to make the people of South Carolina pay the tax using military force. South Carolina gave in to the government, and accepted the compromise tariff of 1833.
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was an act to force relocate Cherokees due to the discovery of gold and the desire to settle the land. Jackson no longer wanted the Cherokees in Georgia, and was going to relocate them to reserved Indian territory in Oklahoma. Samuel Worcester and seven other pastors were arrested by the state of Georgia because they were against the Indian Removal Act. This issue was taken to the supreme court, with John Marshall as Chief Justice. John Marshall took the side of the missionaries and declared that Georgia could not force the Cherokees out and the missionaries should be released from prison. Jackson responded with the statement, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" He continued with the Cherokee removal and did not release the missionaries. Jackson had no right to continue with the removal, and caused an even greater problem - the Trail of Tears.
President Andrew was thought of by some people as abusing his power and acting like a king. In this picture he is depicted as being a king as being dressed like one, and he is standing on the now ripped US constitution.
Andrew Jackson Kills the BANK