Was Andrew Jackson a "champion of the common man" or "King" Andrew?
Andrew Jackson was not a "champion of the common man" as he liked to perceive. Instead, he was "King" Andrew. In some ways Jackson may have seemed like a "champion of the common man" because he was against the rising aristrocracy and supported an egalitarian society, but do not let these aspects be deceiving. Andrew Jackson was a very demanding presedent. He was not open minded and did not accept the opinions of others. He was known for firing his cabinet and other members of congress when things did not go his way. In order to make things happen his way, Andrew Jackson introduced the spoils syestem to the national government- basing appoints in government on political support. Therefore everything he supported was also supported by his cabinet and anyone else he appointed. Andrew Jackson vetoed more bills in his term in office than anyother presedent. If he was a presedent of the "common man" then he would have considered passing more of the bills that were presented to him. He found ways around government establishments such as the national bank. In order to avoid using the national bank he divided all of the federal money into various state banks. Andrew Jackson was not worthy of being the presedent of the United States because he acted more like a king. The government was made for and by the people and during the Jackson Era it was all about him, "King Jackson," not the people.
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I agree with you sarabeth. Jackson was a head strong man that took no in no consideration of his people. He made decisions on what he thought were best and had no care of what othersthought of him. He was no way the "champion of the common man." He ruled the country in a sense and it was all abouit him.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Jackson let himself be guided by his emotions at times, i hardly think its fair to undermine the good things he did do for the "common man", not many people seem to remember he made a big contribution to the rights of suffrage, he knocked down a bank that only the elites liked and he ruled with a strong hand that can be misconstrued with a monarchist attitude. I am not siding with Jackson because i know that he was a little it "kingish" but i do not feel that this was the only side to his leadership, i think he is in the middle so he should be reffered to as
ReplyDelete"President Andrew Common King Man!"
Haha.. what a nickname.. I agree with your point of view Sarah Beth and think your idea was very well thought out. I also want to add to the part about Jackson's "egalitarian" society because he was still a racist man, even considering the era, and showed violence and disrespect to the Native Americans which makes him all the more hypocritical. Also, while researching for my speech, I read something about how Jackson considered himself a father figure towards the Native Americans and justified his forceful eviction as a caring notion trying to guide them out of the Eastern lands for their own good, which is completely insane considering he is the one who showed the most hostility towards them in the first place.
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