Andrew Jackson:

‘Man of the People’?

Bank War

Let the People

Rule

Role Model

Nullification Crisis

Treatment of

Native Americans

Reasons for Jackson Being a Man of the People

• Role Model: Self Made Man (inspired others)– Early Life (poor & orphaned) to Wealth (lawyer/real estate) & Fame (War Hero/President)– Strong, Tough, & Determined

• Let the People Rule– Founded the Democratic Party– Expansion of Voting Rights – Spoils System: Gave ordinary Americans government jobs– The Kitchen Cabinet: Kept Jackson informed of the nation’s mood

• The Bank War– Sought to make it easier for ordinary Americans to borrow $– Believed the Bank of US was undemocratic: only helped the rich– Believed the Bank was unconstitutional: only states could charter banks– Supported by most Americans: Reelected

• The Nullification Crisis– Opposes States’ Rights to ban the tariff– Showed that the U.S. is a nation of people not a collection of states– Prevented a Civil War with his strong stance (Force Bill)

Reasons Against Jackson Being A Man of the People

• Weakens the National (Federal) Government– He put many who were unqualified in positions of power (spoils system)– Government didn’t work properly & he needed the Kitchen Cabinet for Help– Acted like a King/Dictator in many cases (made decisions by himself)

• The Bank War– Let a personal grudge with Biddle cloud his judgment– Ignores the Supreme Court again (King Like)– The closure of the Bank caused an economic depression (Panic of 1837)

• Mistreated Native Americans, Women, & African Americans– Doesn’t enforce Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the Cherokee (King Like & impeachable)– Supports States’ Rights in this case (hypocritical) compared to Nullification Crisis– Supports the Indian Removal Act– Causes the Trail of Tears & the Seminole War– All were discriminated against & denied Civil Rights such as the right to vote– Jackson personally owned over 100 slaves– Some Americans (Abolitionists as well as JQA) tried to win rights for minorities