Jackson, violence and honor

Andrew Jackson’s presidency helped bring politics to the center focus of many American lives. Jackson served two terms as president (won the elections of 1828 and 1832) Personally patriarchal and authoritarian (not very democratic) Valued his (and his wife’s) honor; engaged in duels in defense of honor owned slaves favored the forced removal of Indians to the west His administration did see the emergence of a competitive party system

Jackson political victory

Andrew Jackson Jackson’s key principles: Majority rule Limited power of the national government The obligation of the government to defend the nation’s average (white male) people against the tyranny of the (white male) wealthy Aggressive use of the presidential veto

Jackson’s Indian Policy Andrew Jackson favored forced removal and relocation westward on reservations. A Supreme Court decision in 1823 stating that Indians could occupy but not hold title to land in the United States made Jackson’s policy easy to implement. Using harassment and bribery, Jackson’s policies forced many of the Indian Nations to march west to locations such as present-day Oklahoma.

Jackson’s Bank War The Second Bank of the United States had been in service since 1823 and had thirteen years left on its charter. The Bank restrained smaller state banks from making unwise loans by insisting on payment in the form of gold or silver (“specie”). American business wanted cheap, inflated, paper money to fund expansion. Jackson considered the Bank a monopoly that hurt the common man and threatened liberty. Jackson vetoed Congress’ bill to re-charter the Bank in 1832, and weakened it by transferring its funds to state banks. Some suggest that Jackson’s opposition to the Bank may have contributed to the financial “Panic of 1837”