The first six American presidents had been “old money” men, men who had money and power in society. However, Andrew Jackson was of a different breed. Although he had his share of aristocratic pretensions, he lacked a college education and was unashamedly rough around the edges. His youth had been spent fighting, and he got the nickname “Old Hickory” because of his well-known hardiness on the battlefield. When he was elected in 1828 it signaled the arrival of the so-called New Democracy. Until 1815, it had been said that presidents were put into office by the majority of a minority. But by the 1820s, property qualifications were falling away and a rising middle class was being heard. Wanting to appeal to this new middle class, Jacksonian politicians promoted the new idea that, in a democracy, everybody was fit to rule. Jackson put it this way in his first address to Congress:
“The duties of all public offices are, or at least admit of being made, so plain and simple that men of intelligence may readily qualify themselves for their performance... In a country where offices are created solely for the benefit of the people no one man has any more intrinsic right to official station than another.”
The idea was unpopular with people like John Adams, but proved to be the way of the future. The appeal that Jackson had to many people was his party’s trump card, and today’s Democrats trace their success to the “common man” pitch first used in Jackson’s time. Jackson was a man of the people, and, wanting to represent their interests, he used his presidential power so blatantly that his opponents called him "King Andrew". Before Jackson, the presidential veto had been used all of ten times- he used it twelve. Perhaps in one of his most dramatic displays of power, he was responsible for the destroying of the national Bank of the United States, called a “moneyed monster." Jackson made his reputation on the frontier as an Indian fighter, beating the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in 1814 and burning Seminole villages in Florida some years later. It was his administration that started the removal of the Five Civilized Tribes that eventually became the 1838 Trail of Tears.
A great deal can be learned from the rise of Jackson and his policies. One example is that you do not need to be rich and influential to become a part of the US government- any old Plumber Joe can make a go at it. Jackson was not part of the high and mighty society, yet he became one of the most powerful men in America. His achievement showed Americans that the sky was the limit if you were willing to work for it. The toll of expectations can be learned from Jackson as well. Because of the expectations placed on him by the American people, many of his acts as president were percieved as dramatic. When pressure is placed on a person, many times they will act quickly and in a large way. I believe Jackson's "dramatic" acts can be learned from in that a person should clear their head and think through a decision before acting, even if that act will please many of your supporters.
Other Nutshells:
Nutshell #1: The Bill of Rights
http://seward-history.blogspot.com/2011/02/nutshell-1-bill-of-rights.html
"We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident" (#2):
http://christiantsblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident.html
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| Andrew Jackson |
