President Jackson

1. Introduction/Early Life
 For the first time a common man came to occupy the White House, Born
in South Carolina in 1767, studied law, served as a district court judge, a
war hero (war of 1812), promoted to major general, President in 1828
after defeating John Quincy Adams.

2. Features of his Presidency :

1. Opposition to Privileged Classes : believed in the equal capacity of all
irrespective of their status, removed 10% of officer holders to appoint
commoners belonging to the Republican Party, unconsciously gave rise to
the “spoil system; to victorious belong spoils”, subsequent Presidents
followed this approach.
(Thousands of men joined the election campaigns with a view to hunt jobs,
this practice soon came to be discredited and was ultimately replaced by the
system of civil service recruitment)
2. Beginning of Party Politics :
 After the War of 1812 the Federalist Party died out on the national
political stage, starting a period of single-party government under the
Democratic-Republicans called The Era of Good Feelings.
 After the contested presidential election of 1824—in which the
House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams even
though Andrew Jackson had carried more states—Jackson’s
supporters organized a national campaign for the election of
1828. They formed the basis for what soon became known as
the Democratic Party.
 The Democratic Party brought together smaller southern planters, urban
workers, artisans, immigrants, and Catholics. Its members saw
themselves as the honest workers and producers of the country and
were suspicious of bankers, merchants, and other monied interests.
They celebrated the rugged individual and opposed attempts to impose
moral reforms through government means. 
 During Jackson’s presidency, his opponents formed into another new
political party, the Whigs. Unlike Democrats, Whigs favored an active
national government and promoted the “American System” to benefit
American commerce: a national bank, a protective tariff, and internal
improvements like canals and railroads. The party brought together
merchants, bankers, prosperous farmers (including the wealthiest
southern plantation owners), and Protestant reformers. Its members
saw themselves as modernizers who believed in the power of
government to improve society and morals. 
 These two parties formed the Second Party System in the United States,
which lasted from about 1828 to 1854, when the issue of slavery broke
apart the Whig Party.

3. Policy towards the Banks of United States :

 To a large extent guided by his strong distrust of the moneyed
aristocracy, Pro-Capitalist Congress extending the life of the Bank of U.S.
by ten more years.
 The Bank enabled the rich and the powerful to bend the acts of the
government to their selfish purpose.
 He interpreted his victory as a mandate from the people in favor closing
the Second National Bank( Second term) ; ordered the withdrawal of
government deposits from the Bank which ultimately resulted in the
closure of the Bank and money transferred to State Banks.

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4. Decentralization and State Rights :

5. Preservation of the Union

 The Tariff Law of 1828 to help the wool manufactures was greatly
resented by the cotton growing South Carolina and other Southern
States.
 Passed an another Tariff Law in 1832 to pacify these states by removing
objectionable clauses but South Carolina passed the Nullification
Ordinance and declared these Acts to be unconstitutional. Forbade the
collection of duties within the State.
 It was feared that South Carolina will secede the Union and form a
confederation with other Southern States with Calhoun as its President.
 Jackson passed the Force Bill in 1833; naval and defense forces at the
disposal of the President for the collection of taxes.
 Simultaneously, the Compromise Measure was passed which was
accepted by South Carolina and withdrew her Nullification Ordinance.

6. Relation with Congress :

 Jackson a commoner could not maintain cordial relations with the
Congress mainly due to the composition of privileged classes, vetoed
legislation… first President to do so.
 Tried to assert his independent position unlike his predecessors who
were only concerned with the executions of the laws passed by the
Congress.
7. Division of the Democratic Party :
 Excluded the followers of Henry Clay and included such persons in his
cabinet who could not oppose him. (Kitchen Cabinet)
 Jackson’s rift with Calhoun on the nature of the Union and handpicked
Cabinet. Jackson pressed Calhoun’s followers to resign.

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8. Policy towards the Indians :
 Forced the Indians to migrate to the Mississippi valley, would resort to
force against them.
9. Foreign Policy :
 Friendly policy towards the European powers, fundamentally different
from his predecessors.