Andrew Jackson DBQ

Introduction: * Andrew Jackson was one of the most popular presidents in the history of the United States. * From being a poor orphan whose mother died at age thirteen to being a military hero and a president that listened to the voice of the people. * The two terms that Jackson was President it was called the rise of the “Common man”. * Because he didn't favor the rich but instead wanted a true democracy where everyone’s voice is heard. * A government formed by the people for the people. * Document 1 illustrates a perfect example of how the people had more the say than legislation. * The dramatic change is in 1828 and on. * Which is when Jackson was president. * Jackson brought democracy to the common
* Once Jackson was elected President he did some house cleaning. * Jackson removed nine percent of the officeholders in his first 18 months of his term. * The president felt that appointed officials should hold office for four years to ensure that they don't benefit themselves and take too much power. * Andrew Jackson believed that anyone could be a public officer as he declared in Doc 6. * In a way it gave more Americans an opportunity to participate in government and get rid of the corruption in the system. * Some were outraged because they felt he was giving the jobs to his friends. Doc 7 is a good example of the people that opposed it. * Here, one of Jacksons appointees is greatly disliked because there were speculation of his position. * At the end they were correct Swartwout only sought out his own benefit. Jackson was left mortified. * The spoils system was democratic because it provided individuals to have a chance in office every four years. * It balanced the power of government jobs. Even though Jackson made a mistake by choosing Swartwout one can conclude that his intentions were
In many of the wars the settlers won and tribes were left to perish. * In Document 8 Andrew Jackson sends a message to congress for the removal act of the Natives on December 7, 1829. * Jackson provides an acceptable explanation for the removal of the Natives. * He tells of how Native tribes “have been made to retire from river to river and mountain to mountain until some tribes have become extinct”. * Jackson offers a solution to set a district west of the Mississippi for the Indian tribes. * That is shown on Document 10 with all the tribes made to immigrate to the new territory. * After Jackson did this some of the public started calling Jackson the Indian hater. * In Document 11 this remark is opposed because it talks of Jackson having an adopted native boy named Lyncoya one can refer that the boy was educated because Jackson tells Lyncoya to read his books. * This shows that the boy was not a slave. Also at the bottom note it states that the boy died and was buried in the family cemetery, which inclines that the boy had a high status in Jacksons family. * Jackson was not an Indian hater, he did the will of the