Andrew Jackson Dbq

The era of Jackson’s presidency ran from 1829 throughout 1837. Jackson used any political and economic means necessary in order to see American frontier regions expand across the nation. In the beginning of the Jacksonian era, colonial Americans’ settlements had not yet extended far beyond the Atlantic seaboard, partly because bad roads and primitive technology limited their ability to expand, and because both hostile Indians and British imperial policy discouraged migration beyond Appalachian Mountains. However, all of this changed after Jackson was in office and American expansion was well underway. Jackson strived for social economic, and political growth. Throughout his terms he brought about social, economical, and political revolutions that sparked a new and improved America.
Quickly in Jackson’s presidency he tried to start an era of social reform. During his presidency he founded a party that called themselves American Democracy. A main factor was the Indian Removal. This affected the lives of many Indians. This piece from the Cherokee letter can sum of the thoughts of the Indians, “We are overwhelmed! Our hearts are sickened, our utterance is paralyzed, when we reflect on the condition in which we are placed, by the audacious practices of unprincipled men, who have managed their stratagems with so much dexterity as to impose on the Government of the United States, in the face of our earnest, solemn, and reiterated protestations.” Economic disputes erupted under Jackson. The Bank War so a major factor in these disputes. Nicholas Biddle headed the bank. He effectively used the institution’s power to curb the over issuing of money by local banks and to create a stable currency. He was a very strong willed man. Jackson did not like the bank and he vetoed the proposal by the Biddle Bank. In President Jackson’s veto message he states, “ Entertaining this opinion, and deeply impressed with the belief that some of the powers and privileges possessed by the existing bank are unauthorized by the Constitution, subversive of the rights of the States, and dangerous to the liberties of the people, I felt it my duty at an early period of my Administration to call the attention of Congress to the practicability of organizing an institution combining all its advantages and obviating these objections.” The Bank War reflected how Jackson enhanced the power of the presidency during his eight years in office. Another aspect dispute was over tariffs, which was resolved with the Compromise Tariff of 1833. The Compromise Tariff was passed as an attempt to stop the Nullification Crisis brought on by South Carolina. It proposed to gradually lower tariff rates since southerners objected to the protectionist rates found in the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832. SC had threatened to secede from the Union unless the tariff rates were reduced. They declared the rates "null and void" within SC. During his time in office Jackson drastically changed American society politically. He had an extension of suffrage where he removed elimination of property and religious restrictions. He also brought about the spoils system that showed the power of the president by giving out family and friends jobs they might not be able to handle. Jackson was known to abuse his power as president and was looked at as almost a dictator or king, as shown in many pictures from his time. He would veto anything that went against his beliefs rather than vetoing if the proposal was unconstitutional. The nullification crisis is an example of when he abused his presidency and went against the constitution. When South Carolina declared a reduced tariff void and threatened to secede, President Jackson responded in an unconstitutionally. He threatened to send militia to enforce the tariff and the Jacksonian Congress passed a bill approving this military force, if necessary. This was in direct violation of the Constitution. The issues of slavery were also brought up in the Texas question, “Should we annex Texas.” This seems like a simple yes or no question but it caused controversy between pro-slavers and those who opposed it.
All these aspects during the Jacksonian era helped influence the America we are today. Just a few aspects listed help build up social, economical, and political revolutions throughout his time in office.