It's a common theme throughout American history that strong, independent leaders are frequently derided by their opponents as "tyrants." This tendency springs from the days of the Revolution when the American colonists fought against what they saw as the tyranny of King George III. Since then, the word "tyrant" has remained a mainstay of the ever-growing lexicon of American political invective. Andrew Jackson was subjected to a fair amount of abuse throughout his political career. And, inevitably, he was frequently condemned as a tyrant. But he was immensely popular in the country as a whole and saw himself as a man of the people, not just by his humble background but also due to the policies he pursued when in office. Jackson's unashamed
