Andrew Jackson was born in a settlement within the Carolinas in 1767, and at the age of 13, he joined a local regiment in the Revolutionary War. The British captured Jackson, and as a prisoner he was forced into cleaning a British officer’s boots. Jackson read law for two years before becoming an exceptional lawyer in Tennessee. He was then appointed as the state’s constitutional convention representative, and 12 months later, he became a U.S. senator. The election of 1828 was a return to a two party system, and Jackson decisively defeated John Quincy Adams. His presidency was defined by a great deal of vetoes, as he was not afraid of using his Presidential powers. Additionally, Jackson refused to sanction the recharter of the Bank of the United
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During the 1830s many of the Democrats represented a sense of anti-egalitarianism and anti-democratic ideals. According to Document 1, “Democrats were more aggressively anti-abolitionist than Whigs, and they generally outdid them in justifying and promoting ethnic, racial, and sexual exclusion and subordination” (Document 1). These ideals which Jackson promoted are far from Democratic, and the Indian Removal Act certainly led to ethnic exclusion and isolation. Social and political equality characterize a democracy and therefore, by forcibly removing an ethnic group, Democratic ideals are not being expanded. In Jackson’s message to Congress regarding the Indian Removal Act he states, “The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual States, and to the Indians themselves” (Document 2). Essentially, Jackson did not value the Indian ethnic groups as individuals of the country, forcing them to leave. He did not regard tribes as independent sovereign entities but rather as tenants of the government. Jackson believed that if the Indians wished to maintain their tribal government, they would have to expand into Western territory. The Cherokees rejected the treaty and were transported by military force to distant lands in what is known as the Trail of Tears. Jackson exclaims to Congress that the Indian Removal Act, “will relieve …show more content…
However, Jackson did not truly expand Democratic values in the 1830s as he initiated the spoils system, passed the Indian Removal Act, and overused the veto. Essentially, a democracy is defined by justice, liberty, and egalitarianism. By initiating the spoils system, Jackson allowed corruption to blossom in the government as unqualified individuals were appointed for positions. Additionally, by passing the Indian Removal Act, tribes were forcibly removed from the United States and pushed into Western territory. Furthermore, the Indians were not treated equally as they were not considered to be citizens of the United States. The tribes lacked the freedom to withhold their sovereign political systems as well. Finally, Jackson overused the veto, ultimately destroying the Second Bank of the United States. By acting as an autocratic leader, Jackson failed to expand upon Democratic values. Essentially, Jackson’s actions did not promote justice, liberty, or egalitarianism which clearly define a
During the 1830s many of the Democrats represented a sense of anti-egalitarianism and anti-democratic ideals. According to Document 1, “Democrats were more aggressively anti-abolitionist than Whigs, and they generally outdid them in justifying and promoting ethnic, racial, and sexual exclusion and subordination” (Document 1). These ideals which Jackson promoted are far from Democratic, and the Indian Removal Act certainly led to ethnic exclusion and isolation. Social and political equality characterize a democracy and therefore, by forcibly removing an ethnic group, Democratic ideals are not being expanded. In Jackson’s message to Congress regarding the Indian Removal Act he states, “The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual States, and to the Indians themselves” (Document 2). Essentially, Jackson did not value the Indian ethnic groups as individuals of the country, forcing them to leave. He did not regard tribes as independent sovereign entities but rather as tenants of the government. Jackson believed that if the Indians wished to maintain their tribal government, they would have to expand into Western territory. The Cherokees rejected the treaty and were transported by military force to distant lands in what is known as the Trail of Tears. Jackson exclaims to Congress that the Indian Removal Act, “will relieve …show more content…
However, Jackson did not truly expand Democratic values in the 1830s as he initiated the spoils system, passed the Indian Removal Act, and overused the veto. Essentially, a democracy is defined by justice, liberty, and egalitarianism. By initiating the spoils system, Jackson allowed corruption to blossom in the government as unqualified individuals were appointed for positions. Additionally, by passing the Indian Removal Act, tribes were forcibly removed from the United States and pushed into Western territory. Furthermore, the Indians were not treated equally as they were not considered to be citizens of the United States. The tribes lacked the freedom to withhold their sovereign political systems as well. Finally, Jackson overused the veto, ultimately destroying the Second Bank of the United States. By acting as an autocratic leader, Jackson failed to expand upon Democratic values. Essentially, Jackson’s actions did not promote justice, liberty, or egalitarianism which clearly define a