Andrew Jackson Farwell Address Analysis

United States expansion was the result of the exceptional American obligation to liberty and opportunity. The act of expansion, however, is not without controversy as the United States grew at the expense of Mexicans, disposed Indians, and Africans. While racial components were involved, racial aggression was not the motive for expansion; instead Americans justified the claim of authority through the belief of Manifest Destiny, or the idea of a peaceful gradual expansion governed through self-determination. The ideologues of Manifest Destiny continued well into the nineteenth century under President James K. Polk who achieved victory in the Mexican-American war resulting in the annexation of the American Southwest.

Andrew Jackson’s distinctive nationalistic values, principally strict constitutionalism, established the Jacksonian school of thought which continues to influence American politics to this day. Often misunderstood, the Jacksonian school can be characterized through its suspicion of federal power, economic approach to benefit the middle class, and its apprehension to foreign affairs. The origin of these Jacksonian policies derives from their unique code of honor which mandates the …show more content…
In his address, Jackson pleads for the preservation of unity within the United States, warning against the dangers of sectionalism by appealing to the audiences’ national identity. Jackson continues by reaffirming the federal government’s authority through the Constitution, claiming that any act to expand beyond these established limits, especially the abuse of taxing power, should be firmly opposed. Similarly, Jackson was highly critical of the national bank as he believed that congress allowed for exclusive privileges resulting in the control over the value of paper currency and the dangerous effects of a bank