Discuss impact of Jacksonian presidency on American politics of the time.
Introduction

Andrew Jackson as born in 1768 to a scottish family near the border of north and south Carolina. He became an orphan at the tender age of 14 and even worked as a saddle maker. As he grew up, he started teaching law to earn money. He became a member of house of representative from tenessee. But he was interested in military career and he joined militia. he earned repute for the great victory against british. He also became a governor of florida in 1821 but resigned in 1823. In 1825 he was reelected to senate but resigned again. Finally, he became the 7th president of u.s in 1828.
There is a legacy associated with Jackson that he was irritated by british as one of the british soldiers had chopped off his hand with a sword in a battle

impact on american politics

a) Rise of common man: Jackson was himself a commoner. His election was the election of a common man by the common men. Therefore, he did whatever a common man would do. He was much against the holding of offices by elite only.he felt common men were also capable and that political offices should be held in rotation. His period is often known as the “era of common man” or “rise of common man”

b) Spoilt system: the system is associated with Jackson.10% of officials were removed from their work and were replaced by common men and people from his political party.


c) Kitchen cabinet: although cabinet served as consultative and advisory board, but Jackson introduced the system of kitchen cabinet. According to this concept, he would consult one or two members of the cabinet and his informal friends as advisors. These include general duff green, major carol

d) Suffrage system: according to suffrage system, only such individuals who held certain property were liable to vote. He suspended suffrage system. he believed that common men should be allowed to vote as they were fully aware of the importance of voting. The number of voters increased in his period from 37 % to 59%.


e) Animosity towards bank: Jackson felt that national bank failed to protect the interest of common men. He introduced a sound national currency.

f) Reaction towards Calhoun: Calhoun was a member of democratic republic party. he had been chosen as an election nominee by the party of Jackson. Calhoun wanted to assert power even before assuming charge. jackson showed animosity towards him. He himself said

“ I have never liked banks much”

g) Indian policy: Jackson did not like Indians much.during his two tenures, he concluded 94 treaties with Indians either to acknowledge them or force them to leave. He believed,

” a good Indian is a dead Indian”

h) Anti-federalist: all the presidents before Jackson favored a strong central government. Jackson deviated from this line of thinking. He gave more power to the states.

i) Foreign policy: Jackson developed a tolerant foreign policy. With French all the pending issues since 1815 were resolved. Even with Britain, he adopted a lenient attitude.


j) Preservation of union: for the first time, threat to union was experienced. A treaty was concluded to benefit the sheep rearers. however it was rejected by farmers of Carolina who introduced a nullification ordinace. Government introduced force law and finally through compromise act union was preserved.

k) Rise of political parties: before the presidency of Jackson, there were only two political parties, federalist and democratic republic. Jacson acknowledged political parties to be the beauty of a political culture. As a result a number of parties appeared including Masonic party.

Critical analysis:

Jackson has been much appreciated for delivering upon his words. unlike Jefferson who was criticized for only paying a lip-service, Jackson took concrete steps. he took practical steps to uplift the status of common men. As he was a self made man, he was fully aware of the issues of the common men and addressed them likewise.