Andrew Jackson's Presidential Legacy
Andrew Jackson's Presidential Legacy
Andrew Jackson reigned as president from 1828 to 1836, this time period has since been known as the Jacksonian Era. During which the Jacksonian Democrats were around and viewed themselves as leaders of political democracy, economic opportunity, and individual liberty. Upon closer examination one can see that these so called protectors of the Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and economic equality were nothing more than that so called.
Claiming to protect the Constitution it is obvious this is untrue because in the Acts and Resolutions of South Carolina (F) shows how the Jacksonian Democrats tried to suppress the printing, publishing and distribution of anything intended to incite slaves of southern states to revolt. This is a blatant violation of the first amendment that grants everyone the freedom of speech and press. These acts and resolutions were created because many of the democrats were slave owners themselves and which to keep slavery legal which is also a violation of the constitution because in it it states all men are created equal.
Another misconception of the democrats protecting the people was their oppression of the classes. George Henry Evans “the Working Men’s Declaration of Independence” (A) shows how they are oppressing the lower and middle class. Also Daniel Webster’s reply to Jackson’s veto of the bank (C) which he claims that it seeks to inflame the poor against the rich. Also Webster’s reply shows how the democrats were oppressing the rights of the rich to getting even richer off the banks.
Individual liberties were infringed greatly upon during the Jacksonian Democrats reign. In The Diary of Philip Hone (E) a New York businessman and Whig politician which describes Irishmen of the lowest class coming on to the streets armed with clubs rioting. The democrats also disliked Native Americans as shown in the picture of the trail of tears (G) where armed soldiers lead thousands of Indians to their death and westward which is a infringement of the democrats claiming to guard individual liberties.
With all these cases of the Jacksonian Democrats contradicting their views of themselves one wonders how they could claim to guard the Constitution, political democracy, individual liberties, and economic equality. While inciting many riots and violations of the people’s rights the Jacksonian Democrats are obviously not what they appear to be.