Jackson, Tyrant or Hero?

Chapter 13 The Righteous Tyrant?On 2008, when Barack Obama was elected for President, almost every one was so thrilled to see this man lead the United States.

People wore shirts of him, celebrities supported him widely, singers wrote songs about him, and everyone chanted his famous line Yes We Can. On 1828, a familiar man won the hearts of Americans and claimed the title as the President of the United States after a bitter defeat on the 1824 Election. Similar to Obama, Andrew Jackson was not just seen as a leader at that time, but an icon as well.People were on the verge of death just to touch the man: The man who was well-liked because of his major role in the War of 1812, the Seminole War, and his status as a war hero. Jackson and his enthusiastic followers created the modern Democratic Party, during his Presidency and the era from 1830-1850 that became known as the Jacksonian Democracy. Similar to other Presidents that United States has had, Jackson made myriad actions that raised some eye-brows and even chaos.

The actions made by Jackson nearly destroyed the nation, especially through economic matter.Although I adore Andrew Jackson for his tremendous boldness, this trait was his hamartia, his own downfall. Because of this boldness, it caused him to be egotistical, thinking that he can just decide everything by himself. Thus, it caused people, and myself, to see him as a tyrant. One of the major issues that were made by Andrew Jackson was the new corruption in the government. Obviously, Jackson won the election because of the people’s votes.

As a reward, he gave his supporters government jobs that were already held by longtime workers. Wouldn’t it be terrible if you were replaced by a Jackson supporter after having your job for years?The Spoils System increased corruption in the United States government, causing anger and angst towards other Americans. Jackson even had unofficial advisors working for him. In order to strengthen his political base, he appointed jobs to his supporters and friends as a reward of their loyalty; something that I think is unsporting. During his time as the President, the United States was also struggling with some economic problems. For instance, when the tariff of 1828 was passed by John Quincy Adams, it mostly hurt the southerners because of the tariff on their imports and common goods.

During Jackson’s presidency, South Carolina claims that they can nullify the law based on the Kentucky-Virginia resolutions. The state even warns the legislature for a war and secession, something that Jackson, who is known to be very violently strong, was provoked. He wanted to enforce the tariff and even used the military to enforce the tariff. Another major issue was his views on the Bank of the United States.

Totally against the Bank, Jackson vetoed the renewal of its charter and caused it to collapse. He believes that the Bank only supported and benefited businesses, not the citizens.Just like Thomas Jefferson, he believes the Bank was unconstitutional and held too much power, thus ended up giving all the money to state banks. Jackson also issued the Specie Circular, the idea of paying government land using only gold and silver, not paper money or loans.

This process directly caused the Panic of 1837, which turned the national economy into a huge depression. As a fellow immigrant here in the United States, I am a firm believer of supporting other races and ethnicities. For a person to be the President of this nation, he must represent not only one race or one group, but rather the whole nation and everyone as a whole.In Jackson’s case, you can’t possibly say he was a supporter of all race, because it would be bogus to view him like that. Jackson strongly hated the Native Americans; just seeing what he did to the two Seminole chiefs in Florida defies his hatred towards this group of people. Jackson claimed that they were in America’s way, causing him to move various tribes of the East Coast.

One of them was the well-known Cherokee tribe, who strongly opposed the decision, because they already adapted the American culture.Their opposition was taken to the Supreme Court, where it was decided that the Cherokees can stay. Andrew Jackson showed no sympathy and ignored the court’s decision and exterminated them from the East Coast to the West Coast on a winter season; the journey that we call today the Trail of Tears, because of the death of many during the travel. If I lived back in the Jacksonian Era, my view of the man would be very unpleasant. These actions are something that a tyrant would do, like King Louis XIV or Muammar Gaddafi, who totally ignored their nations’ rights.

I believe Andrew Jackson ignored two branches of the United States government; the legislative and the judicial branches. He vetoed laws that he believes that hurt the country, but in my eyes, the Bank was always needed, especially in their time of economic crisis. He also ignored the decision of the Supreme Court in the Cherokee vs. Georgia case, something that a President should not do. I do acknowledge Andrew Jackson’s protection of democracy and liberty to the citizens of the United States, but I somewhat despise him for his actions, especially in his role in removing Native Americans out of their territories.

I do believe he slightly fits the description of a tyrant, not precisely though. Andrew Jackson does exercise his power in the government by ignoring the two branches, granting jobs to his supporters, and removing the Natives. However, I still have huge respect for Jackson. It is true that he was widely extreme in some areas, but he spent almost all his life serving for the United States; as a Commander during the War of 1812, a veteran war hero, and the President of the United States.