How Democratic Was Andrew Jackson? Andrew Jackson was the most popular president during his time. Even though he had his enemies during his two term presidency, he was a public figure to the American people, and his popularity lived on even after his death. The people loved him because of the decisions he made, and his extraordinary and successful military career. He had very democratic views, and believed in a democracy, which all branches of government are required to listen and follow the wishes of the people. It is fair to say that Andrew Jackson is very democratic because he protected peoples' constitutional rights, wanted American citizens to vote, but he was not democratic because he was not fair to everyone. Andrew …show more content…
During the end of his first term as president, he issued the Indian Removal Act. Jackson had a history with the Native Americans. He was a war hero in the Battle of New Orleans, and also took out the Creek Indians in 1813 and 1814 in Alabama. Jackson did not consider them as citizens, and wanted to relocate the Native Americans so there would be more land for the American citizens to settle in. According to Document 10, the Indians were relocated to territory west of the Mississippi. Jackson also stated, "...I suggest for your consideration...setting apart an ample district west of the Mississippi...to be guaranteed to the Indian tribes as long as they shall occupy it...This emigration should be voluntary...(but) if they remain within the limits of the states they must be subject to their laws." (Document 8). The Indian Removal Act was not a peaceful transition for the Native Americans. This act was not fair for both the Native Americans, and the American citizens. Document 9 states, "…badly supplied with food and water... All our neighbors...would speak a language totally different from ours, and practice different customs..." This shows that Andrew Jackson was being very harsh to the Native Americans. The Indian Removal Act showed that Jackson was not fair to all people, including the Native
Robert V. Remini shows that Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act benefits the Native Americans. Andrew Jackson made notice of the issue with the Indians in his inaugural speech on March 4, 1829. He declared that he wanted to give humane and considerable attention to the Indian’s rights and wants in respect to the government and people. Jackson knew that meant to get rid of all remaining tribes beyond the Mississippi River. He (Jackson) believed that the Indians would be better off in the west; without the influence from the white man or local authority. Jackson hired two Tennessee generals to go visit the Creeks and Cherokees to see if the Indians would leave voluntarily. In that, those who did not leave would be protected by the
Throughout Jackson’s presidency, Jackson was prone to making questionable decisions. One of Jackson’s most monumental blunders was when he decided to relocate tens of thousands of innocent Native Americans. Jackson was a huge fan of the idea of Americans moving westward to unsettled areas. The Native Americans occupied the areas that Jackson wanted to transform into American cities. That did not halt Jackson from doing what he desired. Jackson displayed his egocentric behavior and called for the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Jackson wanted to move the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole nations from their southeastern homes to Oklahoma. The Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole nations all somewhat cooperatively deserted their homes at the request of the Americans with little fight. These nations forfeited their land, homes and possessions to walk the Trail of Tears, an 850-mile path from the southeastern states to Oklahoma. American soldiers forcefully kept the Natives moving without breaks. Throughout the trek, thousands of Natives died from sickness and starvation. One tribe, the Cherokees from Georgia,
Andrew Jackson once said, “Democracy shows not only its power in reforming governments, but in regenerating a race of men and this is the greatest blessing of free governments” (BrainyQuotes). Andrew Jackson was very into getting the people involved. He wanted everyone to work and do things together and did not want to run the country himself or let Congress run the country. Andrew Jackson wanted the people to get involved in legislature and know what was going on. Andrew Jackson was a very democratic man because he was for the people and did things to support the oppressed.
Andrew Jackson was probably one of the most powerful and influential presidents during his time at the white house. He was hated, yet loved by many. Jackson was an American soldier, who gained fame as a general in the U.S and served in both houses of Congress. He was soon elected the seventh president of the United States. After Jackson took charge, he wanted immediate change as to how the government was being run. For starters, he came with a new idea of voting. Allowing the common people to vote for whom they believe was the right person for the job. Before the introduction to
When Andrew Jackson was denied presidency in 1824 due to “the corrupt bargain” between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, he was furious at the lack of democracy in the election system. He became determined to institute a new age of genuine democracy in America where the voice of the people wouldim being monarchal, Andrew Jackson was a very democratic president evidenced by his drive to give the people more representation and also his attempted transfer of power from the few to the many.
The Indian Removal Act, inspired by Andrew Jackson; the 7th president of the US and the enhanced ambition for American settlers to find more land in the southwestern regions of North America. The Indian Removal Act enabled Jackson the power of negotiating removal treaties with Indian tribes east of the Mississippi. Among these tribes were: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaws and Seminoles. Very few authenticated traits were signed. The Choctaws were the only tribe to agree without any issues. All other attempts resulted in War and blood shed for both white settlers and Indians. The conflict with the U.S. and Indians lasted up until 1837. In 1838 & 1839 Jackson forced the relocation of the remaining Cherokee Indians;
Andrew Jackson was elected as the seventh president of the United States in 1829 until 1837. There is a debate about Jackson asking if he was democratic or not. Jackson was a democratic leader because he listened to the people and gave the common people government jobs, but helping the people was only to benefit himself. By giving jobs and listening to the people he got more votes, which is what he wanted. Although Andrew Jackson wanted to government to be a democracy, his actions and values disproved the ideas of a democratic system.
Also Jackson was not forcing them out he was allowing the natives to stay even though the conditions weren’t great (Doc 7). Many Native Americans didn’t like the the Act because the conditions west of the Arkansas territory wasn’t good and the Natives wanted to stay on the land of their ancestors (Doc 8). Since most Americans wanted the Indians gone Jackson had to respect democracy and pass the
Relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses of people. Being Democratic is a trait that helps a president go far and be liked by many people. Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States, elected in 1828, and a very good example of being democratic. He loved the people, and ruled for all of them, not just those of similar status. Andrew Jackson ran his government in a very people oriented way.
As Southerners expanded west into the land of the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaw, and other Indian nations the United States overlooked and abused the Indians. The Federal Government decided to force them out of their land, making the land available for white settlements. Andrew Jackson played an important role in the Indian removal. He had a complicated relationship with the Indians due to the controversial issues on the Indian Removal Act.Consin Jackson forced Congress to pass this act since he believed that it would not only benefit the Indians as well as America. The Indians, as well as others, disagree with the government's thoughts and beliefs, however, most had no say in the ruling of this Act. The passing of this act brought conserved throughout the entire country, as some Americans believed the Natives were subject to these new state legislatures while others believed the
Jackson outlined several reasons for Indian removal in his message to Congress in 1830. He stated, “by opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier” (Jackson). He believed the Indians were impeding westward progress by occupying land that should be settled by whites. Jackson also believed
In 1828 Andrew Jackson was elected the first new era democratic President of the United States, But was he really that democratic. Before Andrew Jackson was elected President in 1828 he ran to be President in 1824 along side John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and William Crawford. But the votes were split and so it was up to the house of representatives to choose who would become President of the United States. Thank to a little help from Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams won the presidency of 1824. After the vote of the people was silenced in the 1824 election Jackson was determined to create a new era of democracy and become the next President of the United States.
Jackson was a well determined man, set on just one prior ambition, although past presidents didn’t quite share the same standings as he did. And that would be in regards to Native American equality. Jacksons discriminating bias against Natives is suggested to be because Jackson was southern raised. While president he allowed his stereotypical southern heritage (racially bias) judge and punish the Native. It is understood that southerners desperately desired then Indians land for its rich fertile ground in which they can farm and start their businesses. Despite southerners desires Indians did not wish to part from their native land. To please the south, Jackson strong held congress into passing the Indian removal act. In 1830 the United Stated
Andrew Jackson is arguably one of the most influential presidents in history. He believed that government had a social obligation to the people and that it was the most democratic branch. He was the first president to create a grassroots political
Indian Removal Act was the removal of tribes Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole nations because it was thought that Indian tribes were standing in the way of white progress, and their dream of manifest destiny. After a lot of debates in Senate on April 24, 1830, Senate vote 28 to 19 to pass the Act and later on House of Representatives voted 102 to 97 then, president, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act because the land west of the Mississippi was unsuitable for farming and white settlers wanted to move to the Southeast where Native Americans lived which is present-day Oklahoma and parts of Kansas and Nebraska. They wanted the government to move the Native Americans to the Plains, so the whites could settle in the Southeast for farming cotton and other crops but when asked the president said it benefited the Indian tribes. Also, Indian territory had gold and rich farmland fertile for cash crops such as tobacco and cotton. His justification was its progressive and allowed the Native Americans to keep their way of life. His motivation was to make the white settlers happy and get the rich land of the Southeast. Jackson helped to negotiate nine out of eleven treaties which deprive the southern tribes of their homeland for lands in the west. At first, many tribes disagree to sign the treaties but later agreed and moved but Cherokees refused. “While some Indians complied peacefully, the Cherokee, among other tribes, resisted.”