The+Jacksonian+Era


 * JACKSON AS PRESIDENT**

[|Andrew Jackson] was the seventh president of the United States and he belonged to the Democratic party. He was a different president because he was the first western president. He was raised on the frontier and was born in a log cabin, which is an important symbol in history. It indicated that he was a common man and could relate to the average American. He was also the son of an immigrant, which made people uneasy. He was the first president to not have any ties to the American Revolution. That generation of people was dying out quickly. His personality made people love him or hate him. To be a follower of Jackson you had to support him all the way. If you didn't agree with him and made him your enemy, then there was a fairly good chance that he would try and kill you in a duel. He believed in a very strong central government, which was similar to the early Federalists.

Jackson used the Spoils System to his advantage. The Spoils System is the hiring of political supporters to government positions. He fired the previous workers and hired his own workers who had the same ideas as him. He used the Spoils System as a bribe, if you'll support me, then you will have a government postition. The Spoils System is still used today. It may not be as common but it still takes place.


 * JACKSON AND THE NATIONAL BANK**

Andrew Jackson, along with the south and west, did not like the idea of a National Bank. They saw the bank as corrupt and unconstitutional. Through this controversy, the National Bank eventually died out, which, along with the Specie Circular, led to the Great Depression throughout the nation. The bank required a charter that had to be renewed every 20 years, Jackson simply chose not to renew the charter. This ended the National Bank. Through this, Jackson was either more hated or loved.