Andrew Jackson: A Man of the People or Not A Very Good Man

Gabrielle Matthews

Dr. Stanek

US History 107

May 23, 2015

                     Andrew Jackson:  A Man of the People or Not a Very Good Man

         Many Americans have felt, through portrayals particularly in textbooks, that Andrew Jackson was a “champion of democracy” as well as a symbol of “antielitism” and egalitarianism sweeping America during his tenure in politics and as President (Trollope).  Many portrayed Jackson as the forebear of battles against economic privilege and political corruption (Trollope).  Some saw Jackson as an actual protest by the frontier populace against the aristocracy of the rich in the East, whom they firmly believed were usurping and restricting their freedoms and future opportunities in the westward expansion movement (Trollope).  Most also portrayed Jackson as making government more responsive to the will of the people rather than giving power to any special interests (Trollope).  He was seen by many writers of history on one hand as an early version of now modern reform efforts trying to restrict the unlawful powers of the business community (Trollope).

     Others saw him as the preeminent spokesman of the rising entrepreneur class who also felt that their own road to opportunity was being blocked by the monopolistic powers of eastern aristocrats and businessmen (Trollope).  However, Jackson’s view was really to only oppose special privileges and interest groups

 to the extent that those certain privileges blocked their own personal road to success (Trollope).  They were not sympathetic to those they viewed as “lesser” individuals and were often seen as “enterprisers against capitalists” which is really two in the same type of group against each other (Trollope).  

     Others saw Jackson as a land speculator, merchant, slave trader as well as one of the most aggressive enemies of the Indian in early American history (Zinn).  He was depicted as a war hero several times such as in the War of 1812, the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, the Seminole War of 1818 and probably others.  However, it also mentions that he had many deserters who did not agree with his behaviors against the Indians or those he considered to be a “lesser” person than himself (Zinn).  

     Jackson was a land grabber and speculator often giving land and suggestions to friends and family to buy as many Black slaves as possible because their “price would soon rise” (Zinn).  He did oppose the National Bank which won him the admiration of a certain middle type class as it was seen as the “rich man’s bank” (Zinn).  Ultimately, one must look at his presence in creating a “cotton kingdom,” as a slaveholder, executioner of any soldiers who didn’t agree with him no matter what they had forfeited for his cause and above all an exterminator of Indians throughout his tenure in politics (Zinn).