Andrew Jackson A President That Lost Sight — страница 2

be found throughout states during the South Carolina problem late in his presidency. He was also working against making his country prosperous. Connecting people would increase trade and movement between states would promote the buying of American-made products, making traveling and transport more efficient. While Jackson had accomplished a great goal by reducing the national debt, the people and the progress of Americans suffered too greatly. Money means nothing if it is not put to proper use. More than once did Jackson step over his boundaries when it came to his presidency. There is a difference between Jefferson going behind Congress’ back with the purchase of Louisiana and defying the supreme government as well as the natural rights granted to man. The Cherokee appealed to

the Supreme Court, in the case Worcester v. Georgia, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled against Georgia, and in the favor of the Native Americans. Jackson ignored the ruling, and did what he wanted to, kick the Native Americans off their land to make room for true, white “Americans”. The Native Americans like the Cherokee lost more than just their land. They lost their homeland, culture, and family. Jackson’s Native American policy is a stain on the nation’s honor. American’s pride themselves on being free and equal, but yet no matter how hard the Cherokee, tried to be white, we could not except them. If Jackson had excepted the tribal lands, then as the leader of the nation he would have been an example not only of character but also of American pride. Not only does he

disgrace the nation, but also goes against the very system created by our founding fathers; the checks and balances system, which balances the power between executive, judicial, and legislative. Jackson breaks the very laws laid down from the beginning. Precious for the government to continue to function effectively. How can a man who disrupts the very natural order of government itself be considered the greatest president? In truth, he can not be. One of the most controversial issues accompanying Jackson’s presidency is his attack on National Banks. The purposes of this bank were to regulate the flow of currency, control credit, and perform essential banking services for the Department of Treasury. The existence of the bank was based on the idea of Alexander Hamilton, the

nation’s first secretary of the treasury, with the idea that the bank would cooperate between commercial interest and the government, to assure a strong national economy. With the removal of government funds, it made it difficult of banks to be reliable, yet it was Jackson decision to do so. It is true that the BUS needed to be the bank for the people and not for the very rich, yet at the same time it did not need to be completely destroyed. Jackson eliminated something with mass potential for the country because of minor problems. He deprived the Nation of a “sound central bank just as it was entering an era of rapid industrialization”. (p. 291) By not allowing for one strong reliable bank, which was not in the fear of bankruptcy, Jackson created thousands of weak local

banks that were undercapitalized and poorly managed. The people of the United States lost precious money to these companies. “Americans paid a stiff economic price for this wide-open system, as Jackson’s “reforms” left a heartbreaking century-long legacy of thousands of bank failures.” (p.292) While Jackson played the role as a leader of the common people into politics, it was his political party that made him who he was. It was the demand for change, and Jackson just happening to be running at the time when the rules were being changed. It was not him that made improvements in electing process of president or the increase of citizens voting. It was his political party that demanded changes. It was not Jackson, who prevented South Carolina from seceding, it was Henry

Clay. In short, Jackson played the role as a symbol of the new American dream, but did not really do anything on his own that prospered the United States. Andrew Jackson can not be called one of the United States’ greatest presidents because each good thing coming out his presidency must be given credit to anyone but him. Many of his major decisions like the idea of the spoils system and the Trail of Tears, negatively effects not only the prosperity of the nation but also its natural pride and respect. A president must not just serve himself and his beliefs, but must serve his country and what is best for the people. Jackson falls short when the big picture is taken in view.