History Essay Question #1: Should Andrew Jackson be celebrated or condemned as a U.S. President?
It has been debated whether Andrew Jackson was a fit 7th president of the United States, or if he was unsuited for the position and title. Many people admired his military achievements before he was elected, for example he won the Battle of New Orleans, against the British. But, many others saw him as an Indian murderer. But, despite what or how many names people may call him, he was a great strategic warrior in many ways.
Before he was born, on March 15, 1767, his father had passed and life went by without knowing him. He was then conscripted into the army when he was only thirteen with his brother. Sadly, he was eventually taken hostage and died of smallpox. As he returned home with minus one his mother also dies, but of cholera, and was soon orphaned at the age of fourteen. He had a very abandoned childhood and it helped shape him into the man he was then.
Jackson's presidency was often called the first modern presidency because of his belief that the president is not just an executive but a representative of the people, he was much like a Congressman but for all the people rather than those of a specific district. He was entered into the campaign for office, determined to end the government's corruption and the nation's financial difficulties caused by what he thought were the upper-class elite in government, business, and finance. And he achieved that goal by paying off all of our country's debts. Jackson was also very passionate about helping the lower class, such as farmers, since he grew up in that sort of lifestyle. He additionally helped America by usually going towards his gut instinct for most of the time, he vetoed many bills because he felt that it didn't benefit the country in any way, while his predecessors vetoed bills because they were unconstitutional. In 1832, he also vetoed the bill to renew the charter of the Second Bank of the United States, the nation's central bank. He believed the bank and those who controlled it had too much power and could ruin the country financially for their own gains. And that turned out best for the budding nation.
Many people could also argue that he was unjust and only cared about his "people". It was because it was said that he started the Trail of Tears, which was a forced march of Cherokee Indians to move west. But, the thing is how can it be forced if it was a signed contract between the Cherokee and the U.S. promising them gold and new lands in the west. Yes, I definitely agree that the march was devastating to the people affected by it, but it was necessary to redirect them, because we were already on bad terms with them so starting another war where even more innocent lives would be killed would be even more inhuman. I believe that the decision was a hard one to make but a compromise is better than a war.
Andrew Jackson was a man praised for his accomplishments, and that alone gained the trust of almost all Americans throughout the new country. He was very involved as a general during the Revolutionary War and the Battle of 1812. He was also given a nickname, that earned respect from his men, "Old Hickory" for sharing their hardships, marching with his men while allowing the wounded to ride. The battle of New Orleans was also very significant, even though it was unnecessary. (A peace treaty was signed between Britain and the U.S. but news didn't reach the battlefield.) There were about 2000 British casualties while Americans had only about 70, and Jackson's status as a commander and national hero was solidified. This battle marked the last attempt by any foreign nation to invade the United States.
Overall, Andrew Jackson was a great leader of the younf country, he has improved it in countless ways and even started our democratic party. He paid off our country's debts (though it wasn't kept that way for long) and ended the national bank, which only helped the rich to become richer. He was president for the people whose voices could not be heard. He led our nation to a stable era and one full of great choices.
