The great president of America, Andrew Jackson was born in a backwoods settlement in the Carolinas in 1767. He was the 7th president of America. Though he had an irregular education, he won great acclaim and popularity as a lawyer with his habit of reading books in his late teens. From the very young age itself he was no ready to bend his knees before others and this stubborn character led him to engage in a fight with the man, who insulted his wife, and finally killing him. Jackson had his plans to buy slaves and build a mansion, the Hermitage, near Nashville. He was the first man elected from the Tennessee to the House of Representatives, and he served for a short time in the senate. Jackson became a popular figure in America as a major general, after defeating the British at the New Orleans in the War of 1812. By 1824, Jackson had become one of the most significant figures of the U.S. and in 1828 he joined the “Old Hickory” to win the various state elections and thus by getting the control of the Federal administration in Washington.
As a president Andrew Jackson was different in many ways when comparing with the other presidents of America. Though he was the 7th president, he was the first in many things. “He was the first populist president who did not come from the aristocracy, he was the first to have his vice-president resign (John C. Calhoun), he was the first to marry a divorcee, he was the first to be nominated at a national convention (his second term), the first to use an informal “Kitchen Cabinet” of advisers, and the first president to use the “pocket veto” to kill a congressional bill” (Andrew Jackson).
Jackson convinced the Americans that their votes are valuable and he proposed a political ideology, “democratic republicanism” that confirmed the rights, intelligence, and capacity for self-government of the common people. As he was born in a log cabin, he could really understand the problems of the poor and always expressed a deep disparagement to the “better classes”. As the president Jackson believed in the strong presidency and to confirm it he made dozens of amendments in the legislation than the other six presidents. Andrew Jackson is considered as the most powerful agent and a product of change in America in the age of transition. He is the striking and most controversial figure during the period of disorder. Andrew Jackson was a man who fought his way to the peak of power and changing the nation to his determination in the cause of democracy. He begins a new era in which, the common people, from non elite areas were the ruling force in social and political sphere in America. Many people modern world considered as the striking symbol of American democracy. He is a man moved from conventional bureaucracy. In Jackson’s time democratic views changed in to religious life, literature, art and architecture.
Andrew Jackson did not have a strong belief in religion early on but later he became religious and it led him in joining in the Presbyterian Church. Jackson regarded religion and politics as two parallel streams and never allowed to mix it each other. He had even thought there should be made amendments in the constitution, regarding the separation of the religion and state. The words of Jackson reveal his concept of religion when he says: “I was brought up a rigid Presbyterian, to which I have always adhered. Our excellent constitution guarantees to every one freedom of religion… all who profess Christianity, believe in a Savior and that by and through him we must be saved” (The Religious Affiliation of 7th U.S. President Andrew Jackson).
During the last part of his life he exhorted the people to follow moral teachings of the Savior and had tried to implement it in his own life.
Andrew Jackson’s political view of Presidential rule was a government of common people which had been widely accepted among the public. Andrew Jackson‘s period is specially noted with the absence of wars or conflicts. The period of Jackson’s rule there is no conflicts occurred in the European region. Jackson gives more emphasis on solving the domestic and regional problems. But the great Removal Act ion 1830 made some problems in Andrew J Jackson‘s political life. Through the bill Jackson controlled the Native Americans occupation in Georgia.
During the time of Jackson’s administration, one can easily finds important changes in the social and political history of America. Jackson illustrates republican virtues and ideologies by remaking a national government and providing powers of the people. In the result of Jackson’s administration both the executive and the legislative branches uplifted to a great position in America. Decentralization of power became familiar in American administrative system in Jackson’s time His victory at the battle of New Orleans contributed the status of a ‘national hero’. His economic measures are deeply rooted in his political ideologies. The importance of the New Orleans battle revealed through the comments of David B. Kopel. He rightly comments: “Andrew Jackson’s victory at New Orleans capped his campaigns against the British and the Indians in the southeast, ensuring American control over the region”. After the war Americans ensured its absolute control in those regions (A Collaborative Effort- Review by David B.Kopel).
He believes the rights and abilities of common man in national formation. As a soldier Andrew Jackson follows a successful career. He was a strict officer, but very friendly with his officers. The battle at New Orleans contributes him the status of a ‘national hero’. Andrew Jackson had his own concepts regarding the duty of the officers. He strongly believed that “offices are created solely for the benefit of the people”.
Tradition He had also believed that rotation in the office is necessary and it is the essential feature of a democratic govt. He has also been commented that everyone has the same right to the official station. He never supported corruption which has been a pervasive effect on the offices of that time. The corruption often diverts the government from its legitimate ends. The educated people are capable to perform the duties of the public officers but the officers often disregard this fact and behave indifferently. This indifference of the officers to the public always had annoyed him and he gave prominence to the performance exerted with intelligence. He strongly projected the view that offices are established to give support to all the men equally and also there should not be any partiality.
The Americans regard Andrew Jackson as a role model among their presidents. He differs from the other presidents in the fact that he appeared the political field not from the aristocracy but from the military service. He tried to implement the strict military rules in the administration that won the great public support. The other widely accepted theory of Jackson was his political ideology, “democratic republicanism”. This political ideology stirred the minds of the people and so he became the popular figure of that time. As he was born in the log cabin, he could easily understand the problems of the poor which naturally created a kind of disparagement to the “better classes.” His kind-hearted attitude to the public won him the adoration of the people. His strong belief in presidency presented the halo of a real hero and helped him to be the powerful agent and product of change. Most Americans regard Jackson as the true symbol of democracy, inclined with his democratic, social and cultural reforms. He could wisely handle religion and politics, each without being mixed with the other. He had the staunch belief in religion and had been brought the democratic principles to religion and these religious policies of Jackson were a motivation to the public. The main reason for the people to respect Andrew Jackson was that, his age was particularly notable for the absence of the war and conflict. As the president, Jackson gave emphasis to solve domestic and regional problems which had enabled him to be one among the greatest president’s of America. A lot of changes had been occurred, especially in politics as well as the social and the cultural sectors. Decentralization of power was the very notable contribution of his rule. To confirm it, he implemented strict rules for the officers, and never did he allow the corruption. Almost all these principles had been widely accepted in the society and as a result of that the Americans regard Jackson as the role-model for the other presidents who rule America later on.