Age Of Jackson Essay - 962 Words

The Age of Jackson, written by Arthur M. Schlesinger, focuses on the long lasting effects of Andrew Jackson on democracy and American politics. The novel starts off with Jackson’s life story, a lowerclass boy from the west, raised by a single mother. After finding financial success on his own, he became well known for his military exploits, being a crucial factor in the Battle of New Orleans, and the acquisition of Florida from the Spanish. After the brief account of Jackson’s life, the author moves on to his administration, and stays with that topic for most of the book. By the time Jackson came to power, the nation had been drastically changed by the Industrial Revolution. The simple, pastoral, agricultural lifestyle was being replaced†¦show more content†¦Jackson, uneducated as he was, was a very shrewd man. Using the spoils system, he all but totally replaced the cabinet from the previous administration. By rewarding the men who had helped him reach his current state, he made it clear that the middleclass could improve their condition. The cabinet was no longer filled with wealthy men of status, but instead of more every day people. Nicholas Biddle proved great opposition to President Jackson. He wanted to re-charter the National Bank; however, many people were against Biddle’s decision. This was particularly true of people in the west. They were still wary of a national bank, after the Panic of 1819, which involved mishaps in land speculation. Jackson shared the predominately western opinion that several small banks would be a better service to the nation than one, large bank would. A major problem with a national bank would lie in it’s willingness only to make loans to the wealthy. This would be of no use to the middleclass. Jackson would not allow Biddle to gain any more power than he already had. Jackson did not have the characteristics of a great president. First of all, he was notorious for being to rash and impetuous. As a military leader, he often disobeyed direct orders (Florida campaign), and acted on instinct rather than reason. He also had many enemies among colleagues, including John Calhoun, John Quincy Adams,Show MoreRelatedThe Age Of Jackson By Andrew Jackson Essay1267 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"The Age of Jackson† was a time when the high society aristocrats were threatened by the commoner. Jackson was a common man himself; orphaned as a boy, Jackson, rose to the top and became an admired general and commander in chief. Jackson affected the outlook on the class system, the method of electing our president, the spread of the spoils system, the fighting between the north and the south, the interactions between America and the Indians, and he helped lead our country to inflation. With Jackson’sRead MoreAndrew Jackson : The Age Of Jackson1376 Words   |  6 Pagesknown as â€Å"The Age of Jackson†, America was a country on its way to the West. America’s revolutionary generation was quickly fading, making room for a new balance of political power. As the class systems were breaking down, the â€Å"common man† was better able to cast his vote for the new President. Jackson was glorified by his impressive war accomplishments and humble background of the frontier. This made him the main target for presidency in election 1824. Once coming to power, Jackson no longer portrayedRead MoreThe Age Of Jackson Is Wrong1164 Words   |  5 Pagesone of the men who worked as a government official. Instead of the routine I’m used to, I’m greeted by my parents sitting across from each other, soft voices talking about â€Å"social reform† and becoming better people. I admit that ever since the Age of Jackson started, they were acting a bit out of character. â€Å"Good morning,† Dad said. When was the last time he said that? Did he ever even say that to me? â€Å"Caitlin, after quite some time of thinking, we decided to become reformers,† my mother suddenlyRead MoreAndrew Jackson : A Symbol Of The Age Essay1553 Words   |  7 PagesWest. Andrew Jackson was the president in the early 1800’s that made a considerable amount of change. Theses changes and action that he was involved in changed America forever, in which gave him the respect from the people of America. He was a symbol for his age, becoming a true historical figure and a hero for the people. He defeated the British and expanded America to unifying and create nationalism for the common people of America. This essay will discuss the ways in which Andrew Jackson is depictedRead MoreThe Faults of the Age of Jackson Essay726 Words   |  3 PagesWith the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828, many felt a new age of political, economic, and social equality was about to emerge. However, the Age of Jackson was plagued by numerous racist policies, as well as unconstitution al job placement in the White House. Jackson also slyly prepared the country for a financial panic, while handing blame to his predecessor, Martin van Buren. While the Jacksonian Democrats believed themselves to be the procurers of democracy and equality, they promoted segregationRead MoreThe Age Of Jackson And Jacksonian Democracy1140 Words   |  5 PagesA. The usual labels The Age of Jackson and Jacksonian Democracy analyze Andrew Jackson with the age in which he lived and with the improvement of political democracy. This esteem may amplify his importance, but it also endorses the important truth that Jackson extremely contributed to building the American nation and its politics. Just as contemporaneous artists so regularly characterized him astride his horse overlooking the battlefield, Jackson bestride some of the key streams of nineteenth-centuryRead MoreThe Age Of Jackson s Political History1074 Words   |  5 PagesThe Age of Jackson On particular, The Age of Jackson changed America’s political history because Jackson established new precedents with the government’s relations with Indians, the issue of state and federal rights and also established a political rivalry. The Age of Jackson occurred during the time period from 1829 to 1837. During this time period, the United Stated of America was under the presidential term of Andrew Jackson. Ever since Andrew Jackson’s election, there was a complete transformationRead MoreThe Age Of Jackson : A Period Of American History Essay1798 Words   |  8 Pages The Age of Jackson, from the 1820 s to the 1830 s, was a period of American history full of contradictions, especially in regard to democracy. The period saw an immense increase in voter participation, nominating committees replaced caucuses, and electors began to be popularly elected. Yet, all of these voting changes affected only a minority of the American people: White, Anglo-Saxon males. So, though one can easily tell that White, Anglo-Saxon males were gaining true liberty and equality,Read MoreThe Age Of Jackson Was A Time Of Tremendous Reform With American Society And Politics1128 Words   |  5 PagesDaniil Stanisevschi Hour 1 12/04/14 Democratic Ideals DBQ Between the years 1825 and 1850, the US underwent a series of social and political reforms which attempted to democratize American life. The Age of Jackson was a time of tremendous reform with American society and politics. Andrew Jackson’s position as president lasted from 1829-1837, therefore the fact that many writers and historians have attached his name to the time period between 1820 and 1850 indicates the high importance of his spiritRead MoreChild Observation Paper1294 Words   |  6 Pagesmy observation of â€Å"Jackson†, I focused on the following domains of child development: * Physical * Cognitive * Social * Emotional I applied Attachment theory throughout the observations, which were completed at his home, at the park, and at the grocery store. I was unable to observe Jackson at his school. Jackson is being raised by his grandmother because his mother is addicted to drugs, and is unable to provide a home for him and his 2 other siblings. Jackson has been raised by