Andrew Jackson

HERO OR VILLAIN?

Brave little boy!

Illustration showing Jackson as a child getting wounded

by a British soldier

In 1780 at the age of 13 he refused to polish the British

soldier’s shoe

He was sliced by a sword on his cheek

War of 1812Jackson marched his troops to New Orleans to defend the U.S. against the British. His toughness earned him the nickname “Old Hickory,” which stayed with him for the rest of his life (he was said to be “as tough as old hickory,” a type of wood)

Jackson’s 5000 troops defeated 7500 British troops at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, in the final battle of the War of 1812

Spoils systemWhen Jackson became president, many appointed government officials had been in their positions since the Washington Administration (about 30 years)

Jackson replaced many of these officials, particularly those he viewed as corrupt.

Critics called this the “spoils system”; charged that it might install unqualified “cronies” of the president

The words, “fraud, bribery, and plunder” are seen underneath the pig. A skeleton is also seen under the pig, and the pig has dollar signs on it.

Fighting the bankersPresident Andrew Jackson, depicted fighting the central bankers, who he knew were determined to control the country through its currency.

He felt that the national bank held too much influence over Congress members

Andrew Jackson hated the idea of the Bank of the United States. He thought it wasn’t fair to the poor people. He wanted to destroy it.

Jackson vetoed renewal of bank’s charter

“Fighting for the common man” Cartoon showing Jackson in a boxing match against Bank president Nicholas Biddle

When the Bank president Nicholas Biddle applied for a renewal four years before its scheduled expiration. Henry Clay pushed the bill through Congress. Jackson vetoed this bill, thus not allowing the charter to be renewed.

Deposits instead went into state banks mainly owned by Jackson supporters

Without federal government deposits, the Second Bank of the United States lost money and began to fail. When its charter expired in 1836, it became a regular local bank in Philadelphia.

Loved to Duel

In 1806, long before he was President, Andrew Jackson fought a duel –one of 13 during his lifetime–in which he killed Nashville Attorney Charles Dickenson

“King Andrew the First”After his veto of the Bank of United States bill, President Andrew Jackson's opponents accused him of abusing his Presidential powers. This cartoon shows Jackson as a tyrannical king, trampling on the Constitution.

Jackson holds a veto in his left hand and a scepter in his right hand. The Federal Constitution and the arms of Pennsylvania (the location of the nation bank) lie in tatters under his feet

Clay vs Jackson

This cartoon depicts the hatred between Kentucky Senator Henry Clay and President Andrew Jackson during the battle of the Bank of the United States. Clay is shown sewing Jackson's mouth shut.

Indian Removal Act-Trail of TearsDuring Andrew Jackson’s administration, almost all of the Natives living in the South and Northwest were driven out of their homes and off their land. They were forced to move west of the Mississippi river to  “Indian Country” which was a vaguely defined region that was then thought to be a desert and useless for white settlement