Hero or Villain?

Think about what it is you know about Andrew
Jackson as of now…

Do you like him?

Andrew Jackson, as
described by James
Parton.

We are going to view portraits of Jackson that
were painted throughout the course of his life.

With each image, write two words that you feel
embody the EMOTION of the piece or
DESCRIBE Jackson himself.
◦ Portraits of Andrew Jackson
Unit 7, Journal # 4• "Who was Andrew Jackson?"
◦ Use the video to help you construct your response.
◦ Introduction

Andrew Jackson considered himself a spokesperson
for the common man.

The first six Presidents were from the same mold:
wealthy, educated, and from the east.
◦ Jackson was a self-made man who declared education an
unnecessary requirement for political leadership.

As a military hero, a frontiersman, and a populist*,
Jackson enchanted the common people and alarmed
the political, social and economic elite. A Man of the
People would now govern the nation
 *A member or adherent of a political party that represents the interests of
ordinary people.

What powers does the President have today?
◦
◦
◦
◦


The president is elected by all the people
Is considered "the head" of the government
Can veto legislation
Is the leader of his political party
Reinventing the Presidency, Part 1
Reinventing the Presidency, Part 2
Corporations

During Jackson's
presidency, the United
States was going
through an economic
shift from an agrarianbased economy to a
manufacturing-based
economy.
◦ Jackson strongly idolized the
individual farmers and
craftsmen who worked for
themselves, dying breeds
within the growing
industrialization of America
and the rise of corporations.

When you control all the
money, you control all
aspects of society–
threaten the power of the
American government.
Bank Wars

Public dislikes the Bank of the U.S.

Jackson felt that the National Bank symbolized wealth and
power; agent of the wealthy whose members cared
nothing for Jackson’s common people
◦ Makes the rich richer

Threat to American democracy
◦ Financial strength, influence on the economy
◦ Could bribe officials and buy elections
Nullification, Part 1
Nullification, Part 2

John C. Calhoun’s theory that acted as a
response to Jackson’s “Tariff of Abominations,”
or the Tariff of 1828.
◦ Favored the Northern economy over the South

Each state should have the right to determine
the constitutionality of federal laws, and should
be able to nullify them if necessary.

FINAL QUESTION:
Is Andrew Jackson someone that you admire or
someone that you despise? Was he a hero or a
villain?