Kelly Pham Dual Credit Comp 1 10 November 2017 Argumentative Essay Andrew Jackson: The Storm that Swept America “I was born for a storm and a calm does not suit me.” Andrew Jackson’s depiction of his demeanor resonates throughout the entire written history of his life. Rising from humble beginnings, he suddenly secured national prominence as he emerged victorious from the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. With his tremendous popularity as “war hero,” he subsequently achieved the popular vote and rained down on the nation as the seventh president of the United States, where his fiery nature reflected in his audacious executive decisions and shaped him into one of the most polarizing figures in American history. Although some depict the …show more content…
His conduct served as an obstacle to Congress, and within his eight years as president, only one major legislation was passed at his behest: the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Though he expanded the power of the chief executive, he demonstrated an inability to compromise, encroached upon the legislative process, and acted according to his own will in order to seize valuable Indian land. With empowerment from the new bill, he then disobeyed the Supreme Court and forcibly transferred the Indians out of Georgia in 1838. Previously, Chief Justice John Marshall declared, “The acts of Georgia are repugnant to the Constitution, laws, and treaties, of the United States.” Although the Court ruled against the removal with a 6-1 vote in favor of honoring the treaties with the Cherokee Indians, Jackson’s demonstrated heinous intentions by persistently attempting to dominate the Indians and directly defying the judicial branch, disregarding the system of checks and balances essential to government. Though he appeared as a hero by acquiring land for the white settlers, his method cannot be illustrated as so because it cost the lives of thousands and facilitated cotton