Essay Response #2 Emily Refici Suny American History Paventi Liverpool High School The figure of Andrew Jackson was controversial in the 1800s and continues to be divisive in contemporary society. As several academics praise Jackson for his fortitude and mass support, others fault him for his vengeful nature and abuse of his given authority. While it is indisputable that Andrew Jackson enhanced the power of the American presidency while preserving the union and directing the country toward democracy, it is evident that his presidency has far more liabilities than benefits. By abusing his power and using cruel and unconstitutional methods, it is apparent that Jackson's administration should be seen adversely. An individual …show more content…
On their website, the author expresses this, claiming that “President Andrew Jackson redefined what it meant to lead the country” (Document 2), take that as you will but according to the Hermitage, this was positive. One instance of Jackson's “refinement” of leading the country was passing the Tariff of 1832, an act to change and amend the many statutes establishing charges on imported goods. The hermitage contends that the Tariff of 1832, which shielded the northern economy from international competitors who supplied better prices, was perceived by South Carolinians as unfairly causing harm to their state while financially supporting northern manufacturing states. South Carolina invalidated the Tariff of 1832 and vowed to secede in late 1832. Jackson saved the day by disagreeing with them and threatening to use force against South Carolina if it disobeyed the law. A negotiated taxation that appeased South Carolina and a bill allowing the application of action to protect repeal were both passed by Congress after. Consequently, this only represents one version of the story, the one in favor of …show more content…
On December 10, 1832, Jackson issued his “Proclamation to the People of South Carolina,” asserting the supremacy of the federal government and warning that “disunion by armed force is treason” (Wallenfeldt) Because nullification would extract President Jackson from office, he did not like the idea of the South endangering it, and he regarded it as a threat. Jackson had the mentality that as the nation's leader, he had to do what he presumed to be right. Jackson's agency would be in jeopardy if the South were to succeed in eliminating the tariff because it would demonstrate to others that they too could overthrow the federal government, which goes to show that Jackson's reign should be viewed severely and that he abused his power by using immoral and unconstitutional