How Did Andrew Jackson Impact On American Society

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Andrew Jackson, the first president from a western state, impacted American society due to his strong values, ideas, and personality. In regards to Democracy, Andrew Jackson had a huge role in transforming it. For one, Andrew Jackson had the goal of protecting the poor from the “tyranny of wealth and power”, and wanted to give other white men equal status no matter of their wealth or background (434). This had a major effect in politics since it gave more opportunities for the less wealthy to become involved. Jackson’s campaign involved turning the government into the “rule of the people”, although by people, he meant the addition of white men from lower classes (435). By expanding the political grounds for the common man, Jackson believed …show more content…

This annual surplus that was being generated by the federal budget was resulting in intense debate over what to do with the worthless paper money (457). One contributor to this sudden economic instability was the Distribution Act (passed in 1836), which required the distribution of federal surpluses to state banks in proportion to their population (457). A month following the distribution act, Jasckson additionally issued another executive order. The Specie Circular (issued in 1836 as well), announced that the federal government could only accept gold or silver for payment of purchased land (457). Although Congress was convinced by westerners to overturn this policy, it was vetoed by Jackson. As a result, these acts placed more strains on the supply of gold and silver, resulting in a chaotic economy (458). Andrew Jackson, became largely to blame. Additionally, Andrew Jackson’s controversial opinions regarding the Second Bank of the United States led to an increase in his opponents. These anti-Jackson people claimed Jackson led like a monarch, and therefore created their own new political party (459). Jackson’s policies had yet again brought about discontent among many, and this time resulted in the creation of the Whig party. The Whig party, led by John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster emerged from the national Republican party as one of the two major political parties (460). The Whig party left a lasting impact on American history, and remained a part of the two-party system along with Democrats for the following twenty