How Did Andrew Jackson Impact On Society

Andrew Jackson had a strong negative impact on the United States during his presidency. Jackson’s first taste of power was in 1796 when he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, which shortly led to his seat in the U.S Senate from Tennessee. When this position did not satisfy Jackson he ran for president against John Quincy Adams in 1824, which he lost. Four years later, Jackson ran once again for president except he had a successful outcome. During his presidency Jackson had four main principles, white man’s suffrage, the Spoils System, Indian Removal and Opposing the National Bank. Ironically, these principles had a large impact on why people, to this day, view Jackson as one of the worst presidents of the United States.

He would refer to them in inhumane ways and forced them to move from their tribes just so he could benefit from their land. Jackson commented “... and perhaps cause them gradually, under the protection of the government and through the influence of good counsel, to cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community” (Document 5). The Indians are being portrayed as aggressive animals when Jackson refers to their “savage habits.” Jackson not only made negative remarks about the Indians, but he also allowed soldiers to make the removal of Indians brutal, while knowing there was no way the Indians could defend themselves. Soldiers would not allow Indians to gather any belongings when they were picked up, not even another change of clothing. The Indians were ordered to march to Ross’s Landing no matter their conditions or age (Document 6). In addition to walking in all conditions, the soldiers held guns at the Indians while they marched. Another example of Jackson being a dictator was the creation of the Spoils System. When Jackson first became president he decided the people already in office were not the right fit. He saw some of these people, who had been