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Although Jackson’s actions were not always democratic, he was still viewed as a democratic president, always trying to keep the best interest of the people in mind. Throughout Jackson’s presidency almost everything he did he had democratic intentions behind it. However, the executions of his plans were not always so democratic. The vetoing of the Bank of the United States was one of these actions. Jackson said the bank was simply a monopoly of the foreign and domestic exchange. It made the rich richer and the potent more rueful.
Due to these beliefs, Jackson vetoed the bank (Doc 4). His reasoning behind the bank veto was democratic, because the bank only helped the rich, however his action was considered undemocratic because he didn’t consider all people before he vetoed the bank. Although regarded as an undemocratic action, the vetoing of the Bank Of the United States began to lead the country towards democracy. Another issue demonstrating democratic intentions, but an undemocratic execution, was the removal of Native Americans from their homes.
Jackson made their removal sound democratic by saying Americans needed to help these people before they became “extinct,” and they would do so by pushing them west into a land for just them (Doc 8). In 1830, Jackson secured the passage of the Indian Removal Act, which authorized him to exchange public lands in the west for Indian territories in the east. Indians from all over southeastern America were forced into the Indian Territory, which is today known as Oklahoma (Doc 10). The Cherokee Indians were forcibly removed to he new Indian Territory, and their journey is known today as the Trail of Tears.
More than 8000 died in this tragic movement. Both the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears sparked anger in Native Americans. Native Americans felt they were being treated unfairly, because they were being pushed off their own land and felt they had a right to stay without any interruptions (Doc 9). While Native Americans clearly saw this as undemocratic, white Americans benefited from their removal and gained land, causing them to see the Native Americans’ removal as very democratic.
The spoils system used by Jackson, was another idea that had very democratic intentions to it, however, once in use it was not as democratic as it was proposed to be. Jackson felt that the duties of the public officers were so plain and simple than any average man could perform them. He felt that every four years the cabinet should be reappointed along with new presidency (Doc 6). Some saw this as very democratic, because it seemed Jackson was simply trying to give all people a chance, by saying anyone can handle these duties.
Others, however, saw it as undemocratic and said he simply wanted his own chosen people and supporters around him. Martin Van Burden, Secretary of State, offered Jackson advice against the Jackson’s chosen appointment of Samuel Squawroot, who had “criminal tendencies. ” However, Jackson ignored him, and Squawroot absconded with over one million dollars (Doc 7). Jackson was so concerned with having supporters as his public officers that he didn’t listen to other advice and consider what they said, which was rather undemocratic.
Jackson had campaigned from 1824 to 1 828 by telling the people he would listen to them and do their will. During his presidency, he dealt with many issues; some democratically and some more undemocratically. Most of the matters during his presidency he had to carry out started with the most democratic intentions, however once put in place, their results indirectly became more undemocratic. Although, the individual issues did not always have the democratic results Jackson hoped for, overall he did start the country on a path to democracy.