Andrew Jackson and the Era of the Common Man

Why Was Andrew Jackson Known as the Common Man?

Andrew Jackson's term as president (1829-1837) began a new era in American politics. For the first time in the United States history, a man born in humble circumstances was now President. Politicians in the previous generations gained precedence due to their family background, wealth, prestige, and education. Families such as the Adams and the Jeffersons constituted the guidelines for political appointees.

Andrew Jackson’s election showed that a man’s lineage did not ensure a place in office. Rather, it was the candidate’s ability to appeal to the voter. It was Jackson’s election that started the supposed 'age of the common man.' Jackson became the defining figure of his age due to his ability to overcome early life struggles, his military record, and his successes as an adult. Despite all his accomplishments, Jackson downplayed his past successes to suit the public's belief that Jackson was one of them. In reality, Jackson was anything but common.

The period from Jackson’s inauguration as president up to the Civil War is known as the Jacksonian Era or the Era of the Rise of the Common Man. This period constituted great change and issues warranting debate, such as slavery, Indians, westward mobility, and the balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches of government. The United States had no strict class system. Most Americans identified themselves with the middle class. The common man now had the right to vote without the distinction of owning land, nominating candidates to office, and rewarding the politicians that represented the common man’s interests.

The 1820s, a time of transition and transformation, called for a man who could guide the people through the changeful age. The election of 1828 signaled a unique change; never before had a man who made his name and fortune outside the thirteen colonies been elected to the office of president.

Jackson's Rise to Power

Born in South Carolina to impoverished parents on March 15, 1767, Jackson began life quite differently compared to the previous six presidents. At 13, Jackson joined the Continental Army as a courier during the Revolutionary War. (Jackson was also the last president to have served during the Revolutionary War). Losing his father before his birth, the war then obliterated Jackson's family. Losing his two brothers and mother during the war fostered an intense hatred for the British that Jackson maintained his whole life.

Jackson initially had a sporadic education. After the war, Jackson taught himself to read and read law books so that he could find work as a lawyer in Tennessee in 1787. The wild frontier life suited Jackson, and he succeeded based upon his own hard work and merit. He became one of the first congressmen representing Tennessee, later a Tennessee senator in 1797, and was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1798. These accomplishments set Jackson apart from most men, yet they would pale in comparison to Jackson’s military career in the War of 1812.

During the War of 1812, Jackson garnered his nickname “Old Hickory,” due to his strict command of his troops and abilities shown on the battlefield. The Battle of New Orleans on January 5, 1815, concluded with a major victory for Jackson. This victory forever made Jackson a national hero and gave him a place in the hearts of all American citizens. Jackson’s national identity and immense popularity enabled him to run for president in the 1828 election.

The Rise of the Common Man coincided with Jackson's election because Jackson served as the ideal common man. Common origins no longer detracted from a candidate. Nor did a candidate have to attend Harvard or William and Mary. Jackson became the living embodiment of the changes and improvements going on throughout the United States. As well as the symbol of aspirations and expectations that Americans had of themselves. Jackson’s life was overshadowed with obstacles: orphaned at 14, bankruptcy, many brushes with death in his military career, and a marriage tainted with gossip of bigamy, but despite his lowly beginnings, Jackson prospered in the western state of Tennessee and became the most powerful man in the country.

The Jacksonian Era

The Jacksonian Era influenced the notion of the equality of opportunities for all white men. Voters believed that “the people” had finally assumed control of their government in Jackson’s administration. Thousands of people came to Washington D.C. for Jackson’s inauguration. A crowd this size was an unprecedented event. Jackson as the leader of the Democratic-Republican Party represented the people and the epitome as a common man. In theory, the age of the common man sounds ideal, but the Jacksonian Era actually changed the goal of the founding fathers to put more power into the presidency rather than in congress.

As “the spokesman” of the common man, Jackson showed concern for issues such as farming and mechanic advancement, anti- banking, and egalitarian principles. These issues aided Jackson in remaining popular with the common man's ideals. Most farmers had no use for credit, and the coins or paper were ultimately favorable. Jackson also set out on a crusade against the Bank of the United States. He believed that the bank only profited from the wealthy men. Therefore a bank is of no use for a democracy; if the common man cannot benefit from it. Jackson thus vetoed the re-charter of the second bank. Jackson’s early life reflected that of a common man, but every action in his adult life was the action of an uncommon man who did not understand the actual rules of economics. Perhaps then doesn't that make Jackson a common man?

It is important to reflect that Jackson's actions forever changed the presidency. He marketed himself as a 'common man' and also made the office of president the most powerful office in the three branches of government. Whatever the reader chooses to believe about Jackson being a common or not-so-common man, there is an acknowledged truth that Jackson's election signaled a change in America. A man outside the confines of the upper echelons of society became president, however, he did earn the position based on merit. This is a lesson that I wish more voters reflected upon.

Sources

Latner, Richard B. The Presidency of Andrew Jackson: White House Politics, 1829-

1837. Athens: The University of Georgia, 1979.

Recommended

Emily Dickinson's "There is a morn by men unseen"

Pessen, Edward. Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics. Illinois, The

Dorsey Press, 1969.

Pessen, Edward Ed. The Many- Faceted Jacksonian Era: New Interpretations. London:

Greenwood Press, 1977.

Remini, Robert V. The Revolutionary Age of Andrew Jackson. London: Harper and

Row Publishers, 1976.

Comments

ChadMan on January 08, 2020:

Good and easy for a Chad to read

lo on February 21, 2019:

sucminuts

Neuri on November 16, 2018:

Hi there,

How to cite your page please?

Thanks

Henry VanRy on October 29, 2018:

really cool

alexia zic on April 27, 2018:

This is very helpful thanks!!!!!

jay on April 05, 2018:

I am doing a project for my history and this is one of the most useful resource that I have found. Thank you for the great, clear, and organized thoughts on both views of Jackson.

abby on March 20, 2017:

nicely worded

K . Hatch on February 10, 2017:

I tot it was great !

- K

Rakesh Rockzz on October 29, 2015:

This is the true fact because. Any body feel that nd write down

Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on October 30, 2014:

I suppose that Jackson supported the common man...unless that common man happened to be of the Creek or Cherokee tribe. What he did to the peaceful members of those nations in flaunting a Supreme Court ruling and dispossessing these Native Americans of their lands is a definite black stain upon his record. All the same, it would be nice to see a true man of the people rise up again. Great hub!

Rod Martin Jr from Cebu, Philippines on October 06, 2014:

Andrew Jackson wanted to get rid of the second Central Bank for good reason. Many of the owners were foreign nationals and a Central Bank wields a great deal of power over a nation. The British Rothschilds threatened America with war if they didn't renew the First Central Bank in 1811. When the bank charter expired, Great Britain indeed went to war with America, burning the capitol and making Andrew Jackson a hero at New Orleans.

When the Second Central Bank charter expired, Jackson was blamed for fiscal unrest and an assassination attempt was made on his life. Though the assassin was clearly disturbed, mentally, one has to wonder who may have whispered in his ear to fan the flames of his discontent. Bankers?

Now, we have a Third Central Bank, owned by rich bankers and wielding greater power over America without oversight. Congressman Ron Paul tried to get answers while he was still in office, but ran into an impenetrable barrier of silence and double-talk.

During Jackson's term, the U.S. found itself debt-free for the only time in its history. After the Central Bank, known also as the Federal Reserve, America can never be debt free, because every dollar is created with attached debt that can never be paid off, because new dollars used to pay it off also come with debt attached. So, the debt skyrockets -- now at well over $17 Trillion.

What a den of vipers, indeed!

1653good article on April 05, 2012:

This is wonderful information about him it has helped me with my report on Andrew Jackson.

Kendall H. (author) from Northern CA on October 17, 2010:

I agree bfloyd79! Old Hickory certainly gave us a lot to study and research. Agree with his policies or not he certainly made history. Thanks for your comments!

Brendon Floyd from Oklahoma City, OK on October 15, 2010:

The debate was wonderful and it really glued the class together, we were all laughs. Looks like Old Hickory still has his stuff! I do love Jackson, for all his positives and negatives. What a dynamic person he was, and he truly does embody the American spirit, for better or worse.

Kendall H. (author) from Northern CA on October 03, 2010:

Thanks bfloyd79! That's sounds like a great debate, I'm eager to hear how it goes!

Brendon Floyd from Oklahoma City, OK on September 28, 2010:

Great Hub! I really enjoyed it, i am going to make my students debate Jackson, one side pro and one side con. It should be a lot of fun