Andrew Jackson Dbq

Daniel Smith

Pd. 4

Due to Jackson’s strict obedience to the words of the Constitution, protections on monopolized markets and have a strong economic state.  Jefferson was a protector of liberty, the constitution, and equality. Jackson believed that people were given their rights and that it was his job to help preserve and prevent them.

Jackson was a firm constructionist; he believed that the government should strictly follow what the Constitution allows it to do. He didn’t let government programs that exceeded any powers they were not given in the Constitution, like the United States Bank. An example is in document A, as George Henry Evans rewrites the preamble of the Constitution, stating his beliefs on the roles of the government in fixing the flaws that it had. Jackson created more laws to protect the common man, removed the monopolized bank, and allowed for more males to vote showing his attempts to preserve American democracy. In document C, Jackson says “(This message) extends the grasp of executive pretension over every power of the government…” The purpose of this was to show the citizens of America that Jackson was keeping tight tabs on all the government, so it did not get too powerful. Since Jackson had such strict adherence to the ideologies of the constitution, the American constitution was preserved.

Jackson aimed to remove of any economic monopolies for fear that they would lead to privatized markets, which could eventually lead to a monopoly. In document B, Jackson writes his famous message in his attempts to “kill the bank.” Previously, the bank had been chartered by former Democratic -Republicans (James Madison), but Jefferson favored to end the National bank and allow state banks and wildcat banks to provide money for the people. In Document B, Jackson states his belief saying how “the present Bank of the united states...enjoys an exclusive privilege banking... almost a monopoly of the foreign and domestic exchange.” He states after this that it would be better for America if the United States Bank was no more, and banking was given up to more local banks. The purpose of this was to give Americans an idea of why he is getting rid of the National Bank. Jackson’s monopoly preventing was done to protect the rights of the people and the constitution in which the country stood for.

From an economic standpoint Jacksonian Democracy was a success. Jackson vetoed many Bills when he was in office. He didn't do it just because he didn't like those ideas; he did it to benefit the common person in America. Given that Jackson was from the west, it was easier for him to relate to the common man. In document B, Jackson sent a message on why he vetoed the bill. He said the Bank would “almost have a monopoly on foreign and domestic exchange.” The purpose of this document was to give background information on why the bank needed to go. He also said “the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government.” In the early 19th century Elites could manipulate the government and essentially formed rules to benefit them, over the common man. In 1785 the Charles River Bridge company was granted a charter to build a bridge over the Charles River to connect Boston and Cambridge. Charles River said that the whole river was theirs. Another company was sanctioned to build another bridge in 1828. In document H, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney said, “there is no exclusive privilege given to them.” Chief Justice Taney was a supporter of Jacksonian Democracy and believed that this could create a monopoly if there was only one bridge. At this point Chief Justice Roger B. Taney had the same point of view as Andrew Jackson and that was to protect against monopolies.