Andrew Jackson’s historical legacy is one covered with controversy, with historians and others taking the position of either high praise, or high negativity with no medium - people either like him or loathe him, there’s no in-between. Following Jackson’s death in 1845, he has acquired several accolades that could be used to determine whether he had an impact on history during his presidencies. Firstly, he appears on the $20 bill, one of only a few influential historical figures who have also made it on the American currency - the fact that he shares such an exclusive position alongside the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, all indisputably influential and important figures in American history, means that he must have had a successful presidency. Secondly, he ranks fifth in the all-time most influential presidents list, which is high praise indeed considering there has been 43 other presidents. This essay will aim to examine the positives and negatives of Andrew Jackson’s presidencies and whether he is deserving of his historical legacy which places him fifth in the all time most influential presidents.
Jackson was the first man of so called ‘low birth’ to be elected as President. Jackson, having failed to win the 1824 election despite winning the plurality of the popular and electoral vote, and infuriated by Clay and Adam’s ‘Corrupt Bargain’, came back stronger for his running in the 1828 election. By this election, white men of all backgrounds could, both rich and poor, could vote after universal white male suffrage, alongside the abolition of property disqualifications, was introduced. Jackson was elected in a fiery campaign and is widely considered to be the first democratically elected President of the United States. He immediately made an impact on the role of the presidency, imposing what was known as the ‘Spoils system’. This