Jackson he prospered enough to buy slaves and build a mansion, the Hermitage, near Nashville. He was Tennessee’s first elect to the House of Representatives and briefly served in the Senate. A major general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans.
In 1824, some state political factions rallied around Jackson; by 1828 many had already joined “Old hickory“enabling victory in numerous state elections and control of the federal administration in Washington.
In his first Annual Message to Congress, Jackson recommended eliminating the Electoral College. He also tried to democratize federal offices. Already the state machinery was being prepared for clientelism, and a senator from New York openly proclaimed that “to the victors belongs the spoils … “
Jackson he had a more moderate vision. By reproaching the officials who seemed to enjoy the tenure of their positions, he believed that the duties of the government could be “so plain and simple“that offices should rotate among deserving applicants.
How national politics polarized around Jackson and his opposition, two parties grew out of the old Republican Party: the Democratic Republicans, or Democrats, who adhered to Jackson; and the National Republicans, or Whigs, who opposed him.
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and other Whig leaders proclaimed themselves defenders of popular liberties against the usurpation of Jackson. Behind these accusations is the fact that JacksonUnlike previous presidents, he did not submit to Congress in policymaking, but instead used his veto power and his party leadership to take over.
The biggest partisan battle centered on the Second Bank of the United States, a private corporation but virtually a government-sponsored monopoly. When Jackson he was hostile towards him, the bank threw all its power against him.
Clay and Webster, who had acted as attorneys for the Bank, led the fight for his replacement in Congress. “The bank“, Told him Jackson to Martin Van Buren, “He’s trying to kill me, but I’ll kill him!” JacksonBy vetoing the collection invoice, he accused the Bank of undue economic privileges.
His views won the approval of the American electorate; in 1832 he obtained more than 56 percent of the popular vote and almost five times as many votes as Clay.
Jackson he was directly challenged by John C. Calhoun, the leader of the forces trying to shake off a high protection fee. When South Carolina pledged to waive the tariff, Jackson ordered the military to go to Charleston and privately threatened to hang Calhoun. The violence seemed imminent until Clay negotiated a compromise: Tariffs were lowered and South Carolina dismissed the annulment.
In January 1832, while the president was dining with friends at the White House, someone whispered to him that the Senate had rejected Martin Van Buren’s nomination as minister. Jackson he jumped up and exclaimed: “By the Eternal! I will crush them!“He did so and his favorite, Van Buren, became vice president and succeeded him as president when”Old hickory“He retired to the Hermitage, where he died in June 1845.