“Government
is no longer
an engine
for the support
of the few
at the expense
of the many."(1)
Throughout his life, Jackson admired Thomas Jefferson. As Jackson rose to political power, he constantly turned to Jefferson's teachings of a republic; limited government, egalitarianism, and implementing laissez faire as the policy most favorable for economic equality and political liberty. (2) Jackson himself stated his "political creed was formed in the old republican school.” (3) His humble beginnings made him relatable to the common man, while his military success during the war of 1812 made Jackson a national hero and an undoubted patriot. This fame helped him climb the political ladder. As a Tennessee Senator, citizens viewed Jackson as a self-made statesman, with the determination of an aristocrat. (4) Jackson sought to form a new political party centered around the “common man” with focus on a limited central government and majority rule.
Jackson first ran for president in 1824. Prior to this election, all former presidents had been aristocratic Virginians. With the deterioration of the Federalist party after John Adams, the only party system that existed was the Republican party of Jefferson. This allowed four presidential candidates to enter the race. The candidates included Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, Secretary of War John C. Calhoun, Speaker of the House Henry Clay, and war hero Andrew Jackson. Jackson won the popular vote but failed to take the majority in the electorate, which Adams won. The vote then went to the House of Representatives in which Clay served. Clay cast his vote for Adams, leading Adams to a narrow victory. As President, Adams appointed Clay as his Secretary of State. Jackson viewed Adams' victory and the appointment of Clay as a sign of the vast corruption that existed in the federal government. He believed a “corrupt bargain” had been devised between Adams and Clay in which Adams anointed Clay as his presidential successor. by appointing him to Secretary of State. This act of perceived corruption caused Jackson to resent both Adams and Clay for the rest of his political career and influenced his political thinking more than any other event. (5)
Andrew Jackson ran again for president in 1828. In this election, he and John Quincy Adams were the only two candidates. Adams represented the old Federalist Party of his father John Adams, while Jackson represented the new Democratic Party. Jackson refused to be defeated again by Adams. His supporters held mass meetings and parades to campaign for the self-made man. Campaigning as the true heir of Jefferson's ideology, he advocated a simple, frugal, and limited government, returning to the path of Jeffersonian purity. (6) Adams denounced Jackson as “bloodthirsty and “vengeful,” while Jacksonians portrayed Adams as a "corrupt dictator." (7) Despite the mudslinging, Jackson won the majority of the popular vote. He found most of his support in the south and the west from common farmers and artisans. This election proved that fears of a centralized power and corruption concerned most voters, causing them to cast their vote for Jackson.
Jackson first ran for president in 1824. Prior to this election, all former presidents had been aristocratic Virginians. With the deterioration of the Federalist party after John Adams, the only party system that existed was the Republican party of Jefferson. This allowed four presidential candidates to enter the race. The candidates included Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, Secretary of War John C. Calhoun, Speaker of the House Henry Clay, and war hero Andrew Jackson. Jackson won the popular vote but failed to take the majority in the electorate, which Adams won. The vote then went to the House of Representatives in which Clay served. Clay cast his vote for Adams, leading Adams to a narrow victory. As President, Adams appointed Clay as his Secretary of State. Jackson viewed Adams' victory and the appointment of Clay as a sign of the vast corruption that existed in the federal government. He believed a “corrupt bargain” had been devised between Adams and Clay in which Adams anointed Clay as his presidential successor. by appointing him to Secretary of State. This act of perceived corruption caused Jackson to resent both Adams and Clay for the rest of his political career and influenced his political thinking more than any other event. (5)
Andrew Jackson ran again for president in 1828. In this election, he and John Quincy Adams were the only two candidates. Adams represented the old Federalist Party of his father John Adams, while Jackson represented the new Democratic Party. Jackson refused to be defeated again by Adams. His supporters held mass meetings and parades to campaign for the self-made man. Campaigning as the true heir of Jefferson's ideology, he advocated a simple, frugal, and limited government, returning to the path of Jeffersonian purity. (6) Adams denounced Jackson as “bloodthirsty and “vengeful,” while Jacksonians portrayed Adams as a "corrupt dictator." (7) Despite the mudslinging, Jackson won the majority of the popular vote. He found most of his support in the south and the west from common farmers and artisans. This election proved that fears of a centralized power and corruption concerned most voters, causing them to cast their vote for Jackson.
Throughout his career, Jackson sought to give power to the majority. He believed it to be the white man's duty to govern the nation. (8) In order to achieve this, he began reshaping the powers of the president and placed authority directly on the people. Once elected, he began removing most of the men that served under Adams. He appointed ordinary, moderate, businessmen who had served on his campaign. Jackson sought to eliminate the corruption that existed in former administrations by rotating out former cabinet members with men who supported him. However, instead of eliminating corruption, the rotation of offices began a policy that caused more corruption to enter the presidency. By giving influential positions to personal friends and campaign supporters of the president, Jackson unintentionally created a policy that generated more corruption. This system became known as the “spoils system,” derived from a phrase by New York Senator William Marcy, "to the victor belong the spoils." Jackson believed that “rotation in office will perpetuate our liberty.” (9) He saw rotation as a gradual means of reform to give power back to the people. His distrust of politicians led him to form a close knit group of men in which he sought advice and direction. The so-called “kitchen cabinet” were friends of Jackson whom he spoke informally with about political policies. While his bold and intimidating style of leadership caused his opponents to call him King Andrew, Jackson continued to believe in giving power to the masses. (10) He believed in a country ruled by the majority, which caused this period to be known as the age of the common man. (11)