Andrew Jackson Influence On Society

The legacies Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson left behind significantly impacted the institutions and systems of the United States of America. Their power greatly contributed to America’s political culture and their influence can be seen in the beliefs of the people or the documents of the country. The massive reforms and radical ideologies under these men shaped American societies, allowing political advancement of parties and democratic ideals. Political, social, and economic changes and continuities occurred between the two presidencies. The changes include the shift in executive power, the expansion of democracy/suffrage, and the alteration of industrialization views; the continuity is the stagnant discriminatory perception of African …show more content…
David Walker- an abolitionist, writer, and free slave- criticized Jefferson in his acclaimed piece, “Appeal”, for his statement that “Blacks were inferior to whites”. Walker also castigated President Jefferson for his support for the American Colonization Society, whose proposal to ship free slaves to a new African colony suggested blacks were inferior and threatened American democratic society (David Walker Memorial). These racist ideals Jefferson possessed were further amplified by the fact that he owned slaves. Meanwhile, his perception of Native Americans appears to be fascination and respect in regards to their culture. His views, however, contradict with his enforcement of cultural assimilation upon the natives and his proposal of the Indian Removal Act, which demanded Natives to leave their eastern ancestral lands and migrate west (Landry, 2016). Furthermore, Jefferson’s theory of “environmentalism” explicitly states that Indians were inferior to Europeans due to geography. All in all, Jefferson’s ideologies expressed intolerance of the Natives and African slaves in America. In continuance, Jackson’s mistreatment towards slaves and Native Americans can be seen through his policies and in daily life. He relied on hundreds of his slaves to work his plantation and earn him the money that made him so wealthy and successful. As a pro-South planter, Jackson …show more content…
While the Industrial Revolution played a big role in the commerce of the U.S., presidents Jefferson and Jackson had conflicting ideologies regarding this technological advancement of society. This clashing of ideologies is evident in the shift from Jefferson’s fear of industrialization to Jackson’s support of industry and the working class. Jefferson originally opposed Hamilton’s vision of bolstering the American economy. With industrialization coming into play, he feared America would become an impoverished, working class dominated societal-nightmare. The Industrial Revolution would also ruin his ideal “every man for himself”, agricultural society. His chosen class, the yeomen farmers, cannot prosper with the decreasing emphasis on farming and the increasing demand for industrial work. On the other hand, Jackson supported industrialization since it included his chosen class of yeomen and laborers. He also believed the new technological advancements were essential to the U.S. economy; it brought hundreds of jobs and opportunities. Jackson embraced the Industrial Revolution, unlike Jefferson, as a “fundamental part of our society” and a promoter of economic development (Polasky). In essence, there was a change in the acceptance of industrialization because of the difference between