Thomas Jefferson vs. Andrew Jackson

Thomas Jefferson, the tall, sandy haired, Virginia lawyer of 33, served as the prosecuting attorney against Britain in 1776. Serving the fiery Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, he was led by his pen in his masterpiece, the Declaration of Independence. In his acts of rebellion against King George III’s presumably tyrannous misdeeds ultimately led to the separation of the colonial people into the Tories and the Whigs, the loyalists and the patriots. His rebellion took shape against several factors including taxation with out representation, dispensing of trial by jury, abolishing valu

Jefferson continued his pacifism and anti-entanglement philosophies in his turn as president. But when Napoleon forced Spain to cede the Louisiana territory to France Jefferson got worried. This land was of no threat to us in Spain’s hand but with Napoleon in charge, his plans for world domination would mean us fighting for our own land eventually. This would also mean us uniting with Britain to fight him off. Jefferson knew we were not strong enough to contest Napoleon but the last thing he wanted was to come to terms with Britain. Eventually Napoleon lost use for this land though luckily and sold it to us pocketing the cash for his own future battles with England. Jefferson had sent men with $10 million for Louisiana and anything they could get east but came they came back with a $15 million deal for Louisiana and practically everything west. This put Jefferson into a dilemma over its constitutionality. When he presented the treaties to the senate he told them it was unconstitutional but they didn’t care and went ahead and signed it anyway.

Jackson, like Jefferson, came into the spotlight during a time of war. The public enlightened Jefferson during the revolution and Jackson during the war of 1812. After his victory in the battle of Horseshoe Bend Jackson was put in charge to defend New Orleans from the British. The British however made the untimely choice to attack head on and some two thousand or so men died compared to about 70 of Jackson’s men. Andrew Jackson became a national hero and poets and politicians lined up to sing the praises of defenders of New Orleans. Jackson’s victory entered the US into a period of nationalism and self-confidence. This nationalism lended itself to our foreign policies as well as we agreed with Britain to stop fighting over land and to share Newfoundland fisheries and a ten year joint plan to share the Oregon country areas. At this time many other southern American countries had their own revolutions and Spain was forced to take their troops out of this region. Jackson saw a large opportunity to take the undefended swamps. He got permission to enter these areas but he was forced to respect anything under a Spanish flag. Jackson neglected his boundaries though taking force to two Spanish posts and killing two Indian chiefs without ceremony. Congress had voted to discipline him for his actions but John Quincy Adams came to his defense. Large concessions were made by Spain due to Adam’s offensive and the Florida Purchase treaty was signed. Spain gave up Florida and everything they had in the Oregon Country. In these events Jackson briefly shows his philosophy. He shows his negligence to the constitution, or atleast that he opposes Jefferson’s view that the constitution should be taken literally. He goes ahead and acquires new land from Spain with support from Hamilton’s view on the interpretation of the constitution. If it isn’t forbidden then it is permitted. Jackson was also a pro slavery frontiersman owning several himself.

Jackson wouldn’t take defiance or disunion though. Nullies from the south rose against his Tariff of 1828 and the following Tariff of 1832. People in South Carolina protested and the state legislature declared the act null and void within their state. They also threatened to secede if Washington used force to collect the tariffs. Jackson knew better though and sent troops in. Neither force was willing to give in until Jackson’s foe Clay stepped in with the Compromise Tariff of 1833. This barely passed and barely reinstated the unity of our nation, narrowly steering clear of a civil war. Jackson was too busy at this time to fully deal with this issue anyway. Wester

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