Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson: Comparing and Contrasting the 3rd and 7th Presidents of the United States - Essay Example

 Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson: Comparing and Contrasting Our 3rd and 7th President’s of the United States Since the Revolutionary War that freed the American colonies and allowed for the founding of the United States the country has changed a great deal. Throughout the years since the countries inception we have seen 44 different leaders elected as President; some were good and some not so much, each and every one with varying ideals and approaches to running the government, and how their practices were received by the people that they lead. From our first President George Washington to our first African-American President Barack Obama, and all in between, have all added to the fabric of the story of the United States of American. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson are two Presidents who shared a century, but had many differing views in relation to politics, policy, society, and in the ways they inspired loyalty. Despite the fact that they did share some details in common these two men are far more different than they are alike. Thomas Jefferson was born to the Virginia elite in 1743. He received a proper education and was active in, both, politics and law. He was remarked to be an eloquent writer and correspondent, however, he made for a very poor public speaker. Of course, he is most certainly remembered for his drafting the Declaration of Independence. During the conflicts between the Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties he became the reluctant leader of the Republicans and Presidential Candidate in 1796; however he lost the election by less than a handful of votes. However, he did win the office in 1800. He held two terms in office with mixed successes during both his terms in office.1 Andrew Jackson was born in the backwoods, border lands in the Carolinas. He received no formal education but became a skilled lawyer through self-tutelage. He was active in politics and was often perceived as a candidate that represented the “common” man. He was decorated General during the War of 1812, He was remarked to be a man with a temper, who engaged in brawls, would violently defend his honor, and once killed a man in a duel for insulting his wife. In 1828 he was elected to the Presidency. The issues between the interests of differing political parties had created two distinct sides through Jackson’s presidency; the Democratic-Republicans (or Democrats) and those who opposed his administration, the “Whigs.” His succinct, resilient, and outspoken President earned him the nickname “Old Hickory.” In 1832 Jackson was informed that Martin Van Buren, his favored follower to the Presidency, was rejected as candidate. Angered Jackson spent a great deal of time changing their minds and Van Buren would ultimately follow him into the Presidency. Both of these Presidents made huge contributions to the growth and development of this country.2 Both men were lived during the founding and earliest development of the New World, they both held positions as lawyers and respected politicians; they both held the office for two terms, both had to battle an Adams during their election experiences, and both are remembered as men of the people, just in different ways. However, beyond these similarities they are incredibly different in their views perspectives and political ideologies. Both men are remembered as Democrats, although the form of that democracy did indeed differ. Jefferson believed the responsibilities of active citizen ship should reserved for the educated and elite property owners, while Jackson was opposed to such classism and favored the idea that all men should be worthy of participation and position of holding office. Both men believed in the value of education. Jefferson favored the idea that by passing the “Bill of Education” it would encourage the education of economically disadvantaged children. However, Jackson refuted that public, universalized educated would completely eliminated religious individuality and tolerance. 3 One of the most heated issues that were presented to both Presidents is that of slavery in the Southern States. Jefferson historically did own slaves; however, he considered a ‘necessary evil” that would ideally eradicate itself in time. Jackson, on the other hand, also, owned slaves but appeared to have no real incentives of abolishing the practice. In fact, modern historians remark that he not only owned slaves at multiple properties but was an active slave trader until his death in 1826. It is now been established that the Jackson family was one of the oldest and largest slave owning families in the state of Tennessee. 4 Although Jefferson is remembered for the famous phrase, “…all men are created equal,” he did not apply that statement to slaves. In fact while many early Americans, like George Washington, freed his slaves, likely due the inspiration of Jefferson’s words, Jefferson himself continued to own and trade slaves until his death in 1845.5 Jefferson was not an endorser of women’s or Native American rights; Jackson said little about women’s rights but was outspokenly hateful towards the native peoples. Finally industrialization was, also, a very active concern among Americans. While Jefferson was initially wary and reluctant to embrace the new, modern technologies and mechanization that was beginning to be implemented Jackson, on the other hand, believed that industrialization was simply part of the “societal” evolution of the country. No one is perfect or without flaws. Each of these men inspired loyalty, made changes, and contributed to the America of today that we have the privilege to call home. In many ways these men could not have been more different in their views, perspectives, and affiliations, but what they have in common is the motivation to improve the environment for the American people and for the future of this new land. Thomas Jefferson put words to paper that would guide the destiny of the United States and set the foundations for the principles and ethics that this country would like to embody and represent. Andrew Jackson was a self taught man who believed that all men could and should be active in the political and social development of the different states, setting the foundation for the individual state freedoms separate from the centralized government’s control. Our 3rd and 7th President were very different men of a very different time, unfamiliar to many living today, but without the ideas , both innovative and potentially ignorant by today’s standards, endorsed by these leaders the USA might be a very different place. Bibliography Freidel , Frank, and Hugh Sidey. "Our Presidents." The Presidents of the United States of America. (2006): 1. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson (accessed May 15, 2014). Wiley III, Phillip Keith. "Democracy ideals (Ideologies) of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson (1824)." Phillip Wiley Blog. (2011): 1. http://philipwiley.com/democracy-ideals-ideologies-of-jefferson-and-jackson-1824/ (accessed May 15, 2014). Cheathem, Mark R. "Andrew Jackson, Slavery, and Historians." History Compass. no. 4 (2011): 1-14. Finkelman, Paul. "The Monster of Monticello." The New York Times. (2012): 1. Read More