Andrew Jackson 1829 - 1837
Popularly known as "Old Hickory," Andrew Jackson
ranks in American history as one of the nation's most famous generals as
well as the first modern chief executive. Jackson held expansionist
dreams, a commitment to state's rights, but above all, an intense devotion
to the preservation of the Union.
Jackson was born in 1767 in the backwoods settlement
of Waxhaw, South Carolina. After two years of study in Salisbury,
North Carolina, he traveled westward to Tennessee in 1786 to practice law,
first in Jonesboro and then later in Nashville. In the following
years, Jackson established a solid political and military career, serving
in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, and as major general
of both the Tennessee militia and the U.S. Army.
In the presidential election of 1828, American voters
perceived Jackson as the "people's president" because they believed that
his predecessor, John Quincy Adams, had gained the office due to a "corrupt
bargain" with Henry Clay. Jackson easily won and masses of ordinary
people filled the White House at the Tennessean's inauguration.
Fearing that the government created monopolies would
lead to government corruption, Jackson vetoed legislation to recharter
the Bank of the United States in 1832. Again the masses applauded
Jackson because he had humbled the Eastern "money power."
Shortly after Jackson's reelection in 1832, the
integrity of the Union was threatened when South Carolina tried to prevent
the collection of U.S. tariff duties in their state. Jackson responded
to South Carolina's nullification attempts by threatening to use force
if necessary to execute the law. Jackson had earlier asserted, "Our
Union, it must be preserved!"
Aggressive and pragmatic, Andrew Jackson bequeathed
to Americans the legacy of democratic values. He remains one of America's
greatest and most colorful heroes.
James K. Polk 1845 - 1849
"Who was James K. Polk?" the Whigs questioned scornfull
during the presidential campaign of 1844. History has vindicated
Polk because, as one nineteenth century historian stated, "What Polk went
for he fetched."
Born in 1795 in Mecklenberg, County, North Carolina,
Polk moved with his family to a farm in Maury County, Tennessee, at the
age of eleven. He was graduated from the University of North Carolina
in 1818 and returned to Tennessee to study law in Nashville. Polk
set up his practice in Columbia and subsequently served in the Tennessee
House, seven consecutive terms in the U.S. House, and as governor of Tennessee.
Elected President at the age of forty-nine, Polk
took the oath at a younger age than any of his ten predecessors.
At the beginning of his term he established four objectives for his administration:
reduction of the tariff, creation of an independent treasury system, acquisition
of California, and settlement of the Oregon boundary question. Before
leaving the White House in 1849, Polk had achieved all four of his goals.
The Walker Tariff Act of 1846 lowered duties on
imports, and the Independent Treasury Act of the same year reestablished
a financial system that prevailed until its replacement by the Federal
Reserve System. The Oregon Controversy was settled with Great Britain
without military conflict, and the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
were carved out of the Oregon Country. Polk's support for the annexation
of Texas led to the Mexican War and the acquisition of territories that
would become the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New
Mexico.
After one term in the oval office, Polk retired
as he had promised during his campaign. In recognition of his accomplishments,
James K. Polk is now ranked by historians as on of our ten greatest presidents.
Andrew Johnson 1865 - 1869
Vice President Andrew Johnson became president of
the United States following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
Johnson is perhaps best remembered for the impeachment trial in which he
defended the sovereignty of the Chief Executive and avoided conviction.
Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1808
and moved to Greeneville, Tennessee, in 1826 where he eventually established
himself as a tailor. Denied formal schooling, Johnson eagerly pursued
an education on his own. In time he became a well-known and respected
citizen in his community as well as a powerful and persuasive speaker.
He launched his political career as an alderman in Greeneville and later
served as mayor, state representative, U.S. senator and two-term governor
of Tennessee.
A Jacksonian Democrat, Johnson was among the few
southern senators to remain in their seats after 1861. The North
welcomed him as a powerful ally, and in 1862, Lincoln appointed him military
governor of Tennessee and in 1864 selected him as running mate on the National
Union ticket.
As president, Johnson announced that he would continue
the policies of Lincoln. Focusing his attention upon the restoration
of the former Confederate states to the Union, Johnson established provisional
governments in seven of those states and proclaimed general amnesty and
pardon to ex-Rebels. Later, however, the Republican leadership in
Congress rejected his approach and instead embarked on its own program
of Reconstruction.
This conflict set the legislative and executive
branches of the national government on a collision course that culminated
in 1868 with the impeachment of Johnson. By a margin of one vote,
the Senate refused to convict Johnson, and thus he successfully defended
his belief in a constitutional separation of the three branches of government.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1875, Andrew Johnson is still the only ex-president
to achieve such recognition.
TPT Home