If you’re reading this then there’s a very high chance that you are a fan of the show, ‘The West Wing’. It may not be the most well-known show, but it certainly is one of the greatest in all of television history. Its excellent storytelling and fantastic characters have made it an icon for liberal politics and its representation of idealistic leadership has inspired politicians across the spectrum.
1) He fought for what he believed in
The great thing about being president is that you don’t have to be afraid of coming out and saying what you really think. If you’re not, then you’re really missing out on a lot. One of the great things about Andrew Jackson is that he was a fighter first and foremost.
He wasn’t afraid to stand up to people who he thought were doing the wrong thing and he wasn’t afraid to fight for what he believed in. This most famously happened during his seventh year as president when he threatened to invade Florida to remove a group of Seminole Indians who refused to leave the state.
In this instance, he was right and his opponents were wrong but he was still willing to fight for his cause. This is a trait that is sorely lacking in modern-day politicians.
2) He was a fierce advocate of democracy and civil liberties
You could argue that the reason why Andrew Jackson was such a great president was that he was a fierce advocate for democracy and civil liberties. In his first term as president, he had to contend with the nullification crisis. This was caused by states that were threatening to break away from the Union as they refused to abide by the laws of the Federal Government.
This was a scary time for the country and one that is worth studying today. President Jackson reacted quickly and with great firmness. He firmly ruled against these states and punished them. He also ensured that the rule of law prevailed over the rule of states.
3) He helped end the Second Seminole War
The Second Seminole War was a conflict that was fought in the early 19th century between the United States and the Seminole Indians. The conflict was over various issues such as the removal of Native Americans from Florida and the demand to abolish the “spoils system”.
The “spoils system” is a term that came from Andrew Jackson’s Presidency and is a political corruption that is still rife in political parties today. The spoils system is the idea of political parties handing out jobs and positions to those who donate money to their campaign.
Andrew Jackson was not a fan of this system as he had seen it used as a means of buying votes. He ended the war and also ensured that the Seminoles were removed from Florida. He was a great president because he was willing to enforce the laws of the country and see justice done.
4) He helped devise the “spoils system”
Andrew Jackson’s most lasting legacy is the “spoils system”. It is political corruption that is prevalent in many political parties today. It is the idea of political parties handing out positions and jobs to donors. Andrew Jackson was not a fan of this system as he had seen it used as a means of buying votes.
He ended the war and also ensured that the Seminoles were removed from Florida. He was a great president because he was willing to enforce the laws of the country and see justice done. He also devised the spoils system as a means of buying votes to ensure that only the fittest candidates got places in government. This was a great idea that has resulted in flawed political systems across the globe today.
5) He was an incredibly capable military strategist
Andrew Jackson was also an incredible military strategist. He was a man who never shied away from a fight and he was always willing to stand up to the strongest powers in the world. This is best illustrated by the Nullification Crisis. In the Nullification Crisis, states threatened to break away from the Union because they were not abiding by the laws of the Federal Government.
President Andrew Jackson was not a man who was going to back down from these threats. He remained steadfast in his beliefs and he did not allow the states to break away. He was a great leader because he was willing to stand up to threats and not let them intimidate him.
