A democratic nation was not on the minds of the Founding Fathers during the convention of 1787. They had intended to develop a republican government, where as little control of the government rested in the hands of the public. According to Jacksonian Democracy, Robert V. Remini contends that Andrew Jackson did more to promote democracy than any administration before him. It is true that democracy had been gaining strength, but it is Jackson that publicized its arrival. He not only undermined Congress, the Supreme Court, and supporters of the National Bank, but he pushed to completely revamp the powers of government as well as the powers of his office. .
Every office must be held accountable and face the American public in election, including Senators and Judges. Jackson believed that "the people are the government." He also tried to push for the dismantling of the Electoral College, stating that nothing should come between the public's vote and the government. Andrew Jackson was a strong believer of popular sovereignty, that people were inherently good and should govern themselves. The Jacksonian democratic idea did leave out some important groups of people in the eyes of Americans today, but their equality is much different than the equality of our time, according to Remini. .
The author goes on to support his notion that Jackson believed in equality among the masses, to include economic equality. Jackson vetoed the bill for the renewal of the Second National Bank in 1832, only months prior to the presidential election. Old Hickory, Jackson's nickname, referred to the national bank as a "monster." This monster collected money from all Americans, in the way of taxes; the interest profited the elite and foreign investors. The people supported Jackson's position on the issue and won a second term in office. .
Andrew Jackson was a man of principles. He believed that the majority should rule--period.