When Andrew Jackson led seven thousand American troops into the Battle of New Orleans and defeated the mighty British, many Americans began to like this whiskey drinking westerner. Not only was he a general, but soon after the War of 1812 Andrew Jackson ran for president. Although he won the popular vote and electoral vote, he did not win the majority vote. Therefore, the decision went to the House of Representatives. Sadly for Jackson, John Quincy Adams takes the presidency by one vote, which aroused some controversy later on. Four years later, Andrew Jackson becomes president and brings the idea of mass democracy. The southern states and western territories rejoiced for Jackson because he represented the common man, much like Thomas Jefferson. When Jackson came to be President, many of his ideas towards political democracy, individual liberty, and economic oppurtunity led some to believe that the Democrats were not the guardians of these principles.
If the United States government was ran by political democracy during the Jackson era, this country would have been in trouble. The southerners and westerners that backed Jackson were young, militant, land crazy, and murderers. They were often called "Hickoryites." When Jackson was inaugurated, these "Hickoryites" came drunk and destroyed many precious items of the White House. After much destruction, they were finally swayed out of the White House after hearing that there was more alcohol outside. These people would have destroyed everything the founding fathers created. They cared for only themselves and not for the country as a whole. If they were the guardians of political democracy this country would be much different than it is today. With the so-called "Tariff of Abominations," Jackson once again illustrated that political democracy would not become during his presidency. The tariff was being constanly raised since it was first brought upon in 1820.
