Brinkley (1995) notes that “Andrew, born on the western frontier of Carolina, an area with a dispute between North and South Carolina, Andrew Jackson was claimed to be a native son by both the states.” His location of birth offered him little opportunity for formal education, and the schooling opportunities he got were interrupted by the British invasion, the invasion which contributed to the death of his mother and two brothers. On the other hand, his humble background and the early incident never deterred him from acquiring a lot in his life.
His confidence, determination, and a belief in liberty reflect the American people’s lifestyle. His reflection of Americans confidence and liberty was portrayed as early as when he was captured by the British soldiers and refused to clean the boots of their officer. Despite the hunger and torture that he received, he was determined to fight not only for his own freedom but also for others. This was a clear indication of the American’s personality and collective spirit.
From a saddle maker, Jackson studied and taught law in an office in Salisbury, where he was admitted to the bars. Despite the fact that he was not from a renowned family, he made his livelihood by his own doings, thriving in the unpredictable world of frontier law.
While in Tennessee, he was appointed as a solicitor of the Western District in 1788. In 1796, he was a delegate to the Tennessee constitution, US Senator as a democratic-Republican, and later appointed as a judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1798. Besides legal and political career, Jackson prospered as a slave owner, planter, and merchant, and he was a major land speculator in West Tennessee. As a militia commander, Jackson defeated “Red Sticks” who were incited by Tecumseh to attack white settlements. In 1822, he was nominated for president as well as U.S senator, a point of climax to his success rudder.
Throughout his life, he held a trait of confidence which enabled him to face tough people and situations, unite his people, respect the “voice of the people,” and fight for their right, an aspect which shows the American people’s collective spirit and personality and their belief in liberty (Brinkley, 1995).
Following the end of 1812 war, the American markets relationship was enhanced. Western region held the most conducive environment of agricultural and industrial production due to cotton farmlands and ginneries and there was a massive westward movement of American population toward this region. This was accompanied by improvement on transport and communication which linked the western part to the rest of the nation and outside.
As a result, the cities in the western expanded with the expansion of market produce from the increase in cotton produce and factory production due to vast work force availably both in land and in industries. The demand of land in these regions, demand of both raw and manufactured products improved the economic status of western region and it emerged as a dominant in market and manufacturing.
In addition, upon freedom acquisition, millions moved to more fertile farmlands of the Midwest and the government’s creation of national road and waterways helped the new settlers to ease their migration to west as well as moving the western farm produce to the market. However, the Great Britain’s attitude enraged the U.S. American was determined to seize the aboriginal lands that were controlled by Britain awaiting their western expansion. This was accomplished when America declared war on Great Britain and attacked its colony: Canada (Axelrod, 2003).
The clauses in the constitution failed to solve the contradiction between the American freedom and American slavery which became increasingly intense. Indeed, the constitution protected the liberty and the property right of slaveholders while regarding slaves as both property and persons. The delegates reached a number of compromises which left the slavery institution more deeply embedded. Turner (1996) said that “The slave-trade clause, permitted the continued importation of slavery until 1808 in addition, slavery was protected even in Free states by fugitive-slave clause, where if a slave escaped to Free State his status remained to that of a slave.”
Brinkley, (1995) noted that “ This was a result of the “Missouri Compromise”, which brought in Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state aimed in maintaining a balance in the senate moreover, the fugitive slave law in 1850 even required the capture of runaway slave and return to their holders. Also, under the three-fifth clause, each slave was considered as a three-fifth of a complete person in determination of congregational representation basis and direct taxation.”
Reference List
Axelrod, A. (2003). The complete Idiot’s to American History. Phoenix: Alpha Books.
Brinkley, A. (1995). American history: a survey. Pineland: McGraw-Hill.
Turner, F. J., (1996). The frontier in American history. New York: Courier Dover Publication.