Andrew Jackson entered the presidency after the political campaign of 1828 with little experience; he had been elected in large part because of his military career, rather than his career as a senator. It is important to note that, although he was the first American president raised in humble circumstances, he was not poor when elected to office. He cultivated his image as a backwoodsman and frontiersman, but Jackson had established a successful career and acheived great wealth in his lifetime - he had built a fortune speculating in land. His home was a mansion near Nashville, and he owned slaves.
Following the political campaign, Jackson created for his party what came to be known as 'Jacksonian Democracy,' a philosophy that had much in common with Jefferson's idealized vision of an America of hardworking farmers and planters.
Jackson's policies would reflect this preference for agriculture as the most important occupation and his disregard for the wealthy. Under Jackson, federal jobs were deliberately handed out to those who shared his political views.
When Jackson sought reelection in the political campaign of 1832, the split between members of his party was complete. The more traditional wing of the party labeled itself the National Republicans. Jackson and his supporters wanted to clearly distinguish themselves from this group. They took the name 'Democratic Party' to demonstrate their connection to the concept of democracy.
This was just one of many new changes that faced the voters during the political campaign for the presidency that year. Additionally, the first national political party conventions were held that year, which were a type of event that the United States of America had never before been witness to.
In the political campaign for president in 1828, Andrew Jackson was the image of a successful candidate. The brash war hero was tremendously popular, and many viewed the election of 1824 as having been 'stolen' from him.
Gradually, a split in the Republican Party had begun to emerge. Marin Van Buren perhaps first contributed to the split, although he did so to advance his candidate in the political campaign (Jackson). In 1827, he gathered a committee of men in Nashville whose aim was to communicate with other 'Jackson Committees' in other parts of the country.
At the time, candidates for the presidency did not actively campaign for office--it was not regarded as dignified. The political campaigning was left to their supporters, and Van Buren was more than willing to campaign actively on Jackson's behalf. Jackson certainly presented a more colorful image than John Quincy Adams. In addition to his reputation as a military hero, Jackson proudly described himself as a rough 'backwoodsman.'
Jackson's nickname, 'Old Hickory,' became the basis for a whole political campaign. Hickory Clubs were organized, and hickory trees were planted at political rallies. Political souvenirs such as plates, pitchers, and ladies' hair combs were all stamped with pictures of Jackson.
The contest between Adams and Jackson was described by Jackson supporters as a contest between democracy and aristocracy--Jackson, of course, represented the side of democracy. Newspapers that supported one side or the other published gossip and rumors about both men.
Jackson's political campaign as a 'common man' proved victorious, with especially strong support in the South and West. Adams took New England, but Jackson won nearly every other state except Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey.
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