Chapter 152: Chapter 137: Andrew Jackson, Fifth President of the United States

The Imperial Presidency: The Legacies of President Alexander Hamilton and President Andrew Jackson
Published in New York City, New York (2009)

"Peace is all I wish for. Peace for our nation, and peace in the Americas. But if words fail, then our great country will not hesitate to use force to guard our beloved ideals."

You are reading story The Rebellion Burns Bright at novel35.com

-Andrew Jackson, Fifth President of the United States.

"Andrew Jackson was like Alexander Hamilton in many ways. He was charismatic, an excellent orator, and unwavering even in face of strong opposition. By the time the 1812 elections rolled around in the United States, Jackson had been a member of the House of Representatives for over a decade. During his time in the House, he fostered an image of the "common man standing up to the elites." He was passionate in his speeches and deeply committed to his goal of improving the lives of every American common man and woman. Representative Jackson promoted various social programs to help ease poor Americans, advocated for rewards and incentives for independent innovators and business that created new inventions, supported a peaceful resolution with the Sioux Indians, and fought corruption in the federal government. While some of his fellow Congressmen disliked the "brash and loud North Carolinian," the public adored him. Not only was he a popular Congressman, but he was also a war veteran (who fought in the Revolutionary War at the age of ten), a former farmer (working in the fields with his mother, two brothers, and several African American workers before he joined the Marine Corps), and a recognized explorer (traveled throughout the west and mapped out significant parts of the Missouri River). He was relatable, often spending time away from Columbia to speak with ordinary citizens in Wilmington and other urban areas in the South. In short, he was easily the Union Party's presidential nominee for the 1812 Presidential Elections.

At the time of the 1812 Presidential Elections, the number of total Electoral Votes increased from 240 to 253 (accounting for the admission of Akanasa, Wisconsin, and Alabama as states). With the addition of more states in the West, Jackson knew it was critical for the Front to back the Unionists in the upcoming elections. Therefore, he and his party negotiated with the Frontier Party to avoid a split vote and after some political dealings, the Frontier Party agreed. As such, the Union Party and the Frontier Party were firmly behind Jackson's run for the presidency (though, he would be considered a "Unionist" president instead of a "Unionist-Front" president). Meanwhile, on the opposite side, the Republicans and Democrats rallied around Nathan Alarie, the first Canadien (also referred to as Quebecois and Canadien-American) presidential nominee of a major political party. A staunch Republican, Alarie served as a Representative in the House from 1800 to 1804 before being elected into the Senate. An experienced politician with strong backing from the Canadien and several northern states, Senator Alarie was known to be a well-intentioned man with a quiet voice. His platform promised realistic and tangible policies, such as creating a program for farming cooperatives to loan out farming equipment owned by the government, providing employment for new immigrants, and establishing a safeguard against government entrenchment in private businesses (though, Alarie was fully supportive of the Hamilton Anti-Monopoly Bill). On paper, it seemed like the 1812 Presidential Election would be a close one as both candidates were highly qualified and filled with promising intentions.

However, the reality was much different. President Hamilton was extremely popular during his time in office. Even his more controversial policies (such as purchasing Iceland and Greenland from Denmark) were met with enthusiasm at home and his clean sweep in the 1808 elections demonstrated this. Not only that but with the rise of railroads and telegraphs, the public saw the necessity for a president that would push these new and mystifying inventions into prominence. Additionally, since Hamilton was a Unionist, many sought to continue Hamilton's popular domestic policies by electing another Unionist into the White House. The public's perception was not the only reason why Jackson won the 1812 Presidential Election outright. Indeed, Jackson was a gifted and fiery orator. When debating Alarie, Jackson constantly went on the offensive against his soft-spoken opponent by questioning the finer details of his policies. Thus, the public saw the Unionist candidate as a man with conviction and boldness while they saw the Republican candidate as a withdrawn and weak person who was easily pushed around.

253 Electoral Votes in total, 127 needed to win.

---