Question

What do you think about the "King Andrew" cartoon? Considering what you know about Jackson, do you think it is accurate? Why or why not? Who do you think created it - a Democrat or a Whig?

Answer 1

"King Andrew" is a political cartoon which represents a negative character of Andrew Jackson. It inferred that he has very much power, and can do whatever he thinks is good for the country without thinking about consequences. It is made around the year 1832 and portrays Andrew Jackson dressed in majestic clothing representing a monarch or king. It shows him as an overbearing tyrant who did, whatever he wanted without consent from other parties. America is a country based on democracy, did not want a monarch, but wanted power to the people. There is a scroll titled "VETO" in Jackson's hand, this shows his controversial decision to veto Congress's bill to recharter the banks in 1832. Jackson thought the Bank of the United States was unconstitutional and held very much power, so he decided to resist it once the decision to recharter it succeed. After this decision, some Americans believed Andrew Jackson was trying to be a dictator figure. Without congressional approval, he removed government deposits from the Bank of the United States so that he can lower the power of the Bank. Under foot of Andrew Jackson in the cartoon is the "Constitution of the United States of America" and the "Internal Improvements U.S. Bank" all in very poor condition and tattered. It tells Jackson's apparent disregard for both of these ideals of the United States. Citizens of the United States started to think that Jackson was surpassing his Constitutional power as president. A book titled "Judiciary of the U.States" is thrown to the side of Jackson in a disregarding manner, portraying that Andrew Jackson also disrespect the constitutional laws of the judicial branch of the Unites States.This political cartoon is a negative representation of Andrew Jackson.

I think, whatever shown in the cartoon is quite accurate about Jackson. Jackson was surpassing his constitutional power and showing disregard to the Constitution of the United States. He was trying to do whatever he thought without thinking about the consequences. He was not taking the opinions of the people and other parties into consideration, while taking any decision. Therefore, I think whatever portrayed in the cartoon is quite accurate.

This cartoon is created by an unknown artist, but I think Whig Party is behind this. The Whig Party was a political party formed by opponents of President Andrew Jackson and his Jacksonian Democrats. It is formed in 1834.