Why is andrew jackson important?
This lesson is designed to provide students with an overview of the changes Andrew Jackson effected in the American presidency. Among the topics discussed are the rise of political parties, the adoption of more democratic modes choosing the president, the so-called “spoils system,” and Jackson’s use of the veto. The lesson also includes a short Web-based activity that focuses on Jackson’s background and makes use of the PBS Andrew Jackson Web site. It may be assigned as homework prior to the in-class lesson. While not included in this lesson, the Reinventing the Presidency theme overview (on the Web site and DVD-ROM) provides a good written review of the topic.
