ts of the common man. He believed that no group, class, or agency was entitled to any special political or economic advantage. Though he didn’t believe in special power or privilege, through his use of what he interpreted as his “executive power”, he made many contentious decisions while president. Such actions as the withdraw of federal money from the Bank of the United States (without any amendment of mandate) spurred fervent anti-Jacksonian feelings. Jackson also changed the perception of the presidential veto. It had originally been viewed as something the president could do if he considered a bill unconstitutional. Jackson eventually made it clear that the president could veto a bill on whatever grounds he saw fit. Many saw Jackson’s reign as a tyranny, and strong opposition to Jackson formed. The anti-Jacksonian’s rallied behind what Henry Clay began to call the national-republican party. Clay called for a protective tariff in support of home manufactures, internal improvements (federal aid to local road and canal projects), a strong national bank, and distribution of the proceeds of federal land sales to the states. All of which Jackson was opposed to (vetoing the Maysville Road bill). Clay was strongly disliked to Jackson, and after John C. Calhoun, and other Democrats joined the national-republicans, they united under their contempt of the “king-like” president, and thereafter became known as the Whig Party in 1834. This party modeled itself after the Whig party of late 17th century England, who opposed the tyrannical rule of the Catholic kings. Another man behind the development of political parties during the 1820s – 1840, was Martin Van Buren. Van Buren has been referred to as the first “professional politician.” He was responsible for devising the structure of the modern political party. He also began the distribution of information about the Democratic Party (part...
