Andrew Jackson and the Bank War: A Power Struggle

“The Bank is trying to kill me, Sir, but I shall kill it!”

This is what our president and leader, Andrew Jackson, said regarding the Second Bank of the United States. I believe this is an insult to all people, rich and poor. He hath violated indeed violated the separation of powers in his actions to destroy the Bank of the United States. He, and not I, sparked the Bank War with his criticism. With great urging from fellow member Henry Clay, I applied for the Bank’s re-charter in January of 1832. As many know, this was four years the original charter was supposed to expire. With our second charter, the goal was to make President Jackson look unwise in his decisions and unpopular during election year in 1837. But behold! The President vetoed the bill. And what could I do? Nothing! Our plan of blackening Andrew Jackson’s name failed, as he was reelected again, beating Clay, whom I had supported greatly through the Bank.

Even with all this evil accomplished, Jackson was not finished.

Oh, he was far from it! In September of 1833, he ordered his Treasury secretary to move money carefully selected state banks, which I will now refer to as “pet” banks. Seeing this as a terribly unconstitutional move, the secretary resigned, preferring not to obey Jackson’s order. Quickly following this incident, his enemies in the Senate formally declared his actions as unconstitutional. After crippling the Bank, Jackson prohibited all banks from federal deposits. His stiff-necked effort to limit bank note circulation was a foolish idea and he turned a blind eye in seeing the importance of a banking system in our growing economy. Therefore, unconstitutional actions must be

punished.

To all who read this, know and understand that Andrew Jackson has oft done terrible things and regarding our Constitution as nothing. Hence, join us in that of the Bank’s side of the argument, and not his.

With great respect,