Andrew Jackson

Hello, My name is Andrew Jackson. I was born March 15, 1767 in the Wax haws region of the Carolinas. I am not sure if I am from North or South Carolina as the borders were not clear in the remote region. My parents were Andrew and Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson. My father passed away three weeks before I was born. I received an informal education at the local school. The school was know as the old field school. I am known mostly for my career in politics and in the military. I was appointed colonel of the United States army and led our troops to important victories such as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and the Battle of New Orleans. I was also the seventh president of the United States where I served two terms. Before becoming President I was senator of Tennessee. I have helped the United States by winning the last battle that helped us win the War of 1812, paid off the national debt, installed the spoils system, and cleared up land in the east for settlement.

Issues

During my time as President I contributed to the economic reform in order to try and make more opportunities for the common man and not just the elite. I also tried to reform politics with my attempts to abolish the electoral college, installing the spoils system, and signing the Indian Removal Act. I believe what I am doing is the right thing to do as the United States should be for the common man. I am suppose to be the representative of the people and I will fight so that they can have the same opportunities as the elite have.

Solutions
In trying to increase the economic opportunity of the common man and stop with the advantage only going to the elite, I was able to veto the recharter of the Bank of the United States. After I was able to veto the bank without any major backlash I took out the funds and put them in many smaller banks that some called "pet banks." The bank was no more and the economy was successful for a while. I saw a problem with the theory of the electoral college and saw to get it abolished in order to increase the freedom of the people.  I have tried with no success tried to lobby for a new amendment that would abolish the electoral college. At my annual message to congress I pushed to try and make this a reality, but sadly was not supported by the majority. I also looked to fix the theory of who holds a job in the federal department. My idea was to start practicing what is now known as the Spoils System. This helped rotate those who were in holding office to lower the corruption rate that was present. Some people saw this as me trying to increase the corruption as I was possibly hiring and rewarding friends and those who helped with my campaign. Finally I helped to free up land for those farmers to increase the commerce of the south.  Through congress I signed the Indian Removal Act to free up land in the East. Some of the opposition said that it was imhuman and was stealing the land from the Native Americans, but they did not see that I was actually trading their land for some new land they would settle in the west. Being away from our civilization would make it easier for them to keep their own culture.

Brigham Young

Personal Statement:
My name is Brigham Young. I was born in 1801 to a farming family in Vermont. My parents were John and Abigail Young, and I am the ninth of eleven children. When I was young I moved to New York with my parents, but when I was sixteen I left home to start my career. I didn't have much of a formal education. I learned many of my skills while being apprenticed as a carpenter and painter. I married my first wife, Miriam Works, when I was 23 years old. I was a Methodist for many years, but I converted to Mormonism in 1832 after reading the Book of Mormon. After meeting Joseph Smith, the leader of the Mormons, I was even more encouraged to follow this religion. In 1838 I went to Missouri to help the Mormons there in their move to Illinois. I also traveled to England in order to spread my religion even further. In 1941 I became the President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and I devoted myself to promoting my religion and bettering the lives of its followers.





Issue(s):
I was involved in what I think was a very important religious, economic, and political issue. Because Mormons were not a majority during the time I was alive they were criticized by many people. I wanted all Mormons to have the ability to express their religion freely and without being oppressed by others. I wanted to expand my church and to seek out new members and to better the lives of existing members. I hoped to expand my religion by providing a variety of opportunities and incentives to these new members.


Solution(s):
In 1851 I became the governor of Utah, and I worked to pass laws which would give Mormons more freedom. One of the things I approved of was polygamy. Having had 55 wives, this was something I supported. Other people in power did not approve of this idea, saying that I was not allowing for a separation of church and state. I was also in favor of having women’s suffrage in Utah because by increasing the amount of people who could vote, the chances of voting in favor of a Mormon increased. In order to expand Mormonism, I also encouraged believers to emigrate and build their own settlements. I encouraged and often helped these migrations of people who were ready to start new lives with the Mormon religion. By supporting small businesses and the manufacturing of local products, I helped my people become more self- sufficient. I didn't receive a good education as a child, so I did everything I could to provide and education to Mormons. I established the University of Deseret, which was later named Brigham Young University.


Relationship to Others:
During the dinner party, I would be most comfortable sitting next to someone who shares my beliefs. I would be most comfortable sitting next to Joseph Smith because he was the founder of Mormonism and the one who inspired me to convert. I would feel least comfortable sitting next to Lyman Beecher because he is a Protestant and I am a Mormon

Henry Clay

Personal Statement:

Hello, my name is Henry Clay. I was born April 12, 1777 in Hanover County, Virginia. My parents are Reverend John Clay, who passed away in 1781, and Elizabeth Hudson Clay, and I am also the seventh of nine children. I grew up in Hanover County but ten years after my father passed my stepfather moved our family out to Richmond where I worked as a clerk and later a secretary to the chancellor of the High Court of Chancery. I had very little regular education, but I often read from books in Wythe's library and made the best of the little education I had. I moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 1797 and became a successful while also meeting my wife ,Lucretia Hart, two years later and who I have 11 children with. My lifestyle was  similar to that of any man living in the South or West. I was a drinking and gambling man, but that didn't stop me from having great political success. The world was my school and as John Quincy Adam's said, I am a half educated man with all the virtues indispensable to a popular man.

Issues:

I was an American political leader and secretary of state, and I came to national prominence as leader of the "War Hawks," who drove the country into the War of 1812. I was a Congressman and was elected Speaker of the House six times. I was chosen to as part of the group of men to go make the Treaty of Ghent. I also developed the "American System" that involved the Bank of the U.S and protective tariffs. One of my best known achievements was the Missouri Compromise. For the next 40 years, I worked for international peace and sought to reconcile warring factions in the nation. I was a big presence in the abolition movement.

Solution:

Even though my American system was put into effect, it didn't reach its full potential until after the civil war. I believe in a functioning economy based off of protective tariffs. Another thing to note is that although I made the Missouri Compromise, I was neither for or against slavery. I was indeed a slave owner, but I believed in the eventual emancipation of slaves. I was successful in both of my goals, but it didn't come easy, I faced a large amount of opposition, especially from the controversy of the "Corrupt Bargain".

Relationship to others:

Overall I could say that I could sit next to almost anyone who isn't a Jacksonian due to the "Corrupt Bargain" issue. Since I am neutral to the slavery issue I would have no problem sitting next to someone like Frederick Douglas, or even someone who supports slavery.