It's a
common theme throughout American history that strong, independent leaders are frequently derided
by their opponents as "tyrants." This tendency springs from the days of the Revolution
when the American colonists fought against what they saw as the tyranny of King George III.
Since then, the word "tyrant" has remained a mainstay of the ever-growing lexicon of
American political invective.
Andrew Jackson was subjected to a fair amount
of abuse throughout his political career. And, inevitably, he was frequently condemned as a
tyrant. Mainly, this is because he was an outsider, someone who didn't fit into the charmed
elite circle of Washington politics. He was rough; he was uncouth; he lacked the polish and
sophistication the American political classes had come to expect in their presidents. But he was
immensely popular in the country as a whole and saw himself as a man of the people, not just by
virtue of his humble background but also due to the policies he pursued when in
office.
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