Meghan Masson Document Assignment #2: Presidential Documents Read the excerpt from Andrew Jackson’s Veto of the Bank of the United States in The Patriot’s History Reader. Print this document, answer the following questions, and turn in your completed assignment on the assigned due date. 1. Which of these is NOT an objection Jackson raises against the legislation in question? A. The recharter is not for a long enough period of time. B. The Bank has an unconstitutional monopoly. C. Much of the Bank’s stock is owned by foreign nationals. D. The Bank serves private interests. 2. The debate over the Bank of the United States primarily concerns what clause of the Constitution? A. The Free Exercise Clause B. The Equal Protection Clause C. The Interstate Commerce Clause D. The Necessary and Proper Clause 3. According to Jackson, proponents of the Bank argue it will allow the U.S. to coin money and regulate the value thereof. What is Jackson’s counterargument? A. This power is not delegated to Congress in the Constitution. B. There is no need for the government to perform these functions. C. The U.S. Mint already performs these functions. D. These powers belong to the states, not the federal government. 4. Based on Jackson’s speech, where was the Bank of the United States located? A. Boston B. New York C. Philadelphia D. Washington, D.C. 5. Which statement best reflects Andrew Jackson’s attitude toward social equality? A. Government should take action to guarantee all citizens equality of outcome. B. Certain kinds of inequality are inevitable, but government should guarantee citizens equality under the law. C. Government should protect the interests of the rich and powerful above all. D. He has no interest in the question of equality or inequality.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answers:
- A. The recharter is not for a long enough period of time.
- D. The Necessary and Proper Clause
- C. The U.S. Mint already performs these functions.
- C. Philadelphia
- B. Certain kinds of inequality are inevitable, but government should guarantee citizens equality under the law.
Explanation
Andrew Jackson’s veto of the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States was a powerful document that reflected his views on limited government, constitutional interpretation, and social equity. Jackson objected to the Bank for several reasons, including its monopoly power, which he believed was unconstitutional and served the wealthy elite rather than the public. He also criticized the fact that a significant portion of the Bank’s stock was held by foreign nationals, which he viewed as a threat to American independence. Additionally, Jackson believed the Bank primarily benefited private individuals at the expense of the average citizen. However, he did not object that the recharter period was too short, making option A the correct answer to question 1.
The constitutional debate centered on the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8), which grants Congress the authority to make laws required to execute its enumerated powers. Jackson, a strict constructionist, argued that the Constitution did not explicitly authorize the federal government to create a bank, and therefore it was an overreach of federal power.
Supporters of the Bank claimed it was needed to coin money and regulate its value. Jackson responded that these functions were already handled by the U.S. Mint, a government institution that fulfilled these roles without needing a central bank.
Historically, the Second Bank of the United States had its headquarters in Philadelphia, which answers question 4.
On social equality, Jackson acknowledged natural inequalities in wealth and ability but strongly believed in equality under the law. He was committed to ensuring that government did not favor the rich over the poor, which is reflected in his resistance to institutions like the Bank that he believed concentrated power in the hands of a privileged few.
