Jackson’s political thought, therefore, embraced the Revolution’s most “republican” ideals. As a first principle he affirmed the conservative doctrine of limited government. He opposed a broad definition of constitutional power. He advocated states’ rights, but the states must never regard themselves as superior to the general government. Nor did they possess the right of secession. Jackson also stressed debt reduction as an important article of faith. He regarded the national debt as a national curse and a danger to free government. For Jackson, therefore, the total elimination of the
...more
