The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power

The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power

Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, was a firm believer in the idea that the people are the government. He famously stated, "The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power." This belief was central to his political philosophy and guided his actions as President.

Jackson's belief in the power of the people was rooted in his experience as a military leader and his rise to political prominence. He saw himself as a champion of the common man, someone who would fight for the rights and interests of the average citizen against the entrenched interests of the elite. This belief in the power of the people to govern themselves was a driving force behind many of his policies as President.

One of the key ways in which Jackson sought to empower the people was through his efforts to expand suffrage. At the time, only white male property owners were allowed to vote in many states. Jackson believed that this limited suffrage was undemocratic and worked to expand voting rights to all white men, regardless of property ownership. This was a radical idea at the time, but Jackson believed that the people should have a direct say in their government and that expanding suffrage would help to ensure that the government truly represented the will of the people.

Jackson's belief in the power of the people also influenced his approach to governing. He believed that the President should be a strong leader who acted decisively in the best interests of the people. He famously used his veto power more than any previous President, often citing his belief that he was acting on behalf of the people in his decisions. Jackson's strong leadership style and his belief in the power of the people to govern themselves made him a controversial figure in his time, but also a popular one among many Americans.