Others such as the the Indian Removal Act of 1830, exposed the racial normality of America in that era and will over shadow his presidency for generations to come.
A relatively small but impactful scandal surrounding his presidency became known as the Eaton Affair. Senator John Eaton was a close friend to Jackson and was chosen to be his Secretary of War. John married the widowed Peggy Eaton, who was the daughter of a Washington Innkeeper. Peggy had lost her first husband, but rumor had spread that her and John had been seeing each other before her first husband had actually passed away. This caused great controversy within the president's cabinet and the cabinet wives refused to see or invite John and Peggy to any social gatherings. The controversy was lead by Mrs. John C. Calhoun, the wife of Jackson's Vice President. Jackson himself stood with the Eatons because it reminded him of the rough start of the marriage he shared with his wife. Rachel was ridiculed to the full extent when she was married to Jackson before the …show more content…
Jackson grew up and gained a typically western attitude towards indians: Native Americans were barbarians and better off out of the way (Tindall, 305). This explains a lot given that he was the first President from west of the Appalachian Mountains. Jackson claimed that the country had attempted and failed to assimilate tribes into white society and their way of life would be destroyed. In a message to the Congress of the United States on December 8th, 1829, Jackson declared that “This emigration should be voluntary, for it would be as cruel as unjust to compel the aborigines to abandon the graves of their fathers, and seek home in a distant land” (Cane, 4).Through the actions of Jackson and the State of Georgia (which is where the majority of Cherokee indians lived) voluntary removal provided by Jackson turned out to be false. Many historians claim that Jackson only stated that the move was voluntary because it would garner political votes in the Congress. This issue was partisan but some Jacksonian Democrats voted against the White House, but the act passed. All natives were forced to move and many lost their lives on the path to Indian Territory, which is present day Oklahoma. These tribes were also granted $5 million and expenses for transportation. This event would later be known as the Trail of Tears and would