With the exception of The Indian Removal Act, I think Jackson could be listed in the top tier of American Presidents.
THAT is the huge blot on his record.
But he did kick the federal bank to the curb. He did leave office with the United States DEBT FREE. Just to name two accomplishments.
But to me, The Indian Removal Act trumps the good things he accomplished.
I think he had a terrible dilemma on his hands with respect to the Indians. Either he removed them by force of the government and resettled them, or the settlers would’ve removed them, and in the latter case, it would’ve resulted in even more deaths (and then Jackson may have been obliged to come in on the side of the Indians with military force, in which case he would’ve been finished politically along with his party for going against the settlers).
What Jackson did with the Removal Act was to deport a non citizen population that tended to theft, vandalism and acts of terrorism.
Pre 14th amendment, not citizens. Pre transcontinental railroad, not an easy trip.
Andrew Jackson was the last democrat worth a flip.