Jackson's political success was due to his success as a general in the War of 1812. Jackson's stated his political philosophy when he said “to the victors go the spoils.”
What this meant was that the party that won the election(”the victors”) were entitled to the wealth that government took from the people(”the spoils”). The Jackson Administration was characterized by massive fraud, corruption and outright theft. It also was the beginning of the spread of the Democrat political machines which worked to win elections through fraud and payoffs.
Jackson also destroyed the young American economy. His policies caused the Panic of 1837 which led to a deep recession which lasted until the mid 1840’s.
Jackson's policies on slavery were also one of the many causes of the Civil War. Judge Taney, who authored the Dred Scott decision, was a close friend and adviser to Jackson and a member of his cabinet.
Ted Cruz and other conservatives want to end government corruption and destructive economic policies. They are not like Jackson and his followers.
I believe that was actually William L. Marcy, later Pierce's secretary of war.