Although many comparisons of the Tea Party have been made to the American Revolution and to the Civil War, both seem to be at best cursory and self-serving. The Tea Party itself routinely comparing itself to the Spirit of 1776 and the patriotism that implies, and by, well, everyone else, to the Civil War Era (roughly 1860-1865) and all of the negativity that era implies. But, if one looks closely at history, I would posit that the Tea Party in fact seems to most resemble the followers of our 7th President, Andrew Jackson, and the mood of the country most aligned with the Presidential Election of 1828 in which "Old Hickory" the original populist, defeated the patrician candidate of the aristocracy, John Quincy Adams. Although he won the popular vote, Jackson was defeated by Adams in 1824 by a vote in the House of Representatives, possibly due to a behind doors deal between Adams and House leader Henry Clay (both of whom apparently detested Jackson) in what Jackson himself labeled the "corrupt bargain." Undaunted, Jackson and his followers geared up for the election of 1828 and in fact with the help of New York power broker Martin Van Buren, won the presidency. Jackson's political base was comprised mostly in the South (he was from North or South Carolina, depending on your source) and due to Van Buren's influence, working class Northerners. And so, Jackson, self educated, and of humble origins, was the first non-aristocratic president elected in what to this day is still considered one, if not the dirtiest presidential campaign this country has ever witnessed. Jackson's followers called themselves the Democratic Republican Party. A name they later shortened to the Democratic Party. It was during this time that the Democratic Party adopted the mule as its symbol. In an effort to ridicule Jackson, Adams' Party, the National Republican Party, compared Jackson (and presumably his humble roots) to the (or so they imagined) lowly mule. However, to the average working class farmer, a mule was a good, hard worker and stood for dependability. And so, in an odd twist of fate, Jackson adopted the mule as his party's mascot. Was Jackson a racist? Yes. He was and he would have been the first to say so. Was he hot tempered and prone to during his lifetime incredible acts of cruelty and violence? Yes he was. Did he betray the Indians in Florida who in fact, helped him defeat the Spanish? Yes, he did. And yet, this is the person who the average American, in 1828 wanted as their president. Why? Well, the short answer is because he was perceived as the person who most closely represented their values and, unlike Adams, who was born into the aristocracy, understood the needs of the common man. Meaning then as now, most of us. And so Andrew Jackson, flaws and all, took the reigns of power in Washington and forever changed the face of the presidency and of course, this nation. Starting to sound familiar? I hope so. Now, if the Tea Party can find its Jackson, they'll party like it's 1828.
