Answer :
Final answer:
Senator Thomas Hart Benton opposed the Bank of the United States because he believed it favored the wealthy and made ordinary Americans poorer. He represented the interests of common people, particularly in the South and West, who were distrustful of the concentration of economic power and the issuance of paper currency by the bank.
Explanation:
Senator Thomas Hart Benton, in opposing the new Bank of the United States, spoke for the interest of ordinary Americans, particularly those in the South and West. Benton viewed the bank as an institution that served to "make the rich richer, and the poor poorer." The bank was often criticized for making risky loans and increasing inflation and speculation, which did not favor the common people.
Those in favor of hard currency, such as gold and silver, distrusted the paper currency issued by the bank. Additionally, the bank was seen by many as an unconstitutional exercise of power. President Andrew Jackson also opposed the bank, a sentiment that resonated with average Americans who feared the concentration of economic power.
