Jackson : A symbol of Injustice
RLST 24
Tues. 11:10 Sect. 22
Jackson Op-Ed
Awarded the prestigious honor to remain forever engraved on the twenty dollar bill, Andrew Jackson became a figure in American history never forgotten. Future generations of younger students will not need to know Andrew for them to assume he was a great man. Unfortunately, the ignorance of idolizing Jackson because he appears on American currency serves to blanket the realities of his administration. Jackson should be removed from the twenty dollar bill.
Recognizing the injustices president Andrew Jackson performed, Americans have considered the dispute over the removal of Jackson 's face from the twenty dollar bill. The real question remains why place America 's figures in iconic positions based on fame? Benedict Arnold is famous, yet he was a traitor to America . Why not place figures that contributed to the well-being of the country and upheld humane morals? Jackson 's administration only improved the system, initiating the progress toward a modern democratic government. Under President Jackson, the elimination of voter property qualifications allowed a variety of citizens from different social classes to elect government officials 1. Jackson also ended the national banks that resembled the greedy monopolies of the late 1800's 1.
Andrew Jackson, revered as the first common man to become President, symbolized the average citizen having the opportunity to climb the ranks within America 's democratic system. However, the profits of Jackson 's administration succeed in concealing his immoral procedures and behavior. Jackson 's methods worked accordingly to the reasoning of the father of political science, Machiavelli, who said, “The end justifies the means”. He achieved lucrative results at the cost of abandoning ethics and destroying the lives of human beings. Replacing Jackson would be logical to those who support integrity, and understand the values and intentions of a man America 's chosen to immortalize.
Jackson not only menaced the Native American community, but defied the nation he served. On several occasions, Andrew Jackson acted rebellious to United States laws and orders. In 1813, Jackson disregarded Article IX of the treaty of Ghent , which demanded the return of Creek territory acquired in the treaty of Fort Jackson 2. Andrew Jackson, a general at the time, existed in no position to dismiss treaties that the U.S. claimed as “laws of the land”. Fueled with the American hatred toward Native Americans, Jackson stubbornly refused to acknowledge Creek ownership of any land. Jackson 's unruly attitude brought him close to making hazardous international mistakes. Believing British officers were assisting local natives, Jackson “without any specific orders” invaded Spanish Florida and killed every Spanish-British officer at a central military fort 1. His actions angered President Monroe because Jackson created tension between the U.S. and Western Europe . Exhibiting disobedience to his superiors, Jackson 's actions served as a precursor to his oppressive authority.
During his presidency, Jackson 's Indian policies transformed the concept of Manifest Destiny into a reality. Jackson , along with many Americans, possessed a Eurocentric view and failed to recognize Native tribes as civilized sovereign nations. In 1834, Chief John Ross met with Jackson in hopes of ending the president's Cherokee removal policy, when Jackson replied, “It is impossible that you can flourish in the midst of a civilized community” 2. Because of the thousands of smaller Native nations compared to the larger European nations, Americans under Jackson neglected to equate the sovereignty of the two types of civilizations. The refusal to accept tribes as separate nations justified the stealing of their land. Still, Jackson 's invasion of Native soil was no different than if he had invaded France or Spain . President Jackson acted like a bully on the playground, using America 's strength to take land. Jackson also participated in the treacherous scheme of using treaties to legally gain land. Signing the Indian Removal Act in 1830, Jackson granted the president the power to negotiate treaties with tribes 2. Jackson authorized government officials to deceive Natives into signing treaties by either getting Natives drunk or misinterpreting the documents. The utilization of treaties changed into a method of modern conquest, yet maintained the same barbaric intentions as a violent siege. By 1838, Jackson forced 17,000 Cherokees to move west of the Mississippi river and in the process 4,000 to 8,000 died 2. Jackson stands as a symbolic remembrance of the injustices that occurred during the age of white expansion.
Andrew Jackson not only represents his own unethical actions, but symbolizes the racism of an American people in history. Robert V. Remini, biographer of Andrew Jackson, states, “The American people as a whole sided with the government and approved Jackson 's policy.” 2 Jackson crushed his opponents during the presidential elections, which displayed the massive support he received from the land speculators benefiting from his Indian policies. The plan to remove Indians remained at the top of Jackson 's list in his first address to Congress 3. Americans strongly advocated Jackson 's policies to quench their lust for land, and decimate a race they had developed hatred toward for so many years. The face of Andrew Jackson personifies racism, hatred, and a time when the U.S. enforced hypocritical policies that morally opposed the constitution.
Replacing Jackson from the twenty dollar bill could only benefit America 's image problem. Acknowledging the injustices of history, America would reflect intolerance for hypocrisy, and a progress from the past. The replacement would show that America promotes power in both morality and justice.
Works Cited
- American President. 20 Jan. 2004 . Miller Center of Public Affairs. 18 Jan. 2004
<http://www.americanpresident.org/history/andrewjackson>
- Chass College computing & center for visual computing. American Indian Nations . 1 Jul. 2003. University of California , Riverside . 18 Jan. 2004 . <http://americanindian.ucr.edu/discussions/jackson/deeds.html>
- Restoring America Project. 20 Jan. 2004 . c4.net. 18 Jan. 2004 .
<http://www.4america.com/archives/andrew_jackson/>
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