Andrew Jackson
Once a Hero But Soon a Zero
Becoming the Seventh President
Andrew Jackson was considered the common man, he was born and raised in the working class and admired by many for awhile. He lost the election of 1824 to John Quincy Addams even when he had majority of the votes but without 50% of the votes the congress chooses... Not him. he worked hard for suffrage to be expanded and it was to all white males, rich or poor. He ran again and was reelected in 1828.
Bad Choices Without a Heart
Trail of Tears
The Cherokee Indians lived on very rich fertile land in Georgia and north, but all that land was broken down smaller and smaller until all they had left was 10% of their original land. Georgia treated the very Americanized, civilized Cherokee like they were wild animals. it wasn't long till gold was found on their land. Once gold was found thousands of people with gold fever came and took Cherokees homes. Jackson wanted them gone. He signed the Indian removal act. The Cherokee were forced to leave and walk for over 7 months from Georgia to Oklahoma in harsh conditions. Over half of the Cherokee population died and were moved into close range with rivaling tribes.
photo retrieved at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2011/03/01/the-trail-of-tears-remembered/
No Stopping a Greedy Man
The Cherokee Indians had sent a singed petition Georgia to not be removed but they were denied even after the supreme court had ruled that they were not interfered with. Andrew Jackson and Georgia didn't care especially since there had been gold found on Cherokee land along with very fertile soil. Soon Jackson signed the Indian Removal act and forced the Cherokee of their land or gave it away to the man Americans who came with gold fever. Jackson treated them unfairly as if they were wild and not the civilized, sovereign nation they were. The Cherokee were marched away from their homes to Oklahoma on a seven month walk, over half the population died along the way. photo retrieved at
http://www.historyteacher.net/AHAP/WebQuests/WQ-ImpeachJackson/WQ-ImpJackson-Student-Intro.htm
Not Such a Common Man
When Andrew Jackson left office he had done many things, some good and some bad, but he didn't leave the common man. he lived in a mansion, not common and had over 150 slaves when he died. he took liberty from the common man, which he was considered to be. He was born a common but died among the elite which he said he was unlike but proved to be very similar to. Photo retrieved at http://indianasoldier.wordpress.com/
Andrew Jackson: Reinventing the Presidency