Andrew Jackson: America's Most Controversial President

Andrew Jackson was one of the most controversial presidents ever. He was widely considered a hero for what he did for the country while he was in the military. He helped delay the start of the civil war while he was in office. He also obtained Florida from Spain for the US. On the other hand though, he felt very strongly about US expansion. So much to the point that he removed millions of Natives from their homelands, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling it unconstitutional. He also chose to make his cabinet members his closest friends, not actual politicians. He was a people’s president and loved by the “common man”, not so much by the wealthy business owners. Jackson shouldn’t be on the $20 dollar bill because of his harsh policies towards …show more content…
Jackson felt very strongly that Americans should expand west. He felt that removing the natives is necessary for American wealth and power. In document 4, in his letter to congress trying to convince them to support the Indian Removal Act, he says “By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the North and Louisiana on the South to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent states strong enough to repel future invasions without remote aid”. Jackson is so focused on expanding the United States west that he doesn’t once consider that he’s going to destroy millions of people’s lives and horrifically abuse and torment them.

Jackson was an avid supporter of slavery and advocated or the expansion of slavery. He was born and raised in the south and fully supported slavery and thought it to be a good thing. He felt that slavery was necessary for America to prosper. In document 1, paragraph 8, it says “Like many southern planters, Jackson also owned numerous slaves and worked to preserve and expand the institution of slavery”. Andrew Jackson was a man of the south, he advocated for the common man and what would help strengthen the