Andrew Jackson: Champion of Democracy or King Andrew I?

Andrew Jackson has been given two titles: "Champion of Democracy" and "King Andrew I." There is evidence that supports both sides but one of the titles seems to fit based on the amount of evidence.

Jackson, "The Man of the People," had all of America in the palm of his hand. Well, not all of America...More like all of the white men in america. He was a strong military leader, he started the Democratic party, he was a hero to many white men, and he added land to the US. He added land that is now known as Florida, Alabama, and Oklahoma. He was a owner of 100 African Americans. He isn't the biggest fan of Native Americans considering he kicked the majority of them off their land. Overall, the people of America felt that he was a good person to have running the country. He attracted more and more people to come to America.

In the early 19th century there was a big fuss about whether Andrew Jackson used patronage, or the spoils system. Patronage is when newly elected officials had given the government jobs to friends and supporters. The spoils system is the practice of giving appointed offices as rewards from the successful party in an election. He had been accused of both, but one document (Document I) had a crazy story that could possibly prove that he used both. During this time period Jackson appointed a former criminal named Samuel Swartwout to collect taxes around the city. Swartwout wasn't a professional in this part of business; he was a supporter of Andrew Jackson. Samuel Swartwout ended up stealing $1.2 million dollars, and fled with all of that money. The people trusted the government with their money, but someone from the government, who should not have even been apart of the government, had stolen all of their money.

Andrew "Man of the People" Jackson was not very fond of the natives that lived in New York. He forced the native Americans off of their land because people had found gold there. Having found gold on this land, the white people wanted to move there. Standing behind their leader they went on to say that native Americans shouldn't be treated as citizens, and can't claim their own land. Nothing was going to stop Jackson, and with that being said, he sent all of the Indians on a not-so-fun journey which is now called "The Trail of Tears." The Trail of Tears was an 800 plus mile journey that had started in Georgia, and ended in Oklahoma. The Trail of Tears was rightfully named considering that people from the government had gone into their home, after they had been kicked out, and took all of their stuff. These Indians traveled in the winter, they traveled with deadly diseases such as cholera and small pox. The natives tried to fight back but they were completely ignored by the others at home.

Again, I say that Andrew Jackson should not be on the 20 dollar bill. He wasn't for ALL of the people. He made wrong choices that led them to have a significantly less amount of money than they should've. Andrew Jackson should not be the face on the $20 bill.