President Jackson’s crusade to extend the blessings of democracy to the “common man” helped articulate a burgeoning notion of what today we refer to as “The American Dream.” However, Jackson’s vision was certainly limited in its application as the expansion of “Jacksonian Democracy” for some citizens often came at the expense of others.
Highly controversial in his time, Jackson’s legacy is still very complicated and continues to be the source of much debate amongst historians.
President Trump’s decision to hang Jackson’s presidential portrait in the oval office at the start of his first term certainly elevated President Jackson’s legacy into the public consciousness.
In your analysis of these documents, address the following three (3) questions in an essay with a MINIMUM length of Two (2) FULL Pages:
1. Do you agree with President Jackson’s conclusions of the necessity for an Indian Removal Policy? Why or why not?
2. Do you agree with President Jackson’s assessment of the faults of the Bank of the United States and its supporters? Why or why not?
3. Based upon your reading of these documents, can you better understand why President Trump might try to model himself after President Jackson? What positive trait(s) of Jackson can you envision Trump attempting to emulate? What are the potential dangers of President Trump linking his administration to that of President Jackson?