Andrew Jackson: Should Old Hickory Stand?

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Should Old Hickory Stand? The United States’ seventh president, Andrew Jackson, died over one hundred and seventy years ago, but he is now the center of a huge debate over his presence on the twenty-dollar bill. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced in April that Harriet Tubman would replace Jackson on the front of the bill and Jackson would be demoted to a lesser role on the back of the bill. Although Harriet Tubman was the most famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, Andrew Jackson played a greater role in the history of our country. Andrew Jackson should remain on the front of the twenty-dollar bill, even with his flaws, because of his humble beginning, his military leadership, and his service as president. The opposition to the view that Jackson should remain on the twenty-dollar bill points to Jackson’s flaws to why he should be removed. Jackson was a stubborn, heavy tempered man. He also treated Native Americans extremely poorly, which was common in this time; some people even believe he abused his power as president of the United States and gave him the nickname King Andrew I. Even though these have been made, the …show more content…
Andrew Jackson’s parents emigrated from Ireland to the southern United States in 1765. Three weeks prior to Jackson’s birth, his father passed away, leaving Jackson with a single mom. Jackson grew up in poverty and with little education. He would join a local militia at the age of thirteen with his brother Robert. The British would capture them both. Robert would get smallpox and die right after being released by the British. Jackson’s mother would then die after she nursed sick and injured soldiers. Jackson was orphaned. He was only fourteen years old. Jackson would work hard for the next years getting an education and eventually making it in politics against all odds, creating the perfect example of a government for the common