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Should Andrew Jackson be on the $20 bill? Using your reading over the weekend, your homework, and the materials available at your desks, your task is to write two paragraphs responding to the above essential question. Each paragraph must have a topic sentence with a thesis. Each paragraph must support the thesis with factual details from Jackson’s presidency. Each paragraph must use ideas from the images and quotes available in class. Each paragraph must be written with attention to the 6 traits of writing.  Your process today … 1) Offer one word to describe the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. 2)  Read and analyze the statements handed to you concerning Andrew Jackson. 3) Examine the images on your des regarding the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. 4)  Work with your partners to create two paragraphs responding to the question above. 5) One person types both paragraphs, prints them for the group, and posts them online.

** YES! ** Andrew Jackson should be on the twenty dollar bill because he was the first westerner to reach the White House and was a symbol of the Democratic Party. He was also a war hero, fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. His most famous victory was The Battle of New Orleans which made him America’s greatest military hero since George Washington. Lastly, he thought of himself not as a ruler, but as “the common man.” Steven S. Austin R. Nish K. Andrew Jackson should be on the twenty dollar bill because he helped reshape and build the American democracy. He showed that the executive branch could strongly carry out the law and were more than just “mere executives.” He represented the common man which our nation was not used to. Throughout his presidency, he set precedents that showed that the president should be looked at as the only official who represents the people. He used his power to do what was necessary for our country’s expansion and success—he expelled the Native Americans out of our land to help expand the country. He stopped the national bank because it did not benefit the common man and only helped the wealthy. Overall, Andrew Jackson bettered the life of the common man. Emily C, Emily B, Catie Z, Michelle T

Andrew Jackson should be on the $20 bill because he led the nation further towards democracy. He represented the common people since he was of humble origins. He was the first president to say that the government should be led by the common people and not only the wealthy. He abolished the Second National Bank, which had given the national government too much power. Jackson helped the Indian Removal Act to take Indians out of the southeast. This opened up more land for plantations in the south, so business grew in the south. He also founded the Democratic Party, which is the party representing the common people. He defended the Union against nullification threatens and kept the Union together. Overall, Jackson was a democratic and heroic president. Connor and Lucy He should be on the twenty dollar bill because his presidency marked a turning point in US history. Lots of people liked him, because he was a man of the people and started the Democratic party. He strengthened power by being strict and doing what he thought was best for the people. Jackson squarely set the Executive Branch on an equal footing with Congress in terms of power and shaping law and government policies. He defended our Union against threats from nullifiers and secessionists. In these ways, Jackson has been known to be one of the most influential figures in American history. Tiwa, Eddie, Peter

Andrew Jackson should be on the twenty dollar bill because he is the hero of the common man. He had a humble background, and was a war hero. He was the first president that was not from an aristocratic background. The people considered his story of a self made man inspiring. He also stopped the Second National Bank from getting another charter, because he believed the bank’s lending policies favored the wealthy. He believed that the government should be run by the people. Jackson was truly the original maverick. Maddie, Bradley, Clement

** NO! ** I think Andrew Jackson should not be on the twenty dollar bill because he is a very controversial figure. He abused his power by vetoing laws, killing Native Americans and slayed those who opposed. He also removed 70,000 Indians from their homes and retreat west of the Mississippi; 4,000 Cherokee Indians died. This was later known as the Trail of Tears. His pro slavery and anit-indian policies made citizens believe that he was racially bias. He earned the nick name “Old Hickory” for stubbornness and stuck up attitude. Steven S. Austin R. Nish K. Andrew Jackson should not be on the twenty dollar bill because of his fierce prejudice. He forced the Indians to vacate their homes and homeland, to make room for plantations. Maddie, Clement, Bradley He should not be on the twenty dollar bill because he didn’t respect other ethnicities’ rights. For example, he owned a plantation with slaves and didn’t do anything to protect slaves’ rights. With his Indian Removal Bill, he forced 70,000 Indians west of the Mississippi and was responsible for the “Trail of Tears.” He ignored Supreme Court orders against the Indian Removal Act when the Supreme Court decision when they said it was illegal killing over 4,000 Indians. He even said, “John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.” During this, he took away half of the land of the Creek. Some historians say that he’s a tyrant, the closest thing we’ve had to American Caesar. For all these reasons, he should not be on the twenty dollar bill. Tiwa, Eddie, Peter Andrew Jackson should not be on the $20 bill because abused his executive power. When the Supreme Court attempted to protect Indian rights, Jackson ignored their decision and forced the Indians off their lands anyway. Jackson ignored treaties with the Indians and moved them under military force, west of the Mississippi. He put all government money into state banks, which led to the Panic of 1837, and a depression. People also considered him a tyrant, due to his abuse of power. He was quick to use military force to enforce the government’s decision. Overall, Jackson was quite abusive of his power.

Connor and Lucy

Andrew Jackson should not be on the twenty dollar bill because he was cruel to those who crossed him, specifically minorities. He approved the “Trail of Tears” in which 4,000 Cherokee men died and he kicked Native Americans out of their land to build plantations. He tried to pass harsh laws that attempted to remove Native Americans from their home land—the Supreme Court even declared those laws illegal because they were so harsh. He was a violent and irascible man, “he was subject to awesome rages that frequently exploded into physical violence.” When South Carolina threatened to defy federal tariff laws, Jackson said that he would, “hang the first man of them I can get my hands on.” Overall, Jackson’s cruelty scared his presidency. Emily C, Emily B, Catie Z, Michelle T