I've realised something interesting.
Andrew Jackson is possibly the single most controversial figure in American history, because he is STILL CONTROVERSIAL TO-DAY, over a hundred and fifty years after his death.
For those of you who may not know, Jackson was a military and political figure in early American history. He was a Senator from Tennessee and Military Governor of Florida, a young prisoner of war during the Revolution and a general in the War of 1812. He served as the seventh President from 1829 to 1837, being the first President elected by full adult male suffrage, and is now on our twenty-dollar bill. He was famous for his physical toughness and once beat up a would-be assassin.
He is also completely one-of-a-kind in controversy. Visionary leader? Genocidal mass-murderer? Saviour of democracy? Brutal dictator? All of the above at various points in his life? Everybody in America has an opinion. And since he died before anybody currently alive or their parents was born, that really is quite something.
For those of you who may not know, Jackson was a military and political figure in early American history. He was a Senator from Tennessee and Military Governor of Florida, a young prisoner of war during the Revolution and a general in the War of 1812. He served as the seventh President from 1829 to 1837, being the first President elected by full adult male suffrage, and is now on our twenty-dollar bill. He was famous for his physical toughness and once beat up a would-be assassin.
He is also completely one-of-a-kind in controversy. Visionary leader? Genocidal mass-murderer? Saviour of democracy? Brutal dictator? All of the above at various points in his life? Everybody in America has an opinion. And since he died before anybody currently alive or their parents was born, that really is quite something.