Introduction

Andrew Jackson is a controversial figure today most often because of his ownership of enslaved persons and his treatment of Native Americans. He was also polarizing figure in his own time, sometimes for the same reasons (namely, his Indian policies and his reluctance to address slavery). In addition, he was also controversial for reasons that don't quite animate people today in the same way, including his economic policies and position on the Second Bank of the United States, his insistence on the primacy of the union over the individual states, and his embrace of populist politics.

This unit, we have two perspectives on Jackson, his legacy, and how we should understand his presidency today.

One perspective is the documentary "Legacy of an Autocratic Ruler." The word "autocrat" comes from the Greek for "self power"; that is, rule by one person, like a dictator. The documentary looks at Jackson on Indian Removal, the Bank War, and how politics changed in response to Jackson's presidency.

The other perspective comes via a chapter Download chapter

from Jackon's leading biographer, Robert Remini. During his life, Remini wrote voluminously on Jackson, and although he was no hero worshiper, he tended to be more sympathetic toward Jackson than is common today. The chapter focuses on Jackson's impact on democracy in the antebellum period.

Question

How should Andrew Jackson be remembered? As an autocrat? A champion of democracy? A slave master and advocate of Indian Removal? A defender of the union? All of these? Something else?

Advice

• The best responses will draw on material from both the documentary and the Remini chapter reading. I know it may be tempting to view only the documentary, but look to the reading as well.
• In this light, I call your attention to the second criteria of the rubric. This is a discussion that involves multiple sources, and so posts that address only one will end up in the "needs improvement" category for that portion of the assignment.
• Feel free to agree or disagree with any argument or interpretation offered. Keep in mind that neither the documentary nor the interview wholly oppose or wholly support Jackson. A divided opinion is fine for your answer as well.

Reminders

• You have a choice of 2 discussion questions. You participate in only 1 discussion, however, not both.
• The early posting bonus date is 11:59 PM on Sunday, 10/10. You receive a half-point (0.5) bonus if you post before that date.
• Replies are optional, but you will receive a half-point (0.5) bonus for making a quality reply to another student. Your reply must be in the same discussion topic as your post.

• Please, please, please: Break up your text with frequent line breaks. It's so hard to read a big block of text!