Essay On Andrew Jackson

Francescia Oliver

May 3, 2014

History 1301

Mr. Withers

Andrew Jackson, Hero or Villain?

Enemy of Foe? Brave or coward? Good or Evil? Hero or Villain? Which category does our beloved seventh president Andrew Jackson fall into? Did he do more good or bad for our country? Did he make efforts to advance America or to just push us backwards? Many will argue either side fully. However, with such major contributions such as, the victory of the Battle of New Orleans, the Indian Removal act, and bailing our country out of a national debt. These few things along with many other march (I feel) Andrew Jackson as a bracer, do-right HERO of his time.

Jackson came from nothing, he wasn’t born into fame or money, yet he paved a lifestyle for himself despite the fact of being born into poverty. At the age of only 13 he enlisted into the army. That itself is a sign of onset early bravery. By the time he was 14 he was left with no parents—orphaned and had to independently grown up, and grow up fast. With that being said and dealing with those few tribulations at such a young age instilled strong willed, unpredictable ways into him as a man. He had an overall “don’t mess with me” type persona.

With a negative outlook of the British already inside of him due to a moment in their younger days in refusal to clean a British officer’s boot, he became a prisoner of war (PBS. “A war hero”) along with the officer then physically harming and scarring Jackson for life. That moment in his life changed his attitude towards the British. Therefor any “revenge” that he was able to seek out, was justified. By 1814 when the British attacked and burned much of Washington City—so it was named at that time, motivated Jackson. His first plan of attack was to capture Flo...

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...on a hero.

In the end what American need to understand is that yes Andrew Jackson made multiple decisions that aided for the good towards America. Did he have a few unfavorable decisions? Yes the fact that one does more good to benefit us as a nation is what is important. Brinkley eve stated that Jackson was strongly committed to preservation of that union and that he did. If we step back a put ourselves in that time frame, it will be inevitable that Jackson was doing all that he could to make our country better, and to help the common man out. Even back in the 18th century. Of course those decision when looked at from today’s perspective would paint him as a villain, but overall for what he did for our country was what the people wanted and what he needed to do he did, compare that to some of our recent leaders today. Andrew Jackson Good, Brave, Hero afterall.