Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil, and the PresidencyThe Jacksonian Era was defined by the issues that dominated the political arena. With the growing industrialization of the nation, the widening gap between the north and south, and the constant desire to expand westward, America was in a period of significant change. Andrew Jackson, as president, was an essential player in navigating these pivotal issues that characterized his America.
PBS. "Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil, and the Presidency " Red Hill Production Company. 2007. March 4, 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/> |
Should Andrew Jackson be on the Twenty-dollar Bill?
Historians continue to debate the merits of the decisions and actions taken by President Andrew Jackson during his two terms in office. Living between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Jackson played a central role in virtually all of the controversial issues of his time-Indian removal, economic reform, states' rights, and slavery.
Overshadowed in popular culture by the Founding Fathers and even wartime Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt, Jackson nonetheless played a pivotal role in America's development. In 1929, the Treasury Department replaced Grover Cleveland's portrait on the twenty-dollar bill with that of Jackson, a nice bit of irony considering Jackson's opposition to paper money. Today, some people advocate replacing Jackson's image with that of some other prominent American, such as Martin Luther King or even President Ronald Reagan.
For this project, you will imagine it is the 1920s and the Treasury Department is trying to determine whether Andrew Jackson's portrait should be placed on the twenty-dollar bill. You are either a critic or supporter of Jackson, and you will engage in a debate to help the Treasury Department make up its mind.
Prepare a 5 to 7 minute speech that should praise or condemn specific policies and actions of Jackson. You will decide what to praise or condemn by considering the perspective of the individual or group you have been assigned to represent.
The roles include:
Break into your assigned groups. Select a leader who will be in charge of group discussions and keeping track of the work you accomplish both individually and as a group. The group leader should keep a work log that includes assigned tasks and completion due dates.
Process:
Presentations: The teacher will decide the order of the presentations and coordinate the process.
Overshadowed in popular culture by the Founding Fathers and even wartime Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt, Jackson nonetheless played a pivotal role in America's development. In 1929, the Treasury Department replaced Grover Cleveland's portrait on the twenty-dollar bill with that of Jackson, a nice bit of irony considering Jackson's opposition to paper money. Today, some people advocate replacing Jackson's image with that of some other prominent American, such as Martin Luther King or even President Ronald Reagan.
For this project, you will imagine it is the 1920s and the Treasury Department is trying to determine whether Andrew Jackson's portrait should be placed on the twenty-dollar bill. You are either a critic or supporter of Jackson, and you will engage in a debate to help the Treasury Department make up its mind.
Prepare a 5 to 7 minute speech that should praise or condemn specific policies and actions of Jackson. You will decide what to praise or condemn by considering the perspective of the individual or group you have been assigned to represent.
The roles include:
- Chief John Ross & Native Americans
- Henry Clay & the National Republican/Whig Party
- John C. Calhoun & South Carolina
- Martin Van Buren and the Democratic Party
- Nicholas Biddle & the Bank of the United States
- The White Southern Farmer
- Frederick Douglass & African-American Slaves
Break into your assigned groups. Select a leader who will be in charge of group discussions and keeping track of the work you accomplish both individually and as a group. The group leader should keep a work log that includes assigned tasks and completion due dates.
- Review the biography of your assigned individual or group to determine your specific perspective. Within your group, discuss the types of information you will probably need in order to prepare your speech.
- The group leader should assign the resources to pairs of students. It is recommended that all students review all the provided resources, especially the video clips.
- Visit your individual/group's page and read/watch your assigned resources, taking detailed notes on your findings. Make sure to indicate on your notes where you found the information. In addition to the items your group decided were important, also consider the following:
- How did Jackson or his policies affect the life of your assigned individual or group?
- In what way did your assigned individual or group specifically interact with Jackson or his policies?
- At the end of his tenure in office, how did the life of your individual/group change? Was it for the better or for the worse?
- Once you have finished researching, have each group member share his/her findings. Discuss and agree upon your stance on the key question of this WebQuest: Should Jackson's portrait be on the $20 bill? Decide on the best 3-5 arguments that support your position. Additionally, discuss potential visuals that would strengthen your argument.
- Next, the group leader should assign development of those arguments to the rest of the group, including the acquisition and design of visuals for the presentation.
- Independently or collaboratively, outline and then write the argument. Remember to be clear and concise as you only have 5-7 minutes for the entire speech.
- Review the completed arguments as a group, making appropriate changes and ensuring there is no redundancy during the speech. Decide who is going to present each part or whether one person will present the entire speech.
- Prepare for the day of your presentation by practicing the speech and finishing visuals.
Process:
Presentations: The teacher will decide the order of the presentations and coordinate the process.
- During each presentation, all other groups are expected to listen for flaws in the arguments they hear. If time permits, a short question and answer period can follow the presentations. Questions must be relevant to the perspective of the presenting group.
- The teacher will then decide if your argument was convincing to determine your assessment grade.
- Group leaders should collect notes from the group members and submit them to the teacher along with a completed work log.
Research Paper
In 1832 Andrew Jackson stated, “It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.” Very few would suggest that Jackson himself did not himself "bend the acts of government"; however, did he bend these acts for his own selfish purposes or fir the good of the nation and its citizens?
In a properly formatted 5 paragraph essay (follow GENBIT & CEDA and the 6+1 Writing Rubric) respond to the question. You must cite your sources by MLA standards or the paper will not be accepted.
In a properly formatted 5 paragraph essay (follow GENBIT & CEDA and the 6+1 Writing Rubric) respond to the question. You must cite your sources by MLA standards or the paper will not be accepted.