Andrew Jackson on Trial
Watch the video at the following link: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/history-vs-andrew-jackson-james-fester#watch
Today Andrew Jackson is on trial and you are the jury. You will analyze one of the crimes that is listed below. You must decide using the sources below whether he should be removed from office, put in jail, or if he is innocent of the proposed crimes. The proposed crimes are as follows:
Mass usage of the Spoils System
Causing a depression by destroying the Bank of the United States
His role in the Indian Removal Act (Make sure you understand Worcester v. Georgia).
Each group will be assigned one topic. In partners, you will use the links below to conduct research. You will take notes for a class discussion. Consider the circumstances of the presidency and the norms during Jackson's tenure in office. Also, consider would if your opinion would differ in today's world.
Links for research
National Bank
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/andrew-jackson-shuts-down-second-bank-of-the-us
http://www.landandfreedom.org/ushistory/us8.htm
Questions to think about:
1) Why did Jackson want to eliminate the Bank of the U.S.?
2) What led to the economic depression?
3) Is Jackson responsible, should he be penalized?
Spoils System
http://millercenter.org/president/jackson/essays/biography/4 (Read only the first paragraph on the spoils system)
http://www.mrvanduyne.com/jackson/html/spoils2.htm
1) What is the spoils system?
2) Was Jackson justified in using it?
3) What were some of the issues with the spoils system?
4) What did Jackson say were the benefits?
Indian Removal Act
http://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/History/TrailofTears/ABriefHistoryoftheTrailofTears.aspx
http://www.teachushistory.org/indian-removal
1) What state wanted to remove the Indians?
2) What was Worcester v. Georgia decision?
3) What did president Jackson authorize?
4) What was the Trail of Tears?
5) Was what Jackson did reasonable?