Why We Don’t Need Another Andrew Jackson in the White House

Andrew Jackson sporting popular Trump merchandise.

Mariel Barocas

Andrew Jackson sporting popular Trump merchandise.

Mariel Barocas, Opinion Editior
October 21, 2016

The entire world is currently standing as a silent witness to a cycle of history devastating our 2016 presidential election. Andrew Jackson’s controversial presidency was circulating in the news earlier this year due to the $20 bill debate. However, Jackson is not as popular nowadays as his contemporary counterpart, Mr. Donald J. Trump.

Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson share multiple similarities; the most striking being their rise to power. Andrew Jackson was well known as a hero of the War of 1812 prior to his multiple efforts to become president. Nowadays, due to shifting values of society, power is no longer measured in physical prowess but in fiscal strength. Trump’s notability stemming from his billions is equivalent to the fame Jackson received for leading troops into the bloody battle of New Orleans.

There are also parallels between Trump and Jackson’s populist personas. Jackson’s unprecedented use of language that appealed to the “common man,” the white uneducated farmer at the time, mirrors Trump’s use of provocative rhetoric to prod the emotions of the masses. However, in reality, both of these men were anything but the common man. Jackson was born into poverty, but quickly rose to power as a highly educated, elite lawyer in Tennessee. Trump also received an extensive education, attending Fordham University before transferring to one of Forbes Top Ten Business Schools, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His father’s success as a real estate developer provided for Trump’s privileged childhood. Therefore, it is clear neither man shares a common experience to “the common man” they so often target.

Americans in the 19th century were plagued with similar fears to those Trump exploits in our society today. In the 1830s, white American farmers wanted to expand their cotton plantations into the fertile lands of the South, but were stopped by the Native Americans that dominated the land in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. Andrew Jackson harnessed this budding distaste for Native Americans, just as Trump has harnessed current Americans’ fears of radical Muslims. Both men exploited Americans’ xenophobia in order to gain support.

History repeats itself. Take the Great War for example: everyone thought it was the war to “end all wars.” But, two decades later… surprise! Another war to end all war–then the Korean War happened, then The Vietnam War, The Cold War– sometimes we never learn. If “King” Jackson’s sub-standard reign is any indication of what is coming to us by way of a Trump presidency, we are in for a scary ride.  For once, maybe we should heed the advice of the Donald himself:

“History shows that when America is not prepared, is when is the danger is the greatest.”