When I published Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson's Life, I had no idea that it would be timely. The real Andrew Jackson, for all his human faults, was not the man described in news stories today.
The Jackson portrayed on the iconic statue is the man who defended New Orleans and the southwestern U.S. from invasion by the army that had just defeated Napoleon. And he did it by creating an American army from regular U.S. soldiers, free men of color, Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians, and the first Asian-American soldiers. Jackson argued that all his soldiers should receive the same pay regardless of race. All came together to defend their common homeland regardless of status.
The war in Jackson's day was known as the "Second War of American Independence." Jackson was compared to George Washington. Even Southeastern American Indian leaders named sons "Andrew Jackson" in his honor.
The statute represents a unique moment of national unity that helped create a national identity and transition "These United States" into "The United States."
We should remember Andrew Jackson's heroic deeds as well as learn from his errors.
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