Andrew Jackson, the “sharp Knife”

Andrew Jackson, The “Sharp Knife”

When we look back into history, we are now able to fully comprehend the atrocities the Indians faced at the hands of the historic general and President, Andrew Jackson. It can be seen as one of the most shameful and unjust series of political actions taken by an American government. However, as an American living almost 200 years later, it is crucial to look at the motives possessed by Andrew Jackson, and ask whether he fully comprehended the repercussions of his actions or if is was simply ignorant to what he was subjection the natives to. We must also consider weather he truly had the countries best interest in mind, or his own.

We can begin to see Jackson’s vigilante style leadership following the War of 1812. During this conflict, General Jackson became a national icon through several decisive victories over the British. Most notably the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. During this battle the British suffered more than 2,000 casualties while the American sustained six killed and 10 wounded. This victory helped to restore the nation’s pride which had been floundering, since the torching of the White House by the British. This event in particular assured that Jackson’s name was on the tip of every American tongue during a revolutionary time. As a newly

affirmed war hero, Jackson enjoyed the privileges that accompanied such a stigma, such as being able to act independently without the fear of political repercussion. “Old Hickory” as he was dubbed due to his toughness and strict sense of discipline, had a vision of America, and the Indians did not necessarily have a role in that vision. In 1814, Jackson waged war against the Creek Indians, who were not only a “threat to the Frontier” but were also allied to the British. During these early years, Jackson had more legitimate grounds for the combating of natives, who sacked settlement towns and massacred whites. However, despite the knowledge that the Natives were in alliance with our countries enemies, there were still those who saw Jackson as a vicious killer and brutal vigilante. Even though these historical events took place nearly 200 years ago, several of the same problems faced with modern America also plagued the country during the 1800’s. One major dilemma faced during Jackson’s time was the divided country.

Once Jackson takes office in 1829, almost immediately he begins a crusade to expel the Indians out of white inhabited eastern lands. Despite his belief that there is no conceivable way for the Natives and settlers to ever live together and coexist in the same community, he does seem to show awareness and what appears to be remorse towards the Indians and what they have been subjected to. In his First Annual Message on December 8, 1829 Jackson states to the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

“Their (Natives) present condition, contrasted with what they once were, makes a most powerful appeal to our sympathies…By persuasion and force they have been made to retire from river to river and from mountain to mountain, until some of the tribes have become extinct and others have left but remnants to preserve for a while their once terrible names. Surrounded by the whites with their arts of civilization, which by destroying the resources of the savage doom him to weakness and decay… That this fate surely awaits them if they remain within the

limits of the States does not admit of a doubt. Humanity and national honor demand that every effort should be made to avert so great a calamity. It is too late to inquire whether it was just in the United States to include them and their territory within the bounds of new States, whose limits they could control… But the people of those States and of every State, actuated by feelings of justice and a regard for our national honor, submit to you the interesting question whether something can not be done, consistently with the rights of the States, to preserve this much- injured race.”

- President Andrew Jackson

This speech paints a very clear picture, illustrating President Jackson’s sense of sorrow felt towards the Native Americans. These few lines begs to ask the question of what Jackson was feeling, and what were his motives for coming to the defense of the Natives. However, despite his seemingly compassionate nature towards the Indians in his message, Jackson had made a name for himself as an Indian fighter, and will continue to exploit them in order to expand white dominance throughout the young country.

Perhaps much of his actions of removing the Indians can be classified under “Imminent Domain”. Since President Jackson saw the Indians, primarily the Cherokee as in the way, and saw the natives as interfering