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HELP For all his popularity, Andrew Jackson was a controversial President. In the voice of Jackson himself, defend each of the attacks on his record.

1. Andrew Jackson dishonored the presidency by holding a raucous inaugural celebration inside the White House.


2. Jackson is awarding federal jobs to friends and political cronies. This "spoils system" will fill our government with unskilled people.


3. In threatening to send the Army to South Carolina to enforce a tariff, Jackson is behaving like a tyrant.


4. Jackson has signed the Indian Removal Act, paving the way for a brutal, forced removal of entire groups of people.

1 Answer

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Although this is a personal task that only you can complete, this is an example of how President Jackson would most likely respond to such accusations:

1. Andrew Jackson dishonored the presidency by holding a raucous inaugural celebration inside the White House.

People who call this celebration a "raucous" do not understand the real purpose of such celebration. I believe that becoming President of the United States is a great honour, and one that should be appreciated and celebrated. Moreover, I believe that people want to participate in such a celebration. This is the time to be loud and boisterous, and to be happy. There is no lack of honour in this action.

2. Jackson is awarding federal jobs to friends and political cronies. This "spoils system" will fill our government with unskilled people.

The people that I choose, while personally close to me, are also chosen for their skills and intelligence. Because I know them well, I can see the qualities and abilities that they display, and that might not be obvious to citizens. This means that I always know whether these people are qualified to perform the job I need them to do.

3. In threatening to send the Army to South Carolina to enforce a tariff, Jackson is behaving like a tyrant.

A tyrant is a person who does not care about citizens. This is the opposite of me. I care deeply about the people of the nation, which is why I have to take strict measures. Moreover, I send the army precisely because I care for the law, which is something a tyrant rarely believes in.

4. Jackson has signed the Indian Removal Act, paving the way for a brutal, forced removal of entire groups of people.

While some Native American people might be affected by this, the growth of civilization is worth the sacrifices. This will allow us to grow more food, have larger and more productive farms, or bring wealth and education to Native Americans.

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