On the money: It's a historic irony that Andrew Jackson is on $20 bill And then the country turned around and built a prison system based on exactly the same premise, hence calls to abolish prisons, which depend in most cases on a massive amount of free Black labor to turn a profit. Historical interest always reflects current concerns, and most Americans simply did not recognize Indian removal as a major issue. The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new $20 notes. The Indian Removal Act he passed resulted in the Trail of Tears; a forced evacuation of the Cherokee people that led to the death over 5,000 of the tribes citizens. The fact that Andrew Jackson was deemed worthy of a place on a bill when he was put there in 1928 doesn't give him a right to stay forever. We dont need America to put Black women on its money. Not long ago there was serious talk of replacing him with Ronald Reagan. Putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill Is Not a Sign of Progress. Harriet Tubmans life was about fighting against the system that treated Black lives and Black bodies as property, currency and capital. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital How do you market an icon? He is the only president, indeed the only person, to have a whole period of American history named for him. This is, in truth, not the first push to get Jackson off the currency. To stabilize the system, the government created the Federal Reserve System and redesigned national currency. But as it turns out, nobody seems to know for sure why a Treasury Department committee assigned Old Hickory's portrait to the bill. He brought democracy to the White House both in person and in policy. The head of the Cherokee Nation believes Andrew Jackson's portrait should be stripped from the $20 bill and replaced by the late tribal leader Wilma Mankiller justice, he says, for the former president's transgressions against Native Americans. Based on current designs, a statue of Jackson would remain on the back of the bill, while Harriet Tubman would grace the front. And the touchstone statement of his presidency, his 1832 veto of the Bank of the United States, may likewise still speak to us. Why Andrew Jackson Needs To Be Removed From The $20 Bill Heres how paradise fought back. Other than being President of the United States, there are speculations that Andrew Jackson was featured on the 20-dollar bill because of his stand against paper money during his time. He was our first American idol. Driving the news: "We have a history and there are dark chapters, and we shouldn't . This caused the Panic of 1837, a devastating depression in our nations history. On the heels of Kamala Harris historic ascension to the Vice-Presidency, questions about the politics of representation figure heavily in our political discussions and calculations. During a visitto Tennessee in 2017, Trump toured the Hermitage, laid a wreath at Jackson's tomb and called him the "people's president.". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, MichaelXXLF - own scan. The $20 note features subtle background colors of green and peach. That forced migration during Jackson's presidency is known as the Trail of Tears. Jackson was a "patriot and a traitor," James Parton, the biographer of record for his time,famously wrotein 1888. Perhaps we need the Harriet Tubman Reparations Act or the Harriet Tubman Abolition of Prisons Act. If she had been caught, she would've faced physical punishment and been sold back into slavery in the Deep South due to the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law. Brands, of the University of Texas at Austin, explainsin his book, Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times: The northern states had abandoned slavery peacefully when a majority of voters there decided slavery no longer served their interests. | We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. ", Here's the new plan for the $20, $10 and $5 bills (Video: Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post), Reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. Toward the end of the Obama administration, the Treasury Department recommended that President Andrew Jacksons portrait on the $20 bill be replaced with one of Harriet Tubman, a black leader in the Underground Railroad. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He was also seen as a populist hero and champion of the working class for more than a century after he left office. Before the Federal Reserve got authority to issue bills, bank notes were printed by the National Banking System, which was susceptible to bank runs and financial panics. Although Jackson was considered a popular figure during his time as President of the United States, he was also involved with many unpopular activities at the time. If not for Jacksons precedent, the aristocratic William H. Seward may have become the Republican president in 1861, instead of Abraham Lincoln. Why the U.S. government needs to remove Andrew Jackson from the $20 bill On the reverse is an image of the White House. Not even the treasury knows why he was chosen all those years ago to replace Cleveland. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. No previous president had talked like that. Facebook privacy settlement: Who is eligible for a payment? While some claim that Jacksons victory at New Orleans was unimportant because a preliminary treaty already had been signed in Europe, Jacksons infliction of more than 2,000 casualties at a cost of fewer than 100 convinced Europeans that future wars against the United States of America could be more dangerous than previously assumed. The Special Reason Harriet Tubman Is Perfect for the $20 Bill. Despite President Andrew Jackson's controversial legacy, he should remain on the face of the twenty dollar bill because of his viewpoints regarding voting, sound money principles, and National debt. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine But archaeology is confirming that Persia's engineering triumph was real. Cookie Settings, National Museum of American History - Image by Godot13. The last time the portraits on America's paper currency got a major renovation was in 1928, when Andrew Jackson replaced Grover Cleveland as the face of the $20 bill. Jackson was elevated to the $20 bill in 1928, replacing Grover Cleveland. When the Cherokee tribe was being threatened by the state of George to leave their land, they sued the state in the supreme court case of Worcester v Georgia. Anything else is downright disrespectful. "The TreasuryDepartment doesn't have clear documentation," Kittell said. A young New York senator, Martin. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. T he yearlong attempt by the U.S. Treasury Department to select a woman whose face will appear on future American banknotes came to a . The gory history of Europes mummy-eating fad, This ordinary woman hid Anne Frankand kept her story alive, This Persian marvel was lost for millennia. To the editor: President Trump made the absolute correct decision to keep Andrew Jackson on our $20 bill. In 1928, most Americans wouldn't think about the Trail of Tears when they thought about Jackson. When Jackson was placed on the $20, "it was unproblematic" to say that Jackson was a hero. We don't honor people on the currency just because they're important. I believe that representation matters, that it matters for a woman (with liberal values) to be president someday, that Black people and people of color should be in positions of leadership and decision-making in our government. It didn't, really, for much of American history. Over the years, the choice to feature Jackson on federal currency at all has become controversial, due to his policies while in office, which included the brutal removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands. The following are 7 reasons why Andrew Jackson should be removed from the 20 dollar bill, and replaced with a woman. Tags: Andrew Jackson, money, history, President, Editorial Cartoons on the 2016 Presidential Elections. Because, really, fellow citizens, we have better things to argue about than this. Every generation is entitled to decide its own priorities and honor its own heroes. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, government created the Federal Reserve System, Five Places Where You Can Still Find Gold in the United States, Scientists Taught Pet Parrots to Video Call Each Otherand the Birds Loved It, Balto's DNA Provides a New Look at the Intrepid Sled Dog, The Science of California's 'Super Bloom,' Visible From Space, What We're Still Learning About Rosalind Franklins Unheralded Brilliance. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/jackson-and-the-20-bill-video. Andrew Jackson didnt acknowledge the rights of Native Americans. And perhaps removing him from the billwould be the right way to honor Jackson after all. The following are 7 reasons why Andrew Jackson should be removed from the 20 dollar bill, and replaced with a woman. Its important that our money reflect the history and diversity of our country.. Hamilton, who started our nations economy, or Jackson, who almost destroyed it. Feller guesses the resonance isn't intentional. All rights reserved, no longer appear on the front of the $20 bill, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The answer may be lost to history. Many people have only speculations about why Andrew Jackson is featured on this particular bill. All rights reserved. TubmanwasbornAraminta "Minty" Ross in the early 1820s in Dorchester County, Maryland. We have been putting dead white statesmen on our coins for so long that its been unquestioned for some time now, says a Jackson scholar. Not only this, but Hamilton will not be gone completely. Jackson restored Americas confidence that our country was not merely a temporary experiment in democracy. Trump has long alluded toJackson asone of his favorite presidents and selected a painting of Jacksonto be displayed in theOval Office, which Biden recently removed. Continue with Recommended Cookies, July 21, 2012 Strange as it may seem, for many years Jackson's right to that honor went nearly unquestioned. Although Tubmans activities may merit recognition on another bill, she should not replace Jackson, whose contributions did far more to shape Americas destiny. Reporter: The Obama administration initially had wanted to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, and the Trump administration dragged their feet on that. In my belief Andrew Jackson does not belong on the 20-dollar bill, due to the simple fact of that in 1836 Andrew Jackson tried over throwing the U.S national bank because he believed that hard currency like gold and sliver should be used. A congressional staffer departs holding a visual aid following a news conference regarding the redesigned $20 bill meant to honor Harriet Tubman, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2019. On the back of the U.S. 20-dollar bill is a picture of the White House, which is the residence and main office of the U.S. President. The default position in America is that Black bodies are only useful insofar as they turn a profit. Since Jacksons face is on the 20-dollar bill, many people refer to this particular denomination as a Jackson. Some people also refer to it as a double sawbuck with reference to the 10-dollar bill that is called a sawbuck owing to the Roman numeral resembling the legs of a sawbuck. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. This is the reason Jackson was depicted on our $20. Still, those other Jacksons may be worth recalling as well. During the Civil War, Tubman also worked for the Union Army as "a scout, spy, guerrilla soldier, and nurse," according to the National Women's History Museum, making her one of the first Black women to serve in the military. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/us/politics/tubman-20-dollar-bill.html. Bidens Treasury will seek to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, an effort the Trump administration halted. Erin Blakemore Jackson 20 dollar bill controversy. The Standard 2022-11-23 Many have said that the people behind the Federal Reserve or Central bank have disliked Jackson so much that they wanted to sort of mock him by putting his face It is a continuing show of disrespect to keep Jackson on our currency when he so callously mistreated the Native population. She would later become known as the "Moses of her people.". , GEORGINA NDERITU Nearly a quarter of Black women live in poverty. So many of the freedoms we all enjoy today are a direct result of Tubmans heroic efforts. While Jackson always had detractors, public perception through most of the 20th century centered on these two positive images, the nationalist and the democrat. There's also Jackson's opposition to paper money in the first place (he preferred gold and silver), and his long, ultimately triumphant fight in the Bank Wars during his presidency. She also worked as, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Its true story is much more messy and complicated. We need America to put its money on Black women. To save chestnut trees, we may have to play God, Why you should add native plants to your garden, What you can do right now to advocate for the planet, Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner. $20 Bill Debate Brings Up Andrew Jackson's Complicated Legacy - US News Why Andrew Jackson Should Not Be On the 20 Dollar Bill Andrew Jackson does not deserve to be on the 20 dollar bill. Jackson isnow mostly remembered as an historical villaina slave owner whose major legislative accomplishment was the act that led to the Trail of Tears, in which thousands of Cherokee were forced from their land. The woman who owned her, Eliza Brodess, posted a $100bounty (a little over $3,300today) for her and her brothers "Ben" and "Harry" on Oct. 3, 1849. The only portrait the secretary islegally required to printon a bill is George Washington, on the $1 bill. Nearly 90 years have. 7 Reasons Why Andrew Jackson Needs To Be Removed From The 20 Dollar bill 2. Magazines, Digital His passionate support of the measure that led to the Trail of Tearsand anti-Native American policiesis first among them. It's a Sign of Disrespect. That said, Jackson never had a perfect reputation. With the introduction of the Indian Removal Act, Jackson completely ignored this ruling. A Treasury spokeswoman said that she had no information to share on when a new design of the $20 bill might be released. He told Congress thatchanges to the images on currency would not occur until 2026. Should the Harriet Tubman $20 bill be delayed? But he was put on the twenty-dollar bill for a reason, not just randomly. While Andrew Jackson represents our past, women like Susan B. Antony and Harriet Tubman pointed the way towards our future, one of growing equality and the civil rights every citizen of this nation deserves, The global sports betting industry is dynamic and always changing, and Ohios sports betting sector is no exception., The Midterms continued on May 25, with four more primaries and a handful of notable run-offs in different, On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, primary elections took place in a number of states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina,, The Midterms in the United States in 2022 have not been the primary focus of people as of, Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers, 7 Reasons Why Andrew Jackson Needs To Be Removed From The 20 Dollar bill. The President didnt even like paper money, notes Mufson. Andrew Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since the series of 1928. Privacy Statement The new design wasinitially scheduled for 2020, but stalledunder PresidentTrump, who called the move "pure political correctness," and saidat the timethat Jackson "had a great history. HesuggestedTubmancould be put on the $2 bill instead. With the momentum the campaign Womenon20s has gained, its important not to let the decision of the Treasury slow us down. Let 'em fight it out. Part boulder, part myth, part treasure, one of Europes most enigmatic artifacts will return to the global stage May 6. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! And yet, for nearly a century, aportrait of America's seventh president has graced the $20 bill something one new group wants to changeby replacing Jackson with a woman. Only one ancient account mentions the existence of Xerxes Canal, long thought to be a tall tale. In fact, Feller notes: "Abraham loved to quote [Jackson]" during the Civil War, because of "Jackson's striking proclamation against nullification" of the Union. To force the issue was to assert that the people couldnt be trusted with political powers. The Digital Canvas: How Online Art is Changing the Game, How To Use Your Creativity To Create A Space In Your Home You Love, The Most Popular Online Trends We Should Expect To See Continue, How to Come Up with a Research Paper Topic. Smith concluded: It was the peoples day, and the peoples president, and the people would rule.. May 28, 2019 3 AM PT. Why was Andrew Jackson put on the $20 bill? The answer may be lost to 5 Reasons We Should Kick Andrew Jackson Off the $20 Bill Impact By Julie Zeilinger 6.19.2015 In March, 62-year-old Barbara Ortiz Howard launched the nonprofit organization Women on 20s, which. If Tubman is going to be linked to conversations on capital, that conversation must be about a redistribution and funneling of resources and money into Black communities, to deal with wealth and wage disparities, access to education and safe housing, and a comprehensive plan of action to redress the social determinants of poor Black health. As President Andrew Jackson wrote in his . Mr. Trump professed to be a fan of Andrew Jackson, a fellow populist, and . The Washington Posts Steven Mufson calls the decision to push aside Hamilton in favor of a woman on the $10 bill instead of replacing Jackson on the $20 bill a grave historical injustice.. This article was published more than7 years ago. Please rate this article: Similarities between fascism and communism, Similarities Between X Chromosome and Y Chromosome, Similarities Between Natural and Social Sciences, Similarities Between Catholic and Christian. Commentators like Slates Jillian Keenan have called for his removal from the $20, arguing that Andrew Jackson engineered a genocide. Perhaps we could learn from the British. The Worth of Andrew Jackson President Jackson left a complicated legacy worth remembering, even if he does get booted off the $20. Biden Pushing Forward With Plan To Replace Andrew Jackson On The $20 , Gene Balinggan, No Comment. If that principle is worth upholding, Andrew Jackson is worth remembering. After all, its Andrew Jacksons best-known portrait in popular culture: an intense man with over-the-top collar, windswept hair and a look of fierce determination in his engraved eyes. (Our Latina sisters often fare worse.). , Gene Balinggan, No Comment, April 3, 2023 Under Mr. Lews plan, the new design was supposed to be unveiled in 2020 on the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Jay Inslee says he wont seek a fourth term, The Hills 12:30 Report Breaking down which Senate seats are most in flux, Montana legislator sues House speaker over censure, Mayor encouraging New Yorkers to put AirTags in carsto fight auto theft. As president, Andrew Jackson refused to acknowledge paper money as a real form of currency, and instead favored gold and silver. And they don't constrict their choices to statesmen, or even to politically symbolic figures like Harriet Tubman. Abolitionists were those who sought to abolish the institution of slavery, Harriet Tubman helped free slaves for the underground railroad, but not 300, to Philadelphia, where she took jobs as a domestic and cook, Sign up for USA TODAYs This Is America newsletter, critics have called for Jackson to be removed from the $20 bill, role in the forced, violent transfer of tens of thousands of Native Americans from the South, Harriet Tubman debit card from OneUnited raises the question. In fact, Jackson didnt really like banks, either: he famously called the delegation of bankers discussing the charter of the Second Bank of the United States a den of vipers and thieves and was suspicious of the soundness of paper money as opposed to gold and silver. As Andrew Jackson Fades, a Look at How He Ended Up on Money All Rights Reserved. Andrew Jackson was responsible for the Indian Removal Act. Andrew Jackson was not only a slave owner but an advocate for the expansion of slavery to the western United States. My schoolbooks in the 1950s and 1960s said nothing about it. Tubman claimed she never lost a passenger. Other than being President of the United States, there are speculations that Andrew Jackson was featured on the 20-dollar bill because of his stand against paper money during his time. She was a great emancipator, freeing herself and hundreds of others and helping to bring the Union forces to victory working as spy in South Carolina during the Civil War. Sometimes, popular history has a way of turning the dead into heroes or villains. President Bidens Treasury Department is studying ways to speed up the process of adding Harriet Tubmans portrait to the front of the $20 bill after the Trump administration allowed the Obama-era initiative to lapse, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said on Monday. He should not be on the 20 dollar bill because of the horrible Acts that he has done, like the Indian Removal Act and the Implemented Spoils System. Yet his presidential decisions destroyed or - in some cases - ended thousands of innocent. On one hand, he is remembered for his role in the expansion and modernization of the United States . 1. Harriet Tubman on $20 Bill: Why She's a Perfect Fit | Time "It's actually astonishing how completely the generalized public image has changed and how rapidly it changed," the historian said of Jackson's legacy. Who will protect women from the courts and legislatures? Jackson will soon no longer appear on. Although some modern critics complain that Jackson should be dishonored because he was a slaveholder, historian H.W. Tubman escaped slavery using the Underground Railroad in 1849 and later became a"conductor" who helped free dozens ofother enslaved people. 2 hours of sleep? The last time a portrait on a bill was changed was in 1929,when Alexander Hamilton was placed on the front of the $10 bill, replacing Jackson. To approach a question 400 million years in the making, researchers turned to mudskippers, blinking fish that live partially out of water.