Andrew Jackson, continuedOpposition arose, especially among free African Americans. In Philadelphia, Jeremiah Gloucester, born a slave in Tennessee, joined Methodists, Presbyterians and other activists in denouncing the idea, believing that they should share in the rights of American citizens. There was also strong opposition in Congress, but after much debate and persuasion from the Society secured land on the west coast of Africa and Liberia was founded; its capital, Monrovia, was named in honor of President James Monroe who had given his strong support. In Liberia, enthusiasm was expressed for creating a great nation of American emigrants returning to their native continent, believing that “colonizing Africa will fail, where Heaven has appointed it to fall, on the free colored people of America.” Native tribes were joining the colonists, it was reported, because, “They want to be made Americans.” Statesmen like Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams were active in their support of the African experiment, and Jackson maintained naval protection for Liberia after his election as President in 1828. On his reelection, however, he opposed Federal support for colonization. While European powers scrambled for African territory, Jackson knew that America’s destiny lay on the American continent. Such was always his vision. When Jackson learned of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he wrote to Thomas Jefferson, expressing the unanimous congratulations of his Tennessee district “on the Joyful event of the cession of Louisiana and New Orleans, every face wears a smile, and every heart leaps with joy.” His military success in the Creek War and the War of 1812 opened the way to immense new borders for the nation. On January 8, 1815, Jackson’s victory at New Orleans made sure that no foreign enemy would ever again trample American soil. The Gulf coast was secured and Spain yielded all of Florida to the young nation, for which a bargain of five million dollars was struck. The Transcontinental Treaty of 1819 removed Spanish control of eastern North America and opened the way to the Pacific Ocean. Texas then became the goal of American expansion and Jackson set his heart on that prize. On March 3, 1837, he recognized the independence of the Lone Star State. Native Americans, unable to unite in a common front against the aggressive Americans, were successively stripped of their lands and removed to the West. Jackson thought it was for their protection against extinction while modern historians tend to describe it as a bleeding example of man’s inhumanity to man. (If only we could re-write history!) Four days after his recognition of Texan independence, Jackson’s presidency ended. He returned to Tennessee and the next year joined the Presbyterian Church. His faith had become, like that of his beloved Rachel, simple and sincere. When he was buried beside her in the Hermitage garden, the Reverend John Todd Edgar of Nashville recited Psalm 90: Make us glad according to the days A recent study of Jackson’s early life offers a clue to the intellect of the boy from the Waxhaws who gave his name to an age: “He had strong principles — the Westminster Catechism was burned into his mind. . . " The stamp of Jackson’s personality shares characteristics with some of the powerful men of modern history — often more feared than loved — John Calvin of Geneva, John Knox of Scotland, Oliver Cromwell of England. They believed in God and in themselves and their works still follow them. Jackson’s heritage, derived from the Reformation in Scotland, was kept alive in a new land in the hearts and minds of the refugees from poverty and oppression whom we call the Scotch-Irish. © 2002 George Apperson + + + A Brief List of Sources: The Papers of Andrew Jackson, The University of Tennessee Press, (Knoxville, 1980 - in progress). Robert V. Remini, The Life of Andrew Jackson, 3 vols. (New York, 1977, 1981, 1984); and in a single volume (New York, 1988); also by Remini, The Legacy of Andrew Jackson (Baton Rouge, 1988). John Buchanan, Jackson’s Way, Andrew Jackson and the People of the Western Waters (New York, etc., 2001). Hendrik Booraem, Young Hickory, The Making of Andrew Jackson (Dallas, Texas, 2001).
THE HERMITAGE, HOME OF PRESIDENT ANDREW
JACKSON — Tennessee State Library and Archives Photos by Jane Hines continued on next page
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