Rough Riders

Brilliant article. I am grateful to Mr. Hanson for his historical -- and psychological -- perspective here. I have read a few of Mr. Hanson's books, am just now finishing "Carnage and Culture ". Mr. Hanson's books and articles should be required reading for all journalists. Perhaps then they wouldn't write such silly, shallow nonsense .

A study of Andrew Jackson, arguably the first Ordinary American Sovereign Citizen "pulling Himself Up by the bootstraps" from an Orphan and His diligence in self-education and hard work, moves the understanding past the self-importance commenting in Washington D.C. Presumably not very different than is apparent in Washington D. C. current to the aware and astute. The first half of America's existance as a raw, rough, bawdy new comer should not focus on POTUS # 7 and Mrs. Jackson dancing in a "hopping up and down fashion"; and/or being defined as most nasty person who must deal with increasing and constant clash of culture. He was not the Only person who created the "The Trail of Tears". But such is the asinity of today making the focal description an easy article to research and write. Any Sophmore trying to pick an equally easy credit, from today's easy to please progressive & lazy baby boomer professor, will get the "B". However; if proper understanding in the character of POTUS #7 is provided it will surely provide a greater effort to remove His presence on the Twenty Dollar folding currency than is now being forced on the nervous and facetious bureaucracy and their usual compliant pet politician(s). If we ignore Jackson's continuous political and judicial rise in position and trust during the fragile and tumultuous period of the United States of America second Fifty years of existence; His accomplishments still shine through. The life of Andrew Jackson is truly a greater success than the Battle of New Orleans and the combination requirement of Domestic and International politics of securing-wresting control for the Spanish neglected Florida territory. He accomplished this and so much more. Containment of the frequent murderous raids by the indigenous and interlopers, along the Gulf of Mexico northen shore established the beginnings of Civilization. This "stepping up" to the many problems for both the indigenous and interlopers is comparable and similar to the U.S. Army and the British Mounted Police accomplishment along the northwest U.S.A. and what was yet to become Canada's southwest border. We could learn; or possibly remember the Time Honoured words used when leaving the Company of others living in Civilization. Words said as a comment of hope and cheer. Words said when it became unnecessary because leaving and returning in safety was a now the common expectation. But in the beginning of this huge wild Continent in change safety was not common and often not expected when moving between relatively safe locations; "I will see you again if the good Lord allows and the creeks don't rise"__ just one of the small reassurances of the time. The "Creeks don't rise"-- was not a concern about the amount of rainfall causing a flood. It was recognition the Creek Indians could be on another Massacre Raid. Such fear endemic during the growth and stretching of the American expansion on the unexplored and undeveloped Continent, much as the thinking of the day demanded. Andrew Jackson is the epitomist of this time. We can ignore all of the many accomplishments of Andrew Jackson, which I believe provides the personage of the U.S.A.'s First popular elected President. This within itself a significant seat in the history and formation of America as the "Great Experiment". Yet there are even more of President Andrew Jackson. He cannily slapped aside the attempt by the European Capitalization Crowd to establish the Second Bank of America. Putting the Monarchial and their Courtier Class on notice; the future of North America was going to grow on entreprenur base of Americans. Failure of POTUS #7 to do this, may have had North America evolve into a interminable bureaucratic morass of the South America and Central America. The never able to sort out which corrupt group was/is absconding the large sums of flow through Tax Funds. Is the culprit(s) an entity having access as a result of mercantilism heritage or is/was the result of domestic and absentee rentier society? The poverty of the People continuing as the fight for access to Tax Funds always the goal; always the competition; always the hidden governing factor. Andrew Jackson deserves recognition of tenacity and wisdom as a successful Military Leader; Astute Political Player; a Doer not a Talker and Aware Futurist. His role as Plantation Owner with slaves has not been shown to be an indicator of cruelty beyond the unfortunate situation and reality of the day to day. Not yet the matter to be dealt with. His direction to commence the determined solution and now described as the Trail of Tears is not to be diminished. But should be recognized as one solution for one of the ongoing changes in the North American Continent during the Second Fifty years.