We are re-upping it in light of news that Harriet Tubman will now appear on the $20, replacing Jackson. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. And Harriet Tubmans image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that. Anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman is seen in a picture from the Library of Congress taken by photographer H.B. America certainly owes a debt to Black people, but this is not the way to repay it. No really, we checked. Privacy Statement All Rights Reserved. Other voices can now speak more loudly in the historical record, including advocates for the Native American tribes who were brutally displaced during Jackson's presidency and the slaves who worked at his Tennessee plantation. 6. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine For years, critics have called for Jackson to be removed from the $20 bill because of his legacy of supporting the institution of slavery and hisrole in the forced, violent transfer of tens of thousands of Native Americans from the Southon what became known as the Trail of Tears. 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. But American money, and our national romance with it, is the root of so many of our national evils. 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. 2. My schoolbooks in the 1950s and 1960s said nothing about it. Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the United States of America, has rested comfortably on the twenty dollar bill ever since his face was chosen to replace Grover Cleveland in 1928. Andrew Jackson's presence on the 20 dollar bill is outdated and insensitive to the harm he caused to not only his own nation financially, but also to the thousands of Native Americans who perished under his command. 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. Jackson was elevated to the $20 bill in 1928, replacing Grover Cleveland. 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. TubmanwasbornAraminta "Minty" Ross in the early 1820s in Dorchester County, Maryland. Putting Tubman on legal tender, when slaves in the U.S. were treated as fungible commodities is a supreme form of disrespect. 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. As president, Andrew Jackson refused to acknowledge paper money as a real form of currency, and instead favored gold and silver. Regulators seize ailing First Republic Bank, sell remains to JPMorgan. 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. Trump's critics saw Mnuchins move as part of what they said was Trumps affinity towardAndrew Jackson. Jackson's place of honorbecame a big topic once again this week aftera nonprofit groupcalled Women on 20's suggested that it was time to retire the Jackson $20 and replace it with a bill featuring one of several prominent women from American history. Perhaps we could learn from the British. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It's not the . Consequently, six years later, Spain agreed to sell Florida to the United States to end persistent conflicts with Gen. Jackson along the peninsulas northern border. Harriet Tubman debit card from OneUnited raises the question. Mr. Mnuchins decision to slow-walk the change drew backlash from some Democrats in Congress and triggered a probe from the Treasury inspector general about whether the process faced improper political interference. The decision to use Tubman's likeness was initially made by the Obama administration in 2016, but had been delayed by former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin under President Trump. Jackson explained: It is easy to conceive that great evils might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people. Does this language sound familiar? (Our Latina sisters often fare worse.). There are, he said, few men who can for any great length of time enjoy office and power without being under the influence of feelings unfavorable to the faithful discharge of their public duties. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a New Jersey Democrat who co-chaired the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, called it a basic pattern of bias and hate" of the Trump administration. But, he said: "I think the debate is healthy. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who like . The possibilities are endless. Hamilton, who started our nations economy, or Jackson, who almost destroyed it. During a visitto Tennessee in 2017, Trump toured the Hermitage, laid a wreath at Jackson's tomb and called him the "people's president.". Its important that our notes are money people dont know what a note is reflect the history and diversity of our country. During the Confederacy, as each secessionist state printed its own money, images of enslaved people picking cotton and doing other forms of menial labor appeared on the currency in several states. Jackson got an upgrade to the $20, and Cleveland, who. 1. Indian removal is now usually told as a simple morality tale with Jackson as the villain. 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 on the dollar bill which he strongly opposed. It's a Sign of Disrespect A congressional staffer departs holding a visual aid following a news conference regarding the. Consider that just weeks ago, an angry insurrectionist white mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, carrying, among other items, the Confederate flag. The controversial presidents face has only been on $20 bills since 1928. 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. Still, those other Jacksons may be worth recalling as well. 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. Magazines, Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower. When Jackson was placed on the $20, "it was unproblematic" to say that Jackson was a hero. This is the reason Jackson was depicted on our $20. The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new $20 notes, Ms. Psaki said. You have reached your limit of free articles. A Treasury spokeswoman said that she had no information to share on when a new design of the $20 bill might be released. By: History.com Editors HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and . That said, Jackson never had a perfect reputation. Thatsame year, bills were cut down in size to the size they are now:2.61 inches wide and 6.14 inches long. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. That was in 1914, and on those first Federal Reserve Notes, Jackson made his debut on the $10. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, like many of his time who championed populist and progressive ideals,was a fan of Jackson's. 1, Obama at 18; Kennedy judged most overrated]. Jackson's importance in American history is beyond question. Who would we rather keep on a bill? 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. What's interesting is that, no matter who has been proposed in his stead, Jackson not Washington, Jefferson or Lincoln has always been the prime target for removal. 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. , erwin , Leave a comment. It was set by an anti-counterfeiting committee in 2013, two years before Tubman won a campaign to replace President Andrew Jackson . They are apt to acquire a habit of looking with indifference upon the public interests.. 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. Feller,who knows many of Jackson's most famous speeches by heart,said he hears the president's rhetoric today in, for instance, some of what Elizabeth Warren says. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. For years, critics have called for Jackson to be removed from the $20 bill because of his legacy of supporting the institution of slavery and his role in the forced, violent transfer of tens. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. , No Comment, July 26, 2022 How this animal can survive is a mystery. 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. Still, no matter how we judge Jackson's role, we cannot say that the present fixation on Indian removal distorts history, because Jackson shared that fixation himself. 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. And the touchstone statement of his presidency, his 1832 veto of the Bank of the United States, may likewise still speak to us. The Worth of Andrew Jackson President Jackson left a complicated legacy worth remembering, even if he does get booted off the $20. How Is Sports Betting Legislation Increasing Female Bettors? Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. McCarthy to Russian reporter: I do not support what your country has done to Hunters collapsing world: Why a criminal plea could now be the best option Trump, Fox News have a new point of tension: Tucker Carlson. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, MichaelXXLF - own scan. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. In other words, Jackson himself would probably hate the fact that his face is on a paper bill, [New ranking of U.S. presidents puts Lincoln at No. n angry insurrectionist white mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, never previously entered the U.S. Capitol, Nearly a quarter of Black women live in poverty, Or create a free account to access more articles, Putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill Is Not a Sign of Progress. The answer may be lost to history. 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. In fact, Feller notes: "Abraham loved to quote [Jackson]" during the Civil War, because of "Jackson's striking proclamation against nullification" of the Union. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Philip Leigh has worked as a computer industry stock analyst. The U.S. Department of Treasury has not given a clear explanation about this particular speculation, but observers have pointed out that Jacksons strong resistance to the Central Bank may have actually played a big part in the decision of the Federal Reserve to put his face on the 20-dollar bill and proceed with circulating such paper-based money. CNNs Wallace spars with Sanders after slamming companies, Giant seaweed blooms beaching begins, expected to worsen, Lightfoot sends letter to Abbott urging him not to send any more migrants. Rats invaded paradise. By Daniel Feller Contributor April 22, 2016, at 12:15 p.m. Not long ago there was serious talk of replacing him with Ronald Reagan. Strange as it may seem, for many years Jackson's right to that honor went nearly unquestioned. Hamilton should stay because, back in the 1790s when he was treasury secretary, he was right about all the economic issues. 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. But hiselection in 1828 alsoushered in an era of popular democracy in the U.S., though it didn't include women or people of color. Why was Andrew Jackson put on the $20 bill? Advertising Notice Jackson was a "patriot and a traitor," James Parton, the biographer of record for his time,famously wrotein 1888. The choice of Jackson for that popular bill has long been a source of controversy particularly among the Native American tribes who were forced to relocate to Oklahoma and give their land to white Southerners under the Indian Removal Act. She would later become known as the "Moses of her people.". She gave instructions to 70 others who found their own way to freedom, wrote Kate Clifford Larson, author of"Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero,"in the Washington Post. Since this history has violently reinserted itself, demanding our attention, and if we are wise, our reckoning with a racist past that is never quite past, then we should note, that Black peoples faces have, in fact, been on our national currency before. In the case of Andrew Jackson, the current narrative leans towards the latter. It should. The problem, perhaps, is that the currency has remained unaltered for so long that any change in it begins to look revolutionary. Not even the treasury knows why he was chosen all those years ago to replace Cleveland. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Nearly 90 years have. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Consequently, the Confederacy might have survived, thereby splitting America into two countries. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. And we know that Black women are disproportionately represented as essential workers. The Biden Administration announced its plan to return to an Obama-era initiative to put Harriet Tubmans face on the U.S. $20 bill. Why is the Biden administration punishing financially responsible homeowners? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital She died there in 1913 and was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery. By replacing Andrew Jackson with a woman, it shows the progress the United States has made towards becoming a more civilized and equal nation. The Department of the Treasury finally came out and said they planned to put a woman onthe $20 dollar bill, this idea gained nation attention. She was enslaved ata young age and began working the field harvesting flaxat age 13. She escaped when she was around 27 years old, and shereturned to Maryland about 13 times to rescue as many as 70 enslaved people through the Underground Railroad, a network of escape routes and safe houses organized by Black and white abolitionists. It's a Sign of Disrespect. Only the $1 and the $100 exist in larger quantities. I do not. Manage Settings 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. On the reverse is an image of the White House. What we can learn from Chernobyl's strays. Should the Harriet Tubman $20 bill be delayed? This is, in truth, not the first push to get Jackson off the currency. Let the choosing begin! 2022 U.S. Midterms Dispatch 3: Have Recent Primaries Changed Predictions for Fall? Back then, Andrew Jackson wanted to continue using gold coins instead of paper-based money. And let's have fun doing it. If not for Jacksons precedent, the aristocratic William H. Seward may have become the Republican president in 1861, instead of Abraham Lincoln. It's hard not to take it personally, as either a triumph or a desecration, depending on your point of view. , Gene Balinggan, No Comment, April 10, 2023 So, does it really make sense to put his face all over our money today? Andrew Jackson, on the other hand, has a number of vocal detractors, led by the grassroots organization Women on 20s, which has ferociously lobbied for him to get the boot from the $20 bill. According to eyewitness Margaret Bayard Smith, the crowd that followed him from the Capitol to the White House was composed of countrymen, farmers, gentlemen women and children, black and white. The White House was opened to all, including black Americans. Removing just one of them after that long stretch looks like a deliberate dethronement, like pulling a statue down from the public square. , No Comment. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. They've all recently been on English banknotes. He shouldnt be on our currency., Those cries are increasing in number with the announcement that the next $10 bill will feature a woman. Would she consider it an honor to have her likeness plastered on American currency?