VOA慢速英语--Andrew Jackson: Love Him or Hate Him?

 

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents.

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, was unlike the earlier U.S. presidents.

His family was poor, he had little education, and he lived on what was then the western part of the country.

Jackson became nationally known in the early 1800s – first as a fighter against Native American tribes, and then as a general in the War of 1812 against the British.

His image as a military hero and man of the people made him a popular choice for the presidency¹.

But critics said Jackson did not accept any limits on his power.

He is also remembered for supporting slavery, and for forcing Native Americans from their homes.

Wild child

Andrew Jackson’s parents were immigrants from Ireland. His father died in an accident before Andrew, the third and youngest son, was born.

When the American colonies entered a war of independence, Andrew and his two brothers fought against the British – although Andrew was too young to be a regular soldier.

Andrew’s oldest brother soon died.

Then Andrew and his other brother were both captured by British soldiers. One cut Andrew’s face, leaving a scar that remained his entire life.

But Andrew, unlike his brother, survived captivity².

A short time later, Andrew’s mother became sick and died.

By age 15, Andrew Jackson had no living immediate³ family.

He had already stopped attending school, but taught himself enough to become a lawyer. He moved to what became Nashville, Tennessee, where he developed a successful law career.

In time, he bought land and slaves.

Jackson was tall and thin, with red hair and bright blue eyes. Sometimes Jackson was playful. He loved to dance, hold parties, and play games where he could win money.

Sometimes he was violent. He was known for getting angry easily. Jackson fought duels⁴ with several men. In one, he killed a man who insulted his wife.

Yet many people liked Jackson’s passionate⁵, action-first personality. By the time the United States entered the War of 1812, Jackson had been a congressman⁶, senator, and judge.

Three nicknames

Jackson did not have any officially recognized military training. But during the War of 1812, he volunteered in the Tennessee militia⁷ and quickly took control of troops.

Many of his soldiers came to respect him. Jackson refused to give up, even when the government ordered the militia to disband. And, when some of the men wanted to leave, he threatened them with a gun.

Because he was uncompromising and strong as a tree, soldiers called Jackson “Old Hickory.”

A group of Creek⁸ Indians gave him another name. After he defeated them in battle, Jackson negotiated a treaty that punished both his Native American enemies and his Native American allies.

The treaty was more severe than the U.S. government had asked. In time, it forced the Creeks⁹ – as well as several other tribes – off their land.

The move was popular with many white settlers. It was less popular with the Creeks, who called Jackson “Sharp Knife.”

His best-known military operation was in New Orleans, Louisiana. A large, experienced army of British soldiers moved to attack. Jackson defended the city with a small group of untrained soldiers. His group included volunteers, free blacks, Creoles, Native Americans, and pirates.

Jackson’s ragtag troops not only defeated the British force, but suffered only a few losses.

Jackson didn't know that the battle came after the British and Americans had already agreed to end the war. But his victory there gave many Americans a feeling of pride.

It also made Jackson famous. He became known across the country as the “Hero of New Orleans.”

A man of the people

Voters across the country supported Jackson, too. He was especially well-liked in the South and West.

Many Americans saw him as a man of the people. They believed his success came from experience and hard work, not wealth and family connections.

In the presidential election of 1824, Jackson received more popular and electoral votes than any of the other candidates. But, because no candidate had a majority, lawmakers in the House of Representatives decided¹⁰ the election.

Those lawmakers chose John Quincy Adams, the son of former president John Adams. They were persuaded, in part, because a leader in Congress, named Henry Clay, said Jackson did not have the temperament¹¹ to be president.

Immediately after Quincy Adams won, he appointed Clay secretary of state.

The appointment angered Jackson. He believed Adams and Clay had entered into a “corrupt bargain.”

In the next presidential election four years later, Jackson defeated Quincy Adams in a landslide¹².

And in the presidential election after that, he crushed Henry Clay.

A powerful president

Jackson wanted to be a powerful leader who controlled a limited federal government. But he wanted that government to have power over state governments.

For example, Jackson refused to let the state of South Carolina nullify, or ignore, a federal law that state officials opposed. Jackson said if they failed to obey the law, he would consider them traitors¹³ and send in troops.

In time, South Carolina and Congress were able to reach a compromise on the law.

Jackson also refused to extend the charter of the National Bank. He believed the bank helped industrialists¹⁴ and businesses more than farmers and settlers. His move was popular with many voters – especially farmers and settlers.

But Jackson’s opponents warned against the bank veto. They disagreed with his economic plan, and they objected to how he had operated outside of Congress. Senators censured¹⁵ Jackson for acting¹⁶ as if he did not have to follow the law.

Jackson’s supporters fought back. They removed the official criticism from the Senate records.

Indian Removal Act of 1830

Jackson vetoed more bills than the first six presidents combined. He actively¹⁷ worked for only one major law: the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Jackson believed Native Americans occupied land that should belong to white settlers. He also thought Native Americans would be destroyed or lose their culture to white people anyway.

So he offered several tribes what appeared to be generous treaties to move onto land west of the Mississippi River.

But the treaties were often unfair or illegal. The tribes who accepted rarely received the benefits Jackson promised them. And some tribes, such as the Cherokees, simply refused to go.

Empowered by Jackson’s Indian Removal Act, U.S. government officials eventually forced 15,000 Cherokees off their land. They were made to march over 1,600 kilometers. About 4,000 died on the march. It is remembered as the “Trail of Tears.”

For white settlers, Jackson’s Indian removal policies resulted in over 100,000 square kilometers of new land to farm. Thousands of cotton planters moved west with their enslaved workers.

The Indian Removal Act served not only to aid an economic boom in cotton, but to spread slavery further in the United States. Jackson had no objections.

Final years

In 1837, Jackson officially moved out of the White House – but he did not really leave the presidency. He advised the presidents who followed him from his home in Tennessee.

Jackson had particular influence over two future leaders: Martin Van Buren, his former vice¹⁸ president; and James Polk, who shared Jackson’s beliefs so closely that he was called “Young Hickory.”

Jackson’s beloved wife, Rachel, had died before he took office. They did not have any children together, but they raised two boys: a Native American orphan¹⁹ who died as a teenager; and a nephew, whom they called Andrew Jackson, Jr.

The younger Andrew Jackson and his wife lived with the former president in his final years.

He died in his bed at 78 of old wounds and old age. But his legacy²⁰ remains²¹ very much alive.

Legacy

Jackson changed the U.S. presidency. After him, presidential candidates had to show they could connect with voters, not just lawmakers.

He also increased the power of the chief executive. Jackson often questioned – or dismissed – the power of Congress, the Constitution, and the Supreme²² Court.

And, he began the custom of replacing experienced government officials with people whose main qualification was their loyalty²³ to him.

Critics added to Jackson’s nicknames. They called him King Andrew, King Mob, or American Cesar. The opposition²⁴ to Jackson led to a new political party called the Whigs.

Part of Jackson's legacy is the two major party system that exists in the U.S. today.

But those who loved Jackson really loved him. His humble²⁵ beginnings, rise to power, and defense²⁶ of the common man inspired them.

In the U.S., the name of Andrew Jackson is still often used as a positive symbol of American democracy.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

man of the people - n. a politician who understands and is liked by ordinary people

pride - n. a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people

temperament - n. the usual attitude, mood, or behavior of a person

nullify - v. to make something legally null

charter - n. a document issued by a government that gives rights to a person or group

generous - adj. providing more than the amount that is needed or normal : abundant or ample

legacy - n. something that comes from someone in the past

chief executive - n. the president of a country

qualification - n. a special skill or type of experience or knowledge that makes someone suitable to do a particular job or activity

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 duels   

n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争

参考例句：

• That's where I usually fight my duels. 我经常在那儿进行决斗。” 来自英语晨读30分（初三）
• Hyde Park also became a favourite place for duels. 海德公园也成了决斗的好地方。 来自辞典例句

5 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

6 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

7 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

8 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

9 creeks   

n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪

参考例句：

• The prospect lies between two creeks. 矿区位于两条溪流之间。 来自辞典例句
• There was the excitement of fishing in country creeks with my grandpa on cloudy days. 有在阴雨天和姥爷一起到乡村河湾钓鱼的喜悦。 来自辞典例句

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

12 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

13 traitors   

卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人

参考例句：

• Traitors are held in infamy. 叛徒为人所不齿。
• Traitors have always been treated with contempt. 叛徒永被人们唾弃。

14 industrialists   

n.工业家，实业家( industrialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This deal will offer major benefits to industrialists and investors. 这笔交易将会让实业家和投资者受益匪浅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has set up a committee of industrialists and academics to advise it. 政府已成立了一个实业家和学者的委员会来为其提供建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 censured   

v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 )

参考例句：

• They were censured as traitors. 他们被指责为叛徒。 来自辞典例句
• The judge censured the driver but didn't fine him. 法官责备了司机但没罚他款。 来自辞典例句

16 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

17 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

18 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

19 orphan   

n.孤儿；adj.无父母的

参考例句：

• He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。
• The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。

20 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

21 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

22 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

23 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

24 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

25 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

26 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。