Trail of Tears plaque
{photo by Wesley Fryer (Cherokee Heritage Museum) / CC BY 2.0}
He was both beloved and hated during his presidency…. Let’s take a look at the controversial Andrew Jackson (“Old Hickory”) and the sobering Trail of Tears this week. Below are optional videos and websites to explore more about this topic if you have the time and inclination. As always, please preview and/or watch with your kids:
VIDEOS:
Andrew Jackson | 60-Second Presidents – Here’s the PBS fast-paced summary of the 7th President of the US:
Andrew Jackson-Disney Education – Here’s another quick look at this president:
Mini BIO – Andrew Jackson – From Biography:
History vs. Andrew Jackson – Here’s a TED Ed video presenting an imaginary courtroom that puts Andrew Jackson “on trial,” demonstrating how time changes how we think about controversial historical figures:
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail – From the National Park Service, this moving video tells stories of hardship, endurance, love and loss among the Cherokee nation during this dark time in American history, as it follows a grandfather and granddaughter who are forced to leave their land:
Story of US: Trail of Tears – Here’s a clip from this series:
The Cherokee Trail of Tears – One more short video for kids, from Discovery Education:
Trail of Tears – This is an interesting video animation illustrating the Trail of Tears:
How the Brutal Trail of Tears Got Its Name – From The Smithsonian Channel.
If you have time and want to know more about President Jackson or the Trail of Tears, here are three full-length documentaries:
We Shall Remain – Trail of Tears: From American Experience:
Or watch a few clips from the above series here.
Andrew Jackson – Good, Evil, & The Presidency – From PBS:
Andrew Jackson – From the History Channel:
Or here’s a 14-minute clip from the History Channel documentary above:
WEBSITES:
Native American games – Here’s a list from Mr. Donn.
Stories From the Past – An interactive Native American activity from the National Park Service.
Native American crafts for kids – From Enchanted Learning.
Cherokee Garden Pan Bread – From Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.
Andrew Jackson Photo Gallery – From the History Channel website.
Andrew Jackson Papers – From the Library of Congress.
Andrew Jackson Political Cartoons
And if you hadn’t heard yet, it looks like Andrew Jackson may eventually be replaced on the $20 bill… here’s a 2016 article about it.
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