In recent years, the $20 bill, along with the $5, $10, and $100, have gone through more facelifts than Joan Rivers. However, the face on the twenty dollar bill remains the same. Andrew Jackson. My mother said that when she was in school (in the 60s and 70s) she never learned about American atrocities. But now our nation has become more progressive (uh...) in education.
Andrew Jackson was responsible for beginning what would become the Trail of Tears in which several thousand Cherokee Indians were relocated to various places as the United States encroached further west. During the Trail of Tears, thousands died and the rest had to start their lives over completely, some never recovering from the relocation.
Andrew Jackson, ironically enough, was also very suspicious of the banking system. He didn't like the idea of greenback money either. So why does he get a place on our dollar bill?
So who do we replace him with? Well, last night, I came up with a few ideas.
Patrick Henry - Patrick Henry was a devoted American Revolutionary. Before the war, he was an outspoken member of the House of Burgesses. He fought the British during the war, and when we declared our independence, he was an active member in the Continental Congress. When the Articles of Confederation were scrapped (illegally, by all technicality) he declined a position in the Congress, citing that he "smelt a rat." I'm not exaclty sure what metallurgy has to do with vermin and then what that has to do with the US legislature, but it seems noble enough.
Dred Scott - Dred Scott was a slave who had lived in Illinois. His master then moved (with him) down to Missouri and then to Louisiana where slavery was still legal. However, slavery was illegal in Illinois, so Scott decided to sue for his freedom. He won the case initially; however, it was overturned in the higher courts, on the claim that the government could not deprive a person of his property.
Woodrow Wilson - Woodrow Wilson was famous for leading the US through the first World War. However, more important than that was what he did afterward. He attempted to institute a League of Nations. While the League of Nations was founded, it was not founded on his ideas. Had it been founded on his ideas, we very well might have never had a second World War. It sucks that Congress never does good things when a political genius is president.
Theodore Roosevelt - Teddy Roosevelt was famous for his active trust busting. He was the first president to actively break down oppressive monopolies. He also survived an assassination attempt. While giving a speech, a man from the audience fired a bullet which hit a bunch of papers in Teddy's shirt pocket. Roosevelt, uninjured, continued giving his speech, unfettered. Teddy is also the inspiration for the Teddy Bear, and is responsible for the preservation of our national parks and the creation of the system thereof. Plus, wouldn't it be awesome to pull out a $20 and see his silly beaver-looking face smiling at you?
Those are my ideas. Anyone with any arguments or additions, feel free to comment (oh, I'm such a whore).
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