The Untimely Death of Andrew Jackson
On a brilliantly clear, starry evening in late February 1837, President Andrew Jackson
strolled through the White House garden, musing on his varied past. Thoughts of his recent
illness, attacks on his character from congressional enemies, and the problem of Mexico
weighed heavily, but when the crisp air filled his lungs, he felt all was well. He was looking
forward to his retirement. His Farewell Address, warning of “the enemies who often assume
the guise of friends” had been well-received, and in a few weeks, the cares of the presidency
would pass into Van’s capable hands. Jackson’s thoughts had turned to spring planting at the
Hermitage when five shots shattered the night. The bullets tore into Jackson’s body. The first
four bounced harmlessly off of previously lodged bullets (momentos from his dueling, military
life), but the fifth found his heart. Jackson crumpled to the ground, dead.
Since the murder of a president was not a federal crime in 1837, the Washington, DC
Police Chief (your beloved instructor) is in charge of the investigation. My initial search of the
crime scene unearthed, under a rose bush, a hastily buried satchel. Inside was a note which
read, “Today’s the day, my friends. I know we can do it.” Also in the bag were some foreign
coins, a pass to the Supreme Court, some gold chips, a box of Locofocos, a belt buckle from a
military uniform, a copy of The Liberator, a dog-eared map with a bank on Chestnut Street
marked on it, a bill of lading, a crumpled note with the symbol of a wildcat on it, and a flask of
bourbon.
These clues are helpful, but much work remains. What do the clues mean? How did
they get into the satchel? With so many likely suspects, the Chief of Police needs your
detective help. Now, it is possible that you never heard anything about Jackson having been
assassinated, but don’t let that bother you. After all, none of this actually happened. Searching
for it will be a dead end (hee-hee). In real life, Jackson retired, put in his spring planting, and
lived happily ever after until 1845, or the ripe old age of 78. But that hasn’t stopped us from
killing him off sooner, in the interests of historical fun and frolic. Who would have conspired to
kill him? What issues would have motivated a conspiracy to do him in?
How to get started:
1. Write up a one-page background check on each of your two suspects—cited—including
a brief summary of that person’s activities during the Jacksonian era, relationship with
or attitudes about Jackson, AND your analysis of their potential as a suspect.
2. Context Reading! Brinkley, Chapters 10 and 12, 10 by Wednesday latest. By next week,
read Ch, 12, and also True Stories #10, and Opposing Viewpoints 23A/23B and 25A/25B .
Continue next week with Gorn, ch 9 and the rest of your research.
The Likely Suspects:
Martin van Buren
Elizabeth Peabody
William L. Marcy
Samuel Swartwout
John C. Calhoun
Horace Mann
David Walker
Frank Blair, Sr.
Henry Clay
Lucretia Mott
Angelina Grimke
Thomas Hart Benton
Daniel Webster
Frances Wright
Nicholas Biddle
Edgar A. Poe
John Marshall
Lydia Maria Child
Amos Kendall
Rachel’s Ghost
Gen’l Winfield Scott
William H. McGuffey
Elias Boudinot
William Wirt
Black Hawk
Sylvester Graham
Robert Y. Hayne
Robert Cruikshank
Frederick Douglass
Emma Willard
Roger B. Taney
Catherine Beecher
Peggy Eaton
John Q Adams
Samuel Wooster
Bronson Alcott
Dorothea Dix
Sam Houston
Giulian Verplanck
Duff Green
William Garrison
Charles G Finney
Hugh Lawson White
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Earl Grey (PM)
Elizabeth C. Stanton
Louis McLane
Thomas Skidmore
Sarah Monroe & Alexis DeTocqueville