Short Summary In 'Old Hickory's War'

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“Old Hickory’s War” by David S. Heidler gives an in depth outlook on the United States American Indian relations through The War of 1812, The Creek War, and the Seminole War. Heidler does this with a major focus on Andrew Jackson’s role played in this. Heidler clearly does not support Andrew Jackson’s actions throughout these event, portraying him to be a reckless and power hungry leader of the United States. Heidler states in his thesis that Jackson saw personal gain in expansion, Spanish and Indians that would interfere with United States expansion would be either banished or killed, both Spanish and United States government understood Jackson would stop at no cost, and that Jackson would make his Florida campaigns his personal obsession.
Towards the beginning of “Old Hickory’s War” Calhoun describes his issues with Andrew Jackson’s appointment to power. Calhoun mentions two problems with Jackson, he was worried about Jackson due to his previous disobedience to orders by the commander of the Northern Division, Major General Jacob Brown. These two in no way got along or worked well together, Jackson constantly disobeyed
Jackson made this incident into national controversy. Jackson just four years before was involved in a very similar tragedy. Tennesseans had attacked on allied creeks, but this time defended these Tennesseans and held the allied creeks at fault. Hypocritically, when Georgians do it, he goes into a full rage demanding justice for these Indians that had helped him. Without his personal involvement with these Indians it would be more likely for Jackson to applaud this tragedy. This yet again shows how his favoritism to Tennesseans and his contempt for Georgians causing injustice. After this, Jackson uncharacteristically apologized to the Chehaws, though he gave no reparations or actual help he encouraged them to join the fight to arrest

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