In this discussion board, like the discussion board in Module Three, you will be divided into groups based on your last name, and each group will be assigned a point of view on the presidency of Jacks

In this discussion board, like the discussion board in Module Three, you will be divided into groups based on your last name, and each group will be assigned a point of view on the presidency of Jackson.  You will then express and argue for this point of view.

Here are your groups:

A-M: You believe Jackson was a good president, who had a more positive effect on the country than a negative one.

N-Z: You believe Jackson was not a good president, and that his legacy is more negative than positive.  (Remember, you are arguing for him being a bad president, not a bad person.  They're two different things.)

For example, I would be in the second group (W for Washburn).

Now, describe your assigned point of view, why it makes sense to you, and why you think you're right.  The point is to see both sides of an issue!  When you've given your perspective, comment on a classmate's post, disagreeing and giving your side of things (again, from your assigned point of view).

The point here is to see that the question of Jackson's presidency is multifaceted, and both sides have perspectives that make sense to them.

Again: You are arguing for Jackson being (or not being) a good PRESIDENT.  Whether he was a good PERSON is not part of the question.  Therefore, you need to confine your argument to whether he was beneficial to the country, beneficial to the economy, competent, etc.  You need to focus on whether America was a better or worse place after his presidency.  It's entirely possible for someone to be a good person, but a poor president, and vice versa.

Remember: you and your classmates are portraying viewpoints, in order to understand them.  Just because you (or a classmate) give opinions in this assignment does not mean that they're your own opinions!  Stay in character.  Also, don't be nasty to each other; remember that you're IN CHARACTER.

reading will be Chapter 9 from The American Yawp

http://www.americanyawp.com/text/09-democracy-in-america/

Andrew Jackson’s Veto Message Against Re-chartering the Bank of the United States, 1832

http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/democracy-in-america/andrew-jacksons-veto-message-against-re-chartering-the-bank-of-the-united-states-1832/