Max Heninger
My goal in the video was to present Andrew Jackson as a man of the people. The way I chose to accomplish that objective was to craft an image of Jackson as a courageous, independent frontiersman that could relate to the common man because he came from that kind of background himself.
The centerpiece of this effort was the use of Andrew Jackson’s campaign song, “The Hunters of Kentucky.” Originally written after the battle of New Orleans, it described the rough and tumble characteristics of Jackson’s hearty militiamen who played a key role in the famous battle.
I introduced the viewer to election with a political cartoon from 1824, which depicts all the candidates in a footrace. Flashing across the screen was a quote describing Jackson as “the People’s candidate,”[1] thus setting him apart from his rivals.
Next comes a picture of Jackson on the screen while simultaneously I played the chorus of the “the hunters of Kentucky” for the first time, therefore connecting those words with Jackson himself. This suggests what I then go on to show in the next part of my video, that Jackson had personal characteristics of a frontiersman.
The next verse of the song claimed that the Hunter’s of Kentucky are a “hearty free born race” ready to take on “a daring foe” because “Kentucky boys are alligator horses.”[2] While this is playing I showed quotes that paint Jackson with these types of characteristics. First comes a quote from a toast praising him as “bold and fearless.” Then comes a piece from an article discussing his qualifications for office. I highlighted each qualification, (Judge, Senator, Governor) and then the assertion that “each station” he acted with “fearless devotion to his country’s service.” By connecting that frontier attribute, being “fearless,” with his qualifications I make an implicit suggestion that Jackson brought the spirit of the common man into the all the high offices he held.
After a string of images capitalizing off of the eye-catching richness of the “Alligator Horse” imagery, I transitioned the viewer to thinking about Jackson’s role in the Battle of New Orleans with an image of a commemorative coin Congress minted for the battle with the date of the engagement, January 8, 1815. The quote I chose about the battle talked about how with Jackson, a militia was brought to “heroic thought” and that “not only New Orleans, but our country was saved.” At that point in the song comes the verse: “all around the General flocked the Hunters of Kentucky.” By choosing to paint the battle not just as a victory for Jackson, but as an example of the magnificent accomplishments possible when Jackson and the common man worked together, I furthered Jackson’s image as a man of the people and suggested where that background would could the country.
Finally, I ended the video with an image of Jackson in military garb with quote explaining that Jackson’s “fellow citizens” (and the words “fellow citizens” where highlighted for emphasis) were those who knew him best). This served as a final reminder that Jackson had the support of the common man, but also defended him against attacks from elite New England Adams supporters who might write scathing editorials of him as a military tyrant. Despite their rancor, the quote explained that the people knew him for what he was, a man who was one of them.
Images and Quotes
“A Foot Race,” Political Cartoon, 1824
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2008661728/
Ithaca Journal, 3/31/1824
Andrew Jackson, 1815
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96523440/
Map of United States of America, 1820
http://www.loc.gov/item/2008622175
Richmond Enquirer, 7/17/1824
Rhode Island American, 4/23/1824
Norwich Courier, 2/19/1824
Richmond Enquirer, 2/19/1824
Commemorative Coin for Battle of New Orleans, 1815
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2012645265/
“Battle of New Orleans and defeat of the British under Sir Edward Packingham,” 1815
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2007683567/
“Major General Andrew Jackson,” 1820
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96521560/
Hunters of Kentucky (Broadside), 1815
Hunter’s of Kentucky. Or half horse and half alligator, (Broadside) 1815
[1] The quote actually came from a hostile article from the Ithaca Journal. However, if even Jackson’s enemies acknowledged that he was “the People’s candidate” it seemed like a statement with reasonable truthfulness. The article acknowledges with a grudging acceptance Jackson’s popularity with the common man before going into the typical attacks against him as ruthless military dictator.
[2] The concept of the “alligator horses” was a colorful example of backwoods toughness and masculinity that stemmed from frontier folklore. In the early 1800s, a Missouri Fur Company trapper named Mike Fink was known to boast that he was “half horse, half alligator” because he could “outrun, outjump, outshoot, outdrink, drag out lick any man in the country.” By 1815 this idea of an alligator horse representing frontier toughness must have been widespread as it appeared in the popular, “Hunters of Kentucky” song.
The Kentucky Encyclopedia, pg 319.