"Native American fury at naming of US Navy's newest boat after Andrew Jackson"- Leah Messinger(period 1)

     On Saturday, a new U.S naval ship was commissioned and named after president Andrew Jackson.  The naming of this ship angered many Native Americans as they were disgusted by the president who  was responsible for the Indian Removal Act sending their people on a "Trail of Tears" out of their homeland. This led to many deaths and robbed the natives of the land that they settled long before we did. Having Jackson be a symbol of the United States is not a very popular opinion because although he was president, he didn't have a very good reputation. It raised a lot of concern to Americans questioning the ability of the country to recognize the faults of our past. Chuck Hoskin, secretary of state, mentioned that "For our government to hold Andrew Jackson up to some reverence today, given our nation's better appreciation of American history today than generations ago, is very troubling." In summary, many people are requesting that this name be reconsidered in order to appeal to all of the country's citizens and their sense of nationalism.
      As an American, it does seem a little strange as to why they would name a naval ship after Jackson despite all of the things he did as president. I understand why people don't want a ship to defend our country under the name of someone who was so destructive to the lives of native americans at the time. This feeling of discontent has definitely carried on throughout the generations of people whose families were forced to move across the country. In conclusion, this relates to U.S history because it shows how our history is something that is permanent and will always be reflected on. The effects of the Indian Removal act will continue to be felt as long as people are aware of their family's history and how certain people have effected that history.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3354884/USS-Jackson-commissioning-sparks-fury-activists-claim-slave-owning-seventh-president-signed-Indian-Removal-Act-not-honored.html