It’s Not Ancient History: It’s Now
The Great Silence
Block, Herbert. The Great Silence. 31 Oct. 1972, Herbert L. Block Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. Digital ID: LC-DIG-hlb-08083. Accessed 4 May 2025.
The values Andrew Jackson represented, exclusion, white nationalism, unchecked executive power, and the suppression of dissent, are not relics of the past. They have simply taken new forms.
Donald Trump openly celebrated Jackson’s “toughness,” displayed his portrait in the Oval Office, and adopted aspects of his leadership style. But the real impact of Jackson’s legacy is visible today, not just in symbols, but in active policies and systems of power.
Voter Suppression Laws:
Restrictive voting laws in states like Georgia, Texas, and Florida disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and immigrant voters, shrinking political power just like Jackson’s era of exclusion.
Restrictions on Free Speech and Protest
Lawsuits and Legal Actions: Trump has filed multiple defamation lawsuits against media outlets like CBS, The New York Times, and Penguin Random House for critical coverage. These actions raise concerns about press freedom.
Regulatory Pressures: Under Trump-appointed officials, media mergers and settlements have been influenced, with some critics fearing political pressure on media outlets to avoid legal disputes.
Press Access and Credibility: Trump revoked press credentials from outlets he deemed unfavorable, such as The Washington Post and BuzzFeed. He also frequently called critical media outlets “fake news” and threatened to weaken libel laws to make it easier to sue journalists.
Broader Implications: These actions have led to concerns about undermining press freedom. Supporters view it as challenging biased reporting, while critics argue it suppresses dissenting voices.
Civil Rights Rollbacks
Efforts to weaken the Voting Rights Act and ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal workplaces and schools have stripped away protections for marginalized communities.
These rollbacks aim to silence conversations about systemic racism, gender discrimination, and historical injustice — making it harder to challenge the power structures that Jackson’s legacy helped build.
Weakened Tribal Sovereignty
Rolling back Indigenous land protections for oil pipelines and development mirrors historical displacement.
Family Separation at the Border
“Zero Tolerance” immigration policies led to mass family separations, using displacement as a weapon.
Control Over Educational Institutions
Laws in states like Florida (Stop W.O.K.E. Act, “Don’t Say Gay” law) and Texas now limit what teachers and professors can say about race, systemic injustice, and LGBTQ+ identities.
Book bans and curriculum restrictions attempt to erase uncomfortable histories and prevent students from learning the full truth.
Universities face political pressure to censor discussions about racism, colonialism, and oppression, silencing critical voices and rewriting public memory.