January 6-7, 2024: 2024 Anniversaries: The 1824 Election

[As I’ve done for eachof the lastfew years, this week I’ve started 2024 by AmericanStudying a fewanniversaries for the new year. Leading up to this special post on the 200thanniversary of a frustratingly familiar election.]

I wrote atlength about the controversial 1824 election and what it might (and hopefullywon’t) foreshadow about the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections inthis post. Much of what I’d want to say today is captured there, so I’d askyou to check out that prior post if you would and then come on back here forone more thought.

Welcomeback! As that post and manyothers I’ve written reflect clearly, I’m no fan of Andrew Jackson, but Iwould nonetheless note a couple distinct differences between him and The FormerGuy who is hoping 2024 will be a repeat of 1824: I believe Jackson was trulydedicated to expanding democracy and opportunities to working-classwhite Americans; and as far as I know he never commissioned nor committedover acts of treason against the United States. The latter is why I believe allAmericans of conscience have to oppose Trump’s reelection campaign; and theformer is why it’s so frustrating to me that many working-class Americans seeTrump as someone who likewise has their best interests at heart, whereas he hasdemonstrated time and time again that his only interests are those of himselfand his close criminal cohort. And yet, the one definite commonality betweenthese two figures—full-throated endorsements of white supremacy at every turn—mightjust be enough to return Trump to the presidency that it already helped himgain once. Let’s hope that’s not a 2024 prediction!

Nextseries starts Monday,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think?