Andrew Jackson Evidence Analysis - The $20 Bill Argument

Andrew Jackson, one of the most controversial presidents in American history, has been on the $20 bill since 1928. In this activity, students work as investigators analyzing evidence to determine if he should remain on the $20 or if he should be removed.

Students analyze 6 pieces of evidence in this Webquest. As they examine each piece of evidence, they must determine what this evidence says about Andrew Jackson - does he deserve to be on the $20?

This activity is much more than a traditional question-answer Webquest. Students are working as detectives to analyze evidence and draw conclusions from that evidence.

There are multiple options for how you can do this activity:

1) You can assign half the students the role of defending Jackson's actions and the other half the role of using the evidence to prove why he should be removed. As they read each document, they have to decide if it supports their argument or the other side. If it supports their argument, they pick out the key elements to defend their position. If it better supports the other side, they need to develop a rebuttal to that evidence.

2) You could also assign every student the role of being an impartial investigator. As they read each document, they decide if it proves he deserves to remain or should be removed. They find the direct evidence that supports their position.

This Andrew Jackson Webquest is included in a complete Andrew Jackson bundle, located here:

Andrew Jackson $20 Bill Bundle

Andrew Jackson Related Activities:

Andrew Jackson Jigsaw Debate

Andrew Jackson DBQ

Andrew Jackson GooseChase: Digital Scavenger Hunt

If you have access to the History Alive textbook, you may be interested in the version of this activity that uses the textbook:

History Alive: Andrew Jackson and the $20 Bill

Additional American history products:

Source Analysis:

Primary and Secondary Sources: Introduction, Sort, and Game

Native Americans:

Native American Regions - Recruitment Fair PBL

Exploration and Colonization:

13 Colonies Cereal Box: Breakfast in the Colonies PBL

13 Colonies Recruitment Fair: A Colonial America PBL

Colonial America Hyperdoc: Life in the Colonies Webquest

13 Colonies Project Based Learning: Colonial America Regions PBL

GooseChase: Life in Colonial America Digital Scavenger Hunt

Colonial Regions PBL: New England, Middle, and Southern Newspaper Project

New England Colonies Hyperdoc: Colonial America Webquest

New England Colonies Choice Board: Colonial America Tic Tac Toe Menu

Middle Colonies Hyperdoc: Colonial America Webquest

Middle Colonies Choice Board: Colonial America Tic Tac Toe Menu

Southern Colonies Hyperdoc: Colonial America Webquest

Southern Colonies Choice Board: Colonial America Tic Tac Toe Menu

Colonial America Shark Tank: Inventions of the Colonies PBL

Road to Independence:

Revolutionary War GooseChase - Causes of the American Revolution Scavenger Hunt

Hyperdoc: Declaration of Independence Webquest

Confederation to Constitution:

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention: Superlatives Awards Fair

Breakfast of Delegates at the Constitutional Convention: Cereal Box PBL

Constitutional Convention Choice Board Learning Menus (set of 3)

Early Republic:

George Washington Hyperdoc: A Precedent President Webquest

George Washington GooseChase: Digital Scavenger Hunt

Presidency of George Washington - Differentiated Choice Board Menus (Set of 3)

Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans Recruitment Fair PBL

Thomas Jefferson GooseChase: Engaging Scavenger Hunt Challenges

Manifest Destiny:

Manifest Destiny - American Progress Analysis

Manifest Destiny: Justification for Westward Expansion Hyperdoc

Sweet Betsy from Pike - Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

Life in the West Recruitment Fair - Manifest Destiny PBL

Civil War and Reconstruction:

Causes of the Civil War PBL: Worlds of the North and South Newspaper Project

Civil War GooseChase Digital Scavenger Hunt

Hyperdoc: Life of a Civil War Soldier Webquest

Civil War Hyperdoc: North vs. South Strengths and Weaknesses Webquest

PBL: A “Star-Spangled Banner” from Fort Sumter Civil War Webquest

‘Twas at the Siege of Vicksburg - Civil War Primary Source Analysis

Industrialization:

Shark Tank: Industrial Revolution Inventions PBL