The American Lion ! Strong-willed and sharp-tempered, a fierce patriot and rabid partisan, Andrew Jackson was always controversial both as a general and as President. He personalized disputes and demonized opponents. He was the defender of the Union, the conqueror of nullification, the hero of democracy. Andrew Jackson was President of the United States during a crucial period of decision making that not only affected Americans, but particularly the economy involving the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson opposed all banks, believing that they only made the rich more wealthy and corrupted government. Although Jackson’s main concern was to give lower social classes the same opportunities that the wealthy Bank owners denied, as time went on, he clearly made the Bank issue personal resulting in temporary abolishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Along with the bank itself, Jackson more specifically despised the paper currency distribution because it caused Americans to desire wealth without labor and increased the temptation to obtain money at any sacrifice. Jackson’s thorough hatred for paper currency and the monetary system of the United States during the time of his Presidency raises the question as to why he is on the most widely used denomination of paper money in America to this day, the twenty dollar bill. The Treasury and Federal Reserve ironically chose Andrew Jackson’s portrait to appear on the twenty-dollar bill to get revenge long after his death, but also to constantly remind Americans of the great effort Jackson put into destroying the Bank. The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 was a bold step for the struggling colonies of North America. Not only did it defy the greatest military power of the day, but it launched the colonies on a political and economic journey that was without precedent. Because the colonies lacked any