Ballad of the Presidents: Jackson

Their rematch campaign was more nasty
No libels and slanders more ghastly
Adams was cast as a con and a thief
Jackson as bloodthirsty milit’ry chief

The outcome this time unmistakable
The Jackson alliance unbreakable
But victory sweet was most suddenly clouded
When death his dear Rachel now tragically shrouded

To Washington City the Jackson men swarmed
The capital’s denizens shrank in alarm
Inaugural pomp soon descended to riot
The city left edgy and wrapped in disquiet

In battle this general always did thrive.
Early resentments helped keep him alive
For bankers he felt the most scornful of all
For holding the people in debt-ridden thrall

The bankers held Jackson in similar sentiment
With Nicholas Biddle being most eminent 
And making appeal to Kentuckian Clay
To take up the struggle and enter the fray

Clay thus proceeded to ratchet up tension
Arranging for Biddle a charter extension
Jackson responded by axing the charter
Making of Biddle an unlikely martyr.

Biddle reacted by calling in loans
Producing from debtors a chorus of moans
To Jackson they cried: We’re caught in the middle!
Jackson roared back: Go tell it to Biddle!

Jackson succeeded in strangling the bank
His populist followers tendered their thanks
But then reconsidered, both farmer, mechanic
When fiscal convulsion resulted in panic

Jackson won fame as an Indian fighter
Now he intended to draw the ring tighter 
Tribes in the East must remove to the West
Congress approved and the matter was pressed

Several tribes moved, as their final resort
Cherokees balked, and ventured to court
Their claims surprisingly carried the day
The court said: The Cherokees’ right is to stay.

The judgment unraveled as land lust did grow 
Till finally the Cherokees knew they must go
The trek caused to happen the worst of their fears 
Thousands succumbed on the trail of their tears