Family Quote by Andrew Jackson
““Gentlemen! I too have been a close observer of the doings of the Bank of the United States. I have had men watching you for a long time, and am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves. I have determined to rout you out, and by the Eternal, (bringing his fist down on the table) I will rout you out!””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the United States Congress, 1832
Jackson condemns the Bank of the United States as corrupt, arguing its removal prevents widespread ruin.
In simple terms: Jackson attacks the bank as evil.
Key Takeaway
Support financial reform.
Themes
politics
economics
corruption
reform
power
Mood
determined
critical
defiant
Type
political
historical
rhetorical
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- financial regulation
- public protests
- media campaigns
Key Concepts
banking monopoly
public trust
political rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- Is dismantling a corrupt institution always beneficial?
- What alternatives exist to reform?
A Different Perspective
Bank removal could destabilize credit and economy.
