Whos On The Twenty Dollar Bill: The Surprising History And Future Debate

Andrew Jackson has graced the twenty dollar bill for nearly a century, but calls for his image to be replaced have grown louder in recent years. This article examines the historical rationale for his portrayal, the political and social debates surrounding the decision to change the design, and the current status of the effort to introduce a new portrait by 2030.

The image of Andrew Jackson on the $20 note is a fixture of American currency, but the story of how he came to be there, and the ongoing conversation about his future, reveals a great deal about the nation’s evolving sense of its own history. The portrait, first introduced in 1928, was part of a major redesign of U.S. currency, yet its prominence has sparked debate about whose legacy deserves to be celebrated on the nation’s money.

The decision to feature Jackson on the twenty dollar bill was rooted in the politics of the 1920s rather than a specific law dictating who must appear on each denomination. When the U.S. Treasury redesigned its paper currency in the 1920s, it sought to create a uniform and recognizable set of notes. Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, who served under Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover, championed the project. Mellon, a wealthy industrialist, favored images that were widely revered and politically uncontroversial. Jackson, the military hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh President of the United States, fit this profile. He represented a populist streak in American politics and a break from the established elite, themes that resonated during a period of economic optimism. The portrait was engraved by master engraver Joseph Prosper Ourdy and based on a famous portrait by artist Thomas Sully. The choice was part of a broader shuffle of portraits across denominations, with statesmen like Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin moving to higher-value bills.

For decades, the Jackson portrait on the twenty dollar bill was largely accepted as a mundane element of daily commerce. Most citizens used the bills without a second thought to the historical figure staring back at them. However, a combination of historical re-evaluation and popular culture has thrust Jackson’s legacy into the spotlight. Documentaries, bestselling books, and a growing public awareness of the brutal legacy of slavery and the forced removal of Native Americans have led many to question the appropriateness of honoring a president who signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act led to the Trail of Tears, a devastating forced migration that caused immense suffering and death for Native American tribes. The $20 bill, often associated with everyday transactions and tips, became a surprising focal point for a national conversation about historical memory and representation.

The modern movement to replace Jackson’s image gained significant momentum in 2015, when the U.S. Treasury announced a major initiative to redesign the nation’s currency. The catalyst was a letter from then-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who stated that the new design would feature a portrait of a notable woman, reflecting the role of women in American history. This decision was part of a broader effort to enhance the security features of the currency to combat counterfeiting. However, the choice to use the opportunity to diversify the faces on American money tapped into a deeper cultural current. The Treasury received over 9,000 comments from the public as part of its redesign process, with many advocating for a woman to appear on the bill. The announcement that Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad, would replace Jackson on the front of the $20 bill was met with widespread acclaim. Tubman, who escaped slavery and then risked her life to lead hundreds of others to freedom, represented a powerful symbol of courage, resilience, and the fight for justice. Her image was set to debut in 2020, coinciding with the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

The plan to introduce the new Tubman-designed $20 bill, however, has faced significant delays. In 2019, the Treasury announced that the release would be pushed back to 2026, citing the need to prioritize the development of advanced security features. This delay was further extended, with the current target for the new bill to enter circulation now set for 2030. The postponement has been met with frustration by activists and historians who argue that the change represents a long-overdue correction. The delay has also fueled political controversy, with some lawmakers and commentators criticizing the redesign as an unnecessary revision of history. Despite these obstacles, the effort to put Harriet Tubman on the twenty dollar bill remains a powerful symbol of how currency can serve as a tool for education and reflection, representing a nation’s highest ideals and the complex process of reconciling its past.

The debate over Jackson’s portrait highlights a central tension in American society: how to acknowledge historical figures who embody both achievement and profound moral failings. Andrew Jackson was a complex man—a champion of democracy for white men and a perpetrator of policies that devastated Native American communities. His image on the currency tells us that, for a long time, his military victories and his fierce defense of the Union’s expansion were deemed more significant than his role in enabling slavery and ethnic cleansing. The movement to replace him with Harriet Tubman signals a shift in national priorities, placing a premium on leadership in the struggle for human freedom and equality. It suggests that a nation’s money should tell a story of progress, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward a more perfect union. Whether that change is realized by 2030 or beyond, the conversation itself has permanently altered the landscape of American currency and the way we see the faces that stare back at us from our wallets.