Trump is the reason we need to re-structure how we teach American history

In a conversation with CNN correspondent Salena Zito, Trump revealed that he believes Andrew Jackson (a slave-owner) could have single-handedly prevented the Civil War. But the scariest part about picking Trump's brain is that nowhere in his rambling, incoherent response does he realize why the Civil War even happened in the first place.

In some ways, Trump's ignorance over basic American history is a beacon for change. You don't understand why the Civil War couldn't be solved with a few businessmen in the 1800s laughing over a pint, a few quick executive orders and an already-dead Andrew Jackson? The GOP can't save you now, Trump. You can't even pass a basic American citizenship test.

How can we be surprised when Trump was taught the most ignorant, white-washed version of American history. It's time to de-sanitize our history books.

Here's the transcript, word-for-word, of Trump believing Andrew Jackson could have prevented the Civil War. The problem is that Andrew Jackson died 16 years before the Civil War, he was a slave-owner and Jackson was responsible for the genocide and relocation of thousands of Native Americans.

Below is the exchange Trump had with CNN correspondent Salena Zito.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: His wife died. They destroyed his wife and she died. He was a swashbuckler, but when his wife died you know he visited her grave everyday? I visited her grave actually because I was in Tennessee.

SALENA ZITO: That's right, you were in Tennessee.

TRUMP: And it was amazing. The people of Tennessee are amazing people. They love Andrew Jackson. They love Andrew Jackson in Tennessee...

We get it...but it just got worse...

SALENA ZITO: He's a fascinating...

PRESIENT TRUMP: I mean had Andrew Jackson been a little later you wouldn't have had the Civil War. He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart.

But wait.....

TRUMP: He was really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War, he said "There's no reason for this." People don't realize, you know, the Civil War, if you think about it, why?

TRUMP: "People don't ask that question, but why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?"

Well...because slavery was a brutal, immoral institution. And southern states were dependent on free labor. And did any history book mention that slavery existed around that time? Did you at least watch Django? Or walk through the Lincoln Memorial?

But the people of Tennessee are "amazing." Andrew Jackson was "amazing." That seems to be the extent of our president's vocabulary.