Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was born on the 15th of March 1767 in the Waxhaws region of the Carolinas. His parents were Scots-Irish colonists who had emigrated from Ulster, Ireland, in 1765. He grew up with two older brothers named Hugh and Robert during a time of intense anti-British sentiment. The family suffered greatly when his father died three weeks before Andrew's birth. Elizabeth Jackson raised her sons alone after moving to live with relatives. Her hatred for Britain passed directly to her children. During the Revolutionary War, young Andrew served as a courier for Patriot forces. British troops captured him and his brother in April 1781 while occupying a Crawford relative home. A British officer demanded that Andrew polish his boots. When Andrew refused, the officer slashed him with a sword leaving permanent scars on his left hand and head. Robert also refused and received a blow to the head. Both boys contracted smallpox in a prisoner-of-war camp in Camden, South Carolina. They were released in late spring but Robert died just two days later. Elizabeth then volunteered to nurse American prisoners on British ships in Charleston harbor. She contracted cholera and died shortly afterwards. This tragedy made Andrew an orphan at age fourteen.
Jackson rose to prominence through military victories in the early nineteenth century. He led over 2,000 volunteers to New Orleans in January 1813 following repeated defeats by British forces. His nickname Old Hickory emerged from this difficult march back to Nashville. The Creek War began after the Fort Mims Massacre killed about 250 militia men and civilians in August 1813. Jackson commanded a force of 3,000 men including Cherokee Choctaw and Creek allies against Red Stick warriors. At Horseshoe Bend on the Tallapoosa River he defeated nearly 1,000 Red Stick defenders who had fortified their position. Almost all warriors were killed while nearly 300 women and children became prisoners distributed to Native allies. The Treaty of Fort Jackson required the Creek population to surrender vast tracts of land in Alabama and Georgia. Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans occurred on the 8th of January 1815 when British forces launched a frontal assault. Admiral Alexander Cochrane commanded the operation while General Edward Pakenham led 10,000 soldiers many veterans of Napoleonic Wars. The British suffered over 2,000 casualties including Pakenham compared to just 71 American deaths. This battle made Jackson a national hero despite martial law violations that followed. He executed six militiamen for desertion and arrested Judge Dominic A. Hall for issuing a writ of habeas corpus.
Jackson entered presidential politics after his military career ended following the Panic of 1819. He won a plurality of both popular and electoral votes in the election of 1824 with 42 percent support. No candidate achieved the required majority of 131 electoral votes so the House decided the outcome. Henry Clay threw his support behind John Quincy Adams who won the contingent election on the first ballot. Adams then appointed Clay as Secretary of State leading Jackson supporters to accuse them of striking a corrupt bargain. Jackson resigned his Senate seat and returned to Tennessee after the Congressional session concluded. His political managers William Berkeley Lewis and John Eaton convinced him he needed to defeat incumbent John Williams for a Senate position. The legislature elected Jackson in October 1823 though he avoided debate or initiating legislation. In 1828 he gained powerful supporters including Calhoun and New York Senator Martin Van Buren. The election of 1828 resulted in overwhelming victory with 56 percent of the popular vote and 68 percent of the electoral vote. Personal abuse dominated the campaign with pamphlets known as Coffin Handbills accusing Jackson of murdering white men and eating Native American bodies. Rachel Jackson died just days before inauguration from stress caused by these accusations. Her death haunted Jackson who stated at her funeral that he could never forgive those who had attacked her.
Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law on the 20th of May 1830 after Congress narrowly passed it. This act gave the president authority to negotiate treaties buying tribal lands east of the Mississippi River. The Choctaw relocation was rife with corruption theft and mismanagement causing great suffering. Cherokee leaders ceded their land through the Treaty of New Echota in 1836 though most did not want to move. The removal became known as the Trail of Tears enforced by Jackson's successor Martin Van Buren. Jackson personally negotiated with the Chickasaw who quickly agreed to relocate in 1830. Seminole leaders signed the Treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832 but most refused to move leading to the Second Seminole War lasting six years starting in 1835. During his administration Jackson made about 70 treaties with American Indian tribes removing nearly all Native Americans east of the Mississippi and south of Lake Michigan. Approximately 70,000 people were displaced costing thousands of lives due to unsanitary conditions epidemics and resistance to expulsion. The act added over 170,000 square miles to public domain primarily benefiting agricultural interests. Small farmers could purchase moderate plots at low prices while squatters gained options before land went to others.
Jackson began opposing the Second Bank of the United States shortly after inauguration in 1829. He viewed the bank as a fourth branch of government run by an elite money power controlling labor and earnings. Nicholas Biddle served as executive appointed by President Monroe. By 1832 Biddle had spent over $250,000 printing pamphlets lobbying congressmen and hiring agents. Henry Clay convinced Biddle to seek charter renewal two years early creating political pressure on Jackson. On the 10th of July 1832 Jackson vetoed the recharter bill arguing against surrendering majority will to wealthy desires. In 1833 he signed an executive order ending Treasury deposits in the bank replacing Secretary McLane with William J. Duane who also refused. Roger B. Taney implemented the policy as acting secretary when both predecessors declined. With federal deposits lost the bank contracted credit causing economic downturn attempts to force compromise failed. The economy recovered and Biddle faced blame for recession. Jackson paid off national debt entirely in January 1835 becoming only president to accomplish this feat. Federal funds were deposited into state banks friendly to administration policies called pet banks. These banks more than doubled during his administration expanding loans and speculation. Land sales reached unprecedented levels between 1834 and 1836 profits eight to twelve times higher than typical years.
South Carolina passed Ordinance of Nullification declaring tariffs null and void on the 24th of November 1832 threatening secession if federal government used force. Jackson sent warships to Charleston harbor and threatened to hang anyone supporting nullification or secession. He issued a proclamation on December 10 condemning nullifiers rejecting right of secession placing South Carolina on brink of insurrection and treason. Vice President Calhoun resigned from Senate on December 28 after being elected to that body. Jackson asked Congress to pass Force Bill authorizing military enforcement though Calhoun attacked it as despotism. On March 2 he signed Force Bill and Tariff of 1833 ending confrontation temporarily. South Carolina Convention rescinded nullification ordinance but nullified Force Bill in final defiance. The tariff generated 90 percent of federal revenue needed to eliminate national debt. Jackson suspected disunion was real object behind tariff pretext stating next pretext would be negro slavery question. His toast at Thomas Jefferson birthday celebration declared Our federal Union must be preserved challenging nullification directly. Calhoun rebutted with Union Next to our Liberty most dear toast immediately following Jackson's.
Jackson's legacy remains deeply polarized between defenders of democracy and critics of racial oppression. Supporters characterize him as defender of white working Americans preserving union of states while ignoring law when convenient. Critics point to reputation as demagogue implementing racist policies particularly toward Native Americans. Scholarly rankings historically rated presidency above average until late twentieth century decline began. In twenty-first century placement in presidential rankings has fallen significantly. He owned over 150 slaves by death in 1845 totaling 300 throughout lifetime. Jackson directed harsh punishment for disobedient or runaway slaves offering ten dollars extra per hundred lashes up to three hundred likely fatal number. His administration made about 70 treaties removing nearly all Native Americans east of Mississippi costing thousands lives through epidemics and resistance. Abolitionism became major reform movement targeted by pro-slavery violence during his presidency. He condemned abolitionists as monsters saying they should die arguing activism would encourage sectionalism destroying Union. Federal troops crushed Nat Turner Rebellion in 1831 though withdrawn immediately despite petitions from local citizens. The Democratic Party formed around his leadership while Whig Party emerged opposing expansion of executive power calling him King Andrew the First.
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Common questions
When was Andrew Jackson born and where did he grow up?
Andrew Jackson was born on the 15th of March 1767 in the Waxhaws region of the Carolinas. He grew up with two older brothers named Hugh and Robert during a time of intense anti-British sentiment.
What happened to Andrew Jackson during the Revolutionary War?
British troops captured Andrew Jackson and his brother in April 1781 while occupying a Crawford relative home. A British officer slashed him with a sword leaving permanent scars on his left hand and head before both boys contracted smallpox in a prisoner-of-war camp in Camden, South Carolina.
How many Native Americans were displaced by the Indian Removal Act signed by Andrew Jackson?
Approximately 70,000 people were displaced costing thousands of lives due to unsanitary conditions epidemics and resistance to expulsion. The act added over 170,000 square miles to public domain primarily benefiting agricultural interests.
Why did Andrew Jackson veto the recharter bill for the Second Bank of the United States?
On the 10th of July 1832 Andrew Jackson vetoed the recharter bill arguing against surrendering majority will to wealthy desires. He viewed the bank as a fourth branch of government run by an elite money power controlling labor and earnings.
What was the outcome of the Nullification Crisis involving Andrew Jackson and South Carolina?
Andrew Jackson issued a proclamation on December 10 condemning nullifiers rejecting right of secession placing South Carolina on brink of insurrection and treason. On March 2 he signed Force Bill and Tariff of 1833 ending confrontation temporarily while South Carolina Convention rescinded nullification ordinance but nullified Force Bill in final defiance.