Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson served as an important leader and president. He was an influential leader in the War of 1812, and also played an important part in the Revolutionary War. He is remembered as a people’s man and a strong, stubborn president.
Jackson was born in 1776 to immigrated Scots-Irish farmers. Shortly after Jackson’s birth, his father died, and he was raised by his two uncles. As Jackson grew up, he did not attend school that often, but he did work at a saddle- maker’s shop. When Jackson was 13 he helped the local militia, where his brothers served, as a courier. During this time Jackson and his brother Robert were both captured and nearly starved to death. While captured Jackson received a sword wound which left a scar for the rest of his life. Their mother worked for their release, and finally they were set free, but Robert died shortly after they were freed. During that same year, Jackson’s mother also pasted away leaving him with no family.
As an independent man, he studied law in Salisbury, North Carolina and began practicing in Jonesborough. During 1788 through 1804, Jackson served as Congressman and Senator for the newly added state, Tennessee. He owned his own land outside the city of Nashville, and this land grew to be one of the most valuable plantations in this area. Jackson returned to active service in the War of 1812, where he would earn the nickname “Old Hickory” for his stubbornness, bravery, and success during the war. He was the lead commander in the last battle of the war, the Battle of New Orleans, and he successfully defeated the British.
After the War of 1812, Jackson was elected to the Senate in 1822, and was nominated for president as well. Jackson lost to John Quincy Adams when the election was decided by the House of Representatives. Jackson spent the next four years preparing to defeat Adams in the next presidential election, and when it finally arrived he won the election in 1829. Andrew Jackson held a party at the White House ball, which was an unusual act for a politician, but Jackson was not like most presidents. He was the first president to use the veto power a lot, and he used it to block all spending and special interest bills. Jackson made several poor decisions for the cabinet members, leading to all but the Postmaster General being replaced in the first two years of his presidency. Jackson firmly reduced the federal deficit and payed it all off in 1835, and 1836 was the last time the United States had no federal debt.
Jackson and his followers were part of the Jacksonian democracy, which was referred to as the Second Party System, a democratic spirit. The Jacksonian democracy expanded the power of the executive branch and developed public involvement in the government. The Jacksonians had a large part in geographic expansion, but did not provide more rights to all people. Jackson worked to make the presidency a tool for the people, and he expanded the power of the executive branch greatly. Andrew Jackson’s presidency ended in 1837 and he passed away on June 8, 1845.
Andrew Jackson was an influential general and president, and is an important part of American history. He fought for our nation’s freedom with great bravery and strength. He fought for his beliefs, and is respected for all the hard work he put into the development of the United States.