Andrew Jackson

Lore & Background

Andrew Jackson was born in the Waxhaws region of the Carolinas before the American Revolutionary War. His father died before he was born, and his mother died when he was 14, leaving him an orphan. He served as a courier for the Patriot side during the war, was captured, and contracted smallpox. After the war, he studied law, became a frontier lawyer, and married Rachel Donelson. He founded The Hermitage and became a wealthy planter who profited from the forced labor of hundreds of enslaved African Americans. He also engaged in slave trading.

Jackson rose to national fame as a U.S. Army general. He led troops in the Creek War of 1813–1814, winning the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and forcing the Creek to cede vast tracts of land. His victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 made him a national hero. He later commanded forces during the First Seminole War, which helped prompt Spain to cede Florida. He briefly served as Florida's first territorial governor before returning to the Senate.

Jackson ran for president in 1824, winning a plurality of the popular and electoral vote, but the House elected John Quincy Adams. Jackson's supporters alleged a 'corrupt bargain' and formed a new coalition that became the Democratic Party. He defeated Adams in a landslide in 1828. As president, he signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, which displaced tens of thousands of Native Americans and resulted in thousands of deaths on the Trail of Tears. He faced the Nullification Crisis with South Carolina, vetoed the reauthorization of the Second Bank of the United States, and became the only U.S. president to pay off the national debt.

Reader's Guide

Andrew Jackson's significance lies in his role as the seventh president and the founder of Jacksonian democracy, a political philosophy that emphasized the common white man and shaped the Democratic Party. His presidency was marked by major actions: the Indian Removal Act, which has been described as ethnic cleansing and led to the Trail of Tears; the Nullification Crisis, where he threatened military force to preserve the union; and the dismantling of the Second Bank of the United States, which he viewed as an elite institution. He also became the only president to pay off the national debt. His legacy is deeply polarized: supporters see him as a defender of democracy and the Constitution, while critics point to his racist policies and reputation as a demagogue who ignored the law. Scholarly rankings of U.S. presidents historically placed Jackson high, but his reputation declined in the late 20th century and has fallen further in the 21st century.

Did You Know?

• Jackson was the only U.S. president to pay off the national debt, doing so in 1835.
• He signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, which led to the Trail of Tears and thousands of deaths.
• Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 made him a national hero.
• He was born in the Waxhaws region of the Carolinas, but his exact birthplace is unclear.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"In New Orleans, Louisiana, 1814. As quoted in The Life of Andrew Jackson (1967), by John Spencer Bassett, Archon Books. p. 156-157." — Andrew Jackson "In New Orleans, Louisiana, 1814. As quoted in The Life of Andrew Jackson (1967), by John Spencer Bassett, Archon Books. p. 156-157." — Andrew Jackson "The individual who refuses to defend his rights when called by his Government, deserves to be a slave, and must be punished as an enemy of his country and friend to her foe." — Andrew Jackson "Proclamation to the people of Louisiana" from Mobile (21 September 1814)." — Andrew Jackson