Andrew Jackson
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Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was the seventh president of the United States (1829-1837). He made his way to wealth in a frontier society and leadership. All of the common people liked him and he established a bond with them. All of the common people looked to him for leadership when they were struggling. To them he was a good role model.
Andrew Jackson was born on March 5,1767 in south Carolina. When Jacksons father died they moved into the home of James Crawford. He went to frontier schools and got a reputation on being fiery tempered and willing to fight.(“Jackson, Andrew,” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005
The American revolution didn’t reach Carolina until 1780 and Jackson, who was only 13 at the time, served as a militia orderly and messenger. Jackson and his brother Robert were captured when the British raided Waxhaw. His mother and Robert died because of smallpox when he was 14.(www.americanpresident.org/history/andrewjackson/biography) Since he didn’t have any other family he was a saddle maker and taught school. He inherited 300 dollars from his grandpa and went to Charleston, South Carolina and spent all his money there.
In Salisbury, North Carolina Jackson studies law under Spruce Macay. He set up an office in Mcleanville when he entered practice in 1787.(“Jackson, Andrew,” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005
In 1788 he and John Mcnairy crossed the Cumberland mountains where they settled in Nashville.(www.ipl.org/div/potus/ajackson.html)
Mcnairy was made a judge of the district’s Superior Court because he had connections. He made Jackson solicitor general which was to prepare court cases on behalf of the state. Because of his successful law practice he made a name for himself by prosecuting debators.
He married Mrs. Racheal Donelson Robards in 1791 but since she never completely divorced her old husband they were remarried two years later.(www.americanpresident.org/history/andrewjackson/biography )They did not have any children of their own but they did adopt Racheals infant nephew, who was Andrew Jackson Jr. they also adopted three other nephews of Racheals. They even raised a native American boy whose parents had been killed in Jackson’s Campaign against the Creek Nation in 1814.
In 1796 Jackson became the Tennessee delegate to the United States House of Representatives. One year in the house, Jackson was elected to fill out an unexpired term in the Senate. He served from September 1797 to April 1798 and then retired to prvate life. Jackson was appointed Judge of the Superior Court from 1798-1804. His decisions were said to be “short, unethical, unlearned, sometimes grammatical , and generally right”.(“Jackson, Andrew,” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005
He was very active in politics but didn’t really care about national affairs. In the war of
1812 Jackson was Major General of the Tennessee Militia. At the battle of Horseshoe Bend in March 1814 on the Tallapoosa River Jackson wiped out millions of acres of Creek land to the United States and killed many Creek forces. In May 1814 Jackson Became Major General in the Federal army. On his way to New Orleans, to defend the city against British attack, he captured the British military base and arrived in New Orleans. On December 13,1814 the British were going to try a surprise attack on Jackson’s exposed flank.(www.americanpresident.org/history/andrewjackson/biography
) Jackson heard the plan and he launched his own surprise attack and set up a defense in a dry canal. On January 8,1815 the British were attacked in force but were thrown back.(“Jackson, Andrew,” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005
For the election of 1824 Jackson’s opponents were John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford and Henry Clay. Although Jackson had won the electoral and popular vote, he didn’t have enough of a majority vote to win.(“Jackson, Andrew,” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005