Introduction

Andrew Jackson made some very specific contributions over his life from his military career to his political career.

Andrew Jackson's background

Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767, to Andrew and Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson who emigrated from Ireland and settled in Waxhaw, South Carolina. His father died shortly before he was born. His mother, Elizabeth, who helped care for Continental soldiers died of cholera in 1781. After her death, he went to live with two of his uncles.

During his early childhood, he was educated by private tutors. He attended academies in the Waxhaw region, but was not a serious student. At the age of 13, he served as an orderly to Col. William Richardson, was captured by the British, and put in a prison camp. Jackson bore a scar on his forehead and left hand from a sword slash suffered at the hands of an officer for refusing to clean his superior’s boots. Andrew lost both brothers, Hugh and Robert, in the American Revolution. After the war, he tried one job after another, including teaching, but had little direction. He lived with reckless abandon, squandered his money, and enjoyed horse racing and cock fighting.

In 1784, he decided to study law at Salisbury, North Carolina, and in 1787 was admitted to the bar. He moved from North Carolina to what is now Tennessee. He willingly “accepted land as payment for his services and within 10 years became one of the most important landowners in Tennessee” (Brands, 2005). He married Rachel Donelson, daughter of the co-founder of Nashville. Andrew and Rachel’s early courtship and marriage came under scrutiny as she was technically still married to a wealthy Kentucky man, Lewis Robards. The couple did not have children of their own, but adopted two children and were financial guardians to several others who were in one way or another related to the couple.

Andrew Jackson’s personality was bold, courageous and firm. He had a rough lonely childhood, which resulted in this self- made man image. “Jackson was a man without class or family, who worked his way up on his own strength and merit to become a great soldier and hold the highest public office.” Jackson was known to have an aggressive temper, strong-willed attitude that was quick to face or even seek out dangerous challenges. When Jackson became president in 1829, he brought a combative style to politics. It was this event and personal characteristics that caused the citizens to passionately love him or hate him. John Quincy Adams was Jackson’s opponent in the 1828 presidential election. Adams supporters viewed Jackson as the bastard son of a prostitute who, although was married, was also a ladies man with a violent temper. Despite this type of slander, Jackson defeated Adams by 56% of the popular vote. Jackson made great efforts to limit the power of the affluent elite. His strong belief in liberty and individualism, he worked hard to bring to life his vision of politics of opportunity for the common white man by opening land for white settlements, supporting the ideal to relocate all the eastern Indian tribes, disapproving all government-granted privileges and much more. Jackson’s political struggles led to the strengthening of the Democratic Party and to the further development of the two-party system.

Alexis DeTocqueville, Andrew Jackson as Image, Image.

www.xroads.virginia.edu/~cap/Jackson/ima.htm.

James L. Roark, Michael P. Johnson, The American Promise, A history of the United States 4th edition (2009).

(Unknown Author) Andrew Jackson, Biography from Answers.com.

www.answers.com/topic/andrew-jackson

Brands, H. W. (2005). Andrew Jackson His life and Times. New York: Doubleday.

Research done by Cynthia M. and Erica J.

Andrew Jackson. Image retrieved from http://www.sbac.edu/~palmergw/transoc&jackson.html

Military career.

Andrew Jackson's military career had many positive contributions for the time.

Andrew Jackson began his military career at the early age of thirteen, participating in the Revolutionary War as a member of the Continental Army. Jackson and his two brothers were captured by the British and held for two weeks. Both of Jackson’s brothers died during the Revolutionary war which led to Jackson’s overwhelming disdain for the British. On March 27, 1814 Andrew Jackson was made a Major General of the Tennessee Volunteers. His leadership led troops to defeat the Creek Indians of Georgia and Alabama at Horseshoe Bend in Talladega, Alabama on November 9th, 1813. A couple of months later, in May of 1814, Andrew Jackson became of Major General of The United States Army during the War of 1812. Jackson’s first action as Major General was to lead troops to the capture of Pensacola, Florida used by the British, for a military base, but owned by Spain. He later was successful in obtaining New Orleans from the British on the 8th of January, 1815. The British had already surrendered prior to the battle of New Orleans, however; the news had not made it to Andrew Jackson and his army. Jackson is also credited with the obtaining of Florida by overthrowing Spain’s rule in the 1st Seminole War in 1818. Andrew Jackson was made Military Governor of Florida in 1921.

Feller, D. (no date). American President an Online Reference Resource Andrew Jackson (1767–1845). In Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://millercenter.org/president/jackson.

Kelly, M. (no date). Andrew Jackson - 7th President of the United States. In About.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://americanhistory.about.com/od/andrewjackson/p/pjackson.htm.

Roark, J.L., Johnson, M.P., Cohen, P.C., Stage, S., Lawson, A., Hartmann, S.M., (2009). The American Promise, A History of the United States, (4th ed.), (VolI). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Research done by Pamela B.

Indian policies.

Andrew Jackson had a hand in making and instituting Indian removal policies during his career.

Indian Removal Treaties were placed into effect from 1814 to 1824 to relocate the Indians out of harm’s way and out of the path of the expansion of modern civilization. Andrew Jackson was active in many of the treaties during this time frame. Jackson was able to convince Congress to pass legislation that would move the Indians westward in exchange for current tribal land holdings. In 1830 the “Indian Removal Act” was passed with the Indians were forced to either migrate towards the lands promised in the west or to submit to the state authorities and simulate into the population. Jackson was giving the Indians two choices; on one hand they could move with generous assistance from the government or they would be removed by the military. Many of the Indians were peacefully moved to the new lands, while others fought for their rights. In 1831 there was the Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia and then in 1832 Worcester vs. Georgia, where dramas played out in the court systems. Although the Supreme Court upheld many of the tribal rights, Jackson was able to influence the court rulings in Georgia and many were just ignored. The Cherokees were not pleased with the court rulings not being upheld and with the removal treaties, which lead to their removal by military force in 1838 under Martin Van Buren leading to much suffering known as the “Trail of Tears”. Martin Van Buren was the successor of Andrew Jackson in the US presidency. Although the treaties were fair and often times generous, they were not executed appropriately. The promises that Jackson made in the treaties were oftentimes impossible for the government to fulfill.

(n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://millercenter.org/president/jackson/essays/biography/4

(n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2011, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html

Trail of Tears max d stanley exodus.  Image retrieved March 14, 2011  from http://homilyblog.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

Research done by Dana E.

Electoral College and the rise of political parties

Another important contribution of Andrew Jackson's was the changes made to the Electoral College and the rise of the two party systems.

Vote for Andrew Jackson, these were probably the headlines that you saw throughout the country in 1824. In 1824 Andrew Jackson ran for president for the first time. At the time there was only one political party, the Democratic Republicans. The caucus system splintered with only one party and five serious candidates. This lead to the election being controversial, with Jackson winning the popular vote but not winning the majority in the Electoral College, this resulted in the election being decided by the House of Representatives. Jackson did not get the House of Representatives vote due to Henry Clay dropping out of the race and bestowing his support to John Adams. Before this election many states allowed the state legislators to appoint electors on behalf of their constituents. After this election this practice become controversial and starting with the election in 1828 most states choose electors through a method of public ballot.

In wake of this election Jackson’s supporters organized an energetic and creative coalition to get him elected. His supporters included skilled political organizers, who worked to create a network of campaign committees and organized rallies and other events on Jackson's behalf. A group of newspaper editors and journalists spread Jackson's reform message and recruited supporters to this new group, who were called the Democratic Party. During his presidency, Jackson’s actions while in office caused his adversaries in Congress to form the opposition Whig party, leading to the two-party system that still exists today.

References

Holcombe, R.G. (2000). Origins of the Electoral College. Retrieved from http://www.1215.org/lawnotes/lawnotes/electoralcollege.htm.

New World Encyclopedia online. Image. Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/United_States_Electoral_College

Research done by Barbarann E.

The nullification crisis

The nullification crisis had an important impact on both the economy and political instability of the time.

Andrew Jackson and the Nullification Crisis

The nullification crisis was a result of tariffs on finished goods coming into the United States. The tariff of 40% hurt an already ill economy in the southern states particularly South Carolina. This tariff benefited the northern states whose manufacturing base needed help to compete with overseas companies. One major concern was that the high tariffs would ultimately affect the import of slaves at the time. The tariff came into being in 1828, and as a result the government of South Carolina appealed to the federal government to do away with it. In 1832 President Andrew Jackson signed into law a reduced tariff law, but this was still insufficient for the people of South Carolina and many in the south. The government in South Carolina decided to declare the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 as null and void in the state, and as a result they were under no obligation to collect or pay it. President Jackson sent naval ships and began to plan on armed conflict to enforce the federal law. John Calhoun was Jackson’s vice president until he resigned and he supported South Carolina’s cause. Congress had authorized the federal government, namely President Jackson, to use whatever force was needed to enforce federal law. Before this actually happened a compromised was reached through John Calhoun, a political rival of President Jackson, where any item which is taxed over 20% of its value, that tax was reduced over a period of time (nine years) to the level of previous taxes set in 1816. This settled the nullification crisis and averted armed conflict; however it would not prevent a civil war in 1860.

(n.d.). Presidents: A Reference History. Retrieved March, 2011, from http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Washington-Johnson/Andrew-Jackson-Nullification.html

Research done by Sean M.

The Bank War

The bank crisis of 1829

The changes made to the Banking system during the banking crisis of 1829 changed the way banks operated and gave us the options for banking we have today.

As we all have learned Andrew Jackson, aka “Old Hickory” was our 7th President of the United States of America. This topic is over, The Bank War that started in 1829; a war that no lives were lost or guns were fired. President Jackson was against the 2nd Bank of America and the President of the bank Nicholas Biddle. President Jackson believed that this bank had too much political power. In 1832 Jackson placed a veto on a bill to extend the banks charter and he also moved all the government deposits from Federal banks to State banks which caused a financial panic. As Biddle tried to fight back and cease existing loans, his plan back fired, most of the deposits were made in specie, or gold and silver. The state banks began to overextend there credit. This reminds me of the mortgage crisis common day America is going through now. Specie Circular stated that land and resources could only be purchased with silver or gold. President did not like the idea of paper money. By this time the widespread panic had leveled out. President Jackson implemented a new coin press and it made him look like he had restored economic stability to America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knf8KA5aAjw&feature=related Accessed 3/6/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuh957f7I4A&NR=1 Accessed 3/6/2011

Information obtained http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/E/bankwar/bankwar11.htm Accessed 3/5/2011

Image. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/swanksalot/211332277/

Research done by Shawn A.

The first assassination attempt

On January 30, 1835 Richard Lawrence attempts to assassinate President Andrew Jackson, at a Congressional funeral at the Capital building. This was the first documented presidential assassination attempt in history. Richard Lawrence was a painter that was currently unemployed; he believed that President Jackson was conspiring against him. Fortunately Richard Lawrence’s plan was unsuccessful due to the misfiring of the two pistols that he used. The president raised his cane at his attacker and escaped unharmed. Lawrence was found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent the rest of his life living in insane asylums.

Life and Death in the White House. (March 5, 2011) Retrieved from http://www.americanhistory.edu/

Image. Retrieved from http://www.americanhistory.edu/

Research done by Sandra H.

Death of Andrew Jackson

The tomb of Andrew and Rachel Jackson

Andrew Jackson made a great many contributions to society during his life and up until his death. From very humble beginnings he grew to become one of the most influential men of his age, a leader for the common man.

Andrew Jackson became the President at the age of 61, he is one of the few Presidents who can claim more popularity after his time in office than before it. ("Andrew Jackson," 2011) After retirement he enjoyed 8 years of life at the ‘Hermitage home’, a historical mansion containing a beautiful garden and plantation located in Davidson County, Tennessee. Andrew Jackson was chronically ill throughout his life with a cough and the shakes, he died on June 8, 1845 at the age of 78 due to tuberculosis, dropsy and heart failure. According to New World Encyclopedia his last words were: "Oh, do not cry. Be good children, and we shall all meet in Heaven."("Andrew Jackson," 2008) There is a tomb of remembrance to Jackson and his wife, Rachel. Hermitage garden that is open to the public as a museum.

Andrew Jackson. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nndb.com/people/654/000026576

Andrew Jackson. (2008). New world encyclopedia. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Andrew_Jackson

Image.Retrieved March 15.2011 from http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/preservation/presi/jackson1.htm

Research done by Swapna G. and Cathy K.