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Rushed Education
Andrew Jackson was born in the Waxhaws region shortly before the American Revolution. He received a rushed education in order to prepare for the war. He was an average student and did not stand out. He went on to educate himself in the 1780's. -
The American Revolution
Andrew Jackson joined the Patriots at the age of only 13. He served as a patriot courier (letter carrier) for the remainder of the war. Once, Jackson and his brother were captured by Redcoats. When Jackson refused to polish a Redcoat's shoes, he was slashed across the hand and face, leaving scars that would never fully heal. -
Representative for Tennessee
Andrew Jackson helped Tennessee to write their state constitution. When the Articles of Confederation was replaced by the Constitution, parts of the Tennessee Constitution were used during the convention. Andrew Jackson was recognized for his contribution and was made one of Tennessee's first representatives in the House of Representatives. This position kicked off Jackson's political career. -
Supreme Court Judge
Shortly after Jackson finished his term as a representative, he was given the opportunity to be a Supreme Court judge. He held the position from 1798-1804. Jackson became known as a well-rounded politician, having served in two of the three branches of government. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Jackson had been leading a five-month campaign against the Creek Indians during the Creek War. At Horseshoe Bend, Jackson and his troops massacred 800 Creek warriors. The battle ended the war and gave Jackson immense notoriety as a national hero. The United States also received 20 million acres of Creek Land in Georgia and Alabama. -
Battle of New Orleans
Jackson led his troops to the Battle of New Orleans, where they were outnumbered 2 to 1. However, Jackson's soldiers secured the win. It was the last major battle of the War of 1812. He received congress' thanks, a gold medal, and the nickname "Old Hickory". -
Jackson Runs for President
After fighting yet again in the Seminole Wars and filling a seat in the Senate, Jackson was a war hero and a rising political star. His prestigious achievements allowed him to run for president. He ran against candidate John Quincy Adams for office. In what Jackson and his supporters called "the Corrupt Bargain", Henry Clay selected Quincy Adams in a contested convention. -
Jackson Wins the Presidency
The negativity towards the results of the contested convention gave Jackson the opportunity to run again. Jackson's candidacy split the Democratic-Republican Party in two. Jackson won against Quincy Adams by a landslide and became the first frontier president. -
Indian Removal Act
In order to gain more land, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, trading a native's land for land west of the Mississippi. The act allowed Georgia to seize nine million acres of land that was previously promised to the Cherokee.They sent the natives west in the Trail of Tears. 4,000 of the total 11,000 died on the journey. -
Pays Off National Debt
After taking down the "corrupted" Second National Bank, Jackson noticed the national debt was only at $33,733. Jackson saw the national debt as a "national curse" and consistently said so when he ran for president in 1824. He finished paying off the debt on the eighth of January in 1835.
