Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

Introduction:

"Every good citizen makes his county's honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defense and its conscious that he gains protections while he gives it." This quote by Andrew Jackson reflects his views as a president, military leader, and American citizen. He was the seventh president of the United States. He was born on March 15,1767 in North Carolina and died on June 8,1845 in Nashville, Tennessee. Over his life, he had many accomplishment; his biggest was becoming president. He was strong military leader and a rousing politician. He held many different political positions before his presidency. However, this is not where his story begins. It begins in a small cabin in a settlement named the Waxhaws.

Childhood:

Andrew Jackson was born in a log cabin in the Waxhaws in North Carolina. His father died before Jackson was born leaving his mother, Elizabeth "Betty" Hutchison Jackson, with two older sons, Hugh and Robert Jackson, and newborn Andrew. She raised them by herself under her sister's roof. Little is known about his childhood, but his education was very minuet for he only attended a small back-woods school. Young Jackson enlisted in the Continental Army at nine years old during the American Revolution. His oldest brother, Hugh, was killed at the Battle of Saratoga and two years after his brother's death, he and his other brother Robert were taken prisoner after the battle of Hanging Rock. They were taken to a British prison named Camden. Here, Jackson and his brother suffered from starvation and Jackson suffered serious brutality. In one instance, Jackson suffered a serious sword cut on the arm for refusing to clean a British officer's boots. This incident helped him harbor his hate for the British until his death.

While at Camden, he and his brother Robert contracted a serious case of the smallpox. Their mother organized their release from prison and tried to nurse bother back to health, but Robert died only days after his release. In 1781, Mrs. Jackson left for Charleston to help nurse American soldiers, but died shortly after arriving from either cholera or cabin fever. After his mother's death, young fourteen-year-old Jackson was left by himself in the world. He moved to Charleston not long after his mother's death. Here, he became an apprentice for a saddler. From being around horses so much he learned to love horse racing, but returned to his home. For a while, he was a teacher at his old "field schools", but decided to pursue a law career instead.

Public Career:

In 1787, Jackson left home to pursue a career in law in Salisbury, North Carolina. In September 1787, he was admitted into the North Carolina Bar. He and a fellow student of his, John McNairy, became close friends; so when they heard that lawyers were needed out west, they set out West together. In 1788, Jackson found himself in Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson, soon after arriving found himself boarding in the home of the widow of Colonel John Donelson, one of the founders of Nashville. Also staying in the house was Rachel Robards, the daughter of John Overton. Jackson soon fell in love with Rachel, who was unfortunately married to Lewis Robards. Her friendship with Andrew Jackson led to Rachel's divorce and she and Jackson, by mistake, were married two years before the actual divorce was granted. Jackson never lived down this scandal.

In 1791, under Governor William Blount, Jackson was appointed prosecuting attorney of the same district in North Carolina that his friend McNairy was superior court judge in. Not too long after, he was appointed judge advocate of the Davison County militia. This was the only military office that Jackson held until 1802, when he became a major general of the Tennessee militia. Jackson became involved in purchasing and selling land and sold thousands of acres out West. Among these purchases was the "Hermitage", a cotton plantation where Jackson built his new home.

In 1796, Tennessee was admitted as a state. In that convention, Jackson sat as a delegate. Being placed upon the committee showed that Jackson had professional qualifications. During 1796, Jackson was elected unopposed as Tennessee's representative in the House of Representatives. He served as the representative for two years until he filled an open position in the Senate. After two years in the Senate, he resigned his sear and was appointed judge in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. In 1804, he resigned his position as judge to pay of old debts and became involved in planting and trade.

Jackson was known as an excellent businessman. His credit was excellent and he was kind towards strangers. Both his neighbors and close friends saw the different side of him. His friends knew him to be rough and quarrelsome. He fought many duals including one where he killed a man named Charles Dickinson for making some remarks about his wife. Rachel. In his eleven years of service as commander-in-chief of the Tennessee militia, he saw no action on the battlefield. Finally, he was called to help fight the revolting Native Americans. He won the semi-important battle at Horseshoe Bend, but did not have a major victory until 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans. This battle was the highlight of his military career.

Jackson