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Jackson's Birth
Jackson was born in a log cabin on March 15, 1767. His parents were only poor farmers. This is one of the reasons many people admired and respected him. -
Jackson Enlists in Revolutionary Army
Jackson joined the army at the age of thirteen. He was captured by the British. When a British officer ordered him to clean his boots, Jackson refused. The officer slashed his face and hand with a sword; Jackson never forgot what happened to him. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
It was during this period of Jackson’s career that he began to gain a legendary status. His forces massacred the other side’s warriors. Soon after this, he won national recognition at the Battle of New Orleans. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was an American victory. While the British were preparing to attack, Andrew Jackson was waiting for them with an army. His forces consisted of thousands of Choctaw Indians and frontiersmen, and many of the citizens of New Orleans, African American and white, volunteered to fight. American sharpshooters and cannons helped fell more than two thousand British soldiers, while only losing seven Americans. Andrew Jackson became a national hero -
Election of 1824
In the Election of 1824 there were four candidates: John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Henry Clay, and Andrew Jackson. Jackson won the popular vote, but none of the candidates won the majority. The decision went to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay used his influence as Speaker of the House to persuade many of the representatives to vote forAdams. When Adams won the presidency, he appointed Henry Clay Secretary of State. Jackson accused them of making a "corrupt bargain". -
Election of 1828
In the Election of 1828, John Quincy Adams’ only opponent was Andrew Jackson. Supporters of Jackson attacked Adams as a wealthy aristocrat. Adams supporters attacked Jackson as a tyrant. In the end, Jackson won by a landslide. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was a law passed in 1830. It forced many Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi. In 1838 the US Army marched the Indians hundreds of miles west. More than 2000 people died in what became known as the Trail of Tears. -
Worcester v. Georgia
This case went all the way to the Supreme Court and played a big role in the Trail of Tears. The Court declared it unconstitutional for Georgia to interfere with Native Americans’ territory. However, Jackson did not enforce the Supreme Court’s decision; instead, the US Army gathered up the Indians and marched them on what became known as the Trail of Tears. -
Bank War
Andrew Jackson thought that the Bank of the United States was too powerful.He felt that the Bank helped aristocrats at the expense of the common people.The Bank was forced to close in 1836, and its closing led to an economic crisis. -
Nullification Crisis
This crisis was all about the passing of the highest tariff in the history of the US in 1828. South Carolina passed the Nullification Act and threatened to secede from the Union if challenged. Jackson was furious. The crisis passed when Congress lowered the tariff and gave the President the power to take military action if a state threatened to secede.
