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Jackson's Birth
Jackson spent much of his early life in the rough and tumble frontier regions of South Carolina and Tennessee. His father died from lifting a heavy log. His mother was left with few resources to support the family. Jackson received only a minimal amount of education. He worked as a self-taught lawyer. -
Jackson enlists in Revolutionary Army
Andrew Jackson enlisted into the Continental Army at age twelve. He served as a courier in the Revolutionary War, running important packages and battle orders across the front. While he performed his job admirably, he was eventually captured and taken prisoner by the Brits. This made him the only U.S. President in history to ever have been a Prisoner of War. They put him to work as a servant to a powerful British General. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last battle of the War of 1812. British soldiers marched against 4,500 U.S. troops led by General Jackson. They defeated the British halting their plans to attack New Orleans and establishing himself as a national military hero. The British had many potential routes in attacking New Orleans from their base in Jamaica. They chose to approach the city from the east by way of Lake Borgne and Bayou Bienvenu. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
There were 1,000 American Indian warriors. These men, along with 350 women and children, had arrived in search of refuge. Many had been part of costly battles during the past year. All fought in an attempt to regain the autonomy the Indians had held before the European Americans arrived. Surrounding the Creek were forces led by future President Andrew Jackson. -
Election of 1824
The 1824 Presidential Election marked the final collapse of the Republican-Federalist political work. For the first time, no candidate ran as a Federalist. Five candidates competed as Democratic Republicans. Clearly, no party system functioned in 1824. The winner of the Electoral College was Andrew Jackson, with 99 votes. -
Election of 1828
The United States presidential election of 1828 featured a rematch between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. As vice president John Calhoun had sided with Jackson. The National Republicans led by Adams, chose Richard Rush as Adams' running mate. Unlike the 1824 election, no other major candidates appeared in the race. That allowed Jackson to consolidate a power base and easily win an electoral victory over Adams. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed by Andrew Jackson. It authorized the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the policy. During the fall and winter, the Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. More than 4000 Cherokees died. -
Nulification Crisis
In 1832, after the passage of another tariff, South Carolina declared the tariffs null and void. They threatened to leave the Union in the Ordinance of Nullification. Jackson responded swiftly, calling the action treasonous. He asked Congress for the power to use military force to ensure that states adhered to federal law. While Congress debated the resulting Force Bill, Kentucky’s Henry Clay introduced a compromise tariff. -
Bank War
The Bank War refers to the political struggle that developed over the issue of the Second Bank of the United States. Jacksonian Democrats were mobilized in opposition to the national bank’s re-authorization. Constitutionally, the Jacksonians considered the Bank an illegitimate corporation whose charter violated state sovereignty. When Congress voted to reauthorize the Bank, Jackson vetoed the bill. His veto message justifying his action was a declaration of the Jacksonian Movement. -
Worcester v. Georgia
Worcester v. Georgia deals with Georgia state laws that were passed. These laws were passed because an agreement was reached between the Cherokee tribe and the state government of Georgia. The laws instituted a prohibition of non-Indians from living in Indian territories. Only Non-Native Americans with special permission from the government were allowed to live on these lands. Worcester then took his case to the Supreme Court.
