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Andrew Jackson() was the seventh President of the United States. He is famous for defeating the British during at Battle of Orleans during the War of 1812, for forcing the Native Americans to move west in the Trail of Tears, and opposing the Bank of the United States. He is one of Bill Clinton's favorite historical figures.

Background

Andrew Jackson was the son of Andrew Jackson Sr. and Elizabeth Jackson. They were Scotts-Irish immigrants. During the mid-eighteen century there was a famine in Ireland, many Irish left to the United States. Jackson's mother Elizabeth had family members in Waxhaw, South Carolina. Jackson Sr. bought land and settled in North Carolina with his wife and two sons - Hugh and Robert.

During the winter in 1767 Jackson Sr. died. His death might have been caused by an injury or becoming sick from working in the cold. Elizabeth was pregnant with Jackson Jr. at the time. Since her husband was the only source of income and protection she had to move across the border and live with her sister and brother-in-law - James and Jane Crawford.

Revolutionary War

Elizabeth was devoted to the rebel cause and her son Hugh was a member of the Waxhaw militia. When Jackson was thriteen he and his brother Robert enlisted as scouts for the miltia. The war was not going very well for the rebels in the south. Hugh died in battle and the Jackson family had to move about to avoid the British.

About a year after his enlistment, Jackson and some rebels headed towards Waxhaw to meet the British forces. The British beat back the rebels, caputuring some of them. Jackson and his cousin Thomas Crawford escaped, meeting up with his brother along the way. They headed to what they belived was safe, his aunt's house. But the British proved otherwise, distroying her home. A British Officer tried to humble Jackson by ordering him to clean his boots. Jackson refused and the officer responded by taking out his sword and aiming at Jackson's head. Jackson tried shield the blow with his hand but recieved a gash on his forehead.

Andrew Jackson, his brother, and cousin was taking to a prison camp. The prison camp was kept in bad condition many captives died of disease. Elizabeth after hearing of their capture traveled forty miles to the prison camp to persuade the British for an exchange of prisoners.

Robert (who was very ill when they left) died from the hard travel back to North Carolina. Elizabeth left again traveling one hundred and sixty miles to Charleston to free her nephews. The journey was too much for her, she became ill with cholera and died.

According to Jackson and historians his mother left a huge impression on him. Jackson lived a life by a code of honor giving to him by his mother. He fought many duels to defend that honor.

Young Adulthood

In 1787 eighteen year-old Jackson apprenticed himself to a lawyer in Sailbury, North Carolina. Jackson was considered a wild young man at the time, at night he and his friends would drink, gamble, and play practical jokes. Two years later he left his apprentiship with Macay and worked under a lawyer named John Stokes, a colonel during the war. Six-months later he was lawyer of his own.

Practing law in Jonesburo, Jackson fought his first duel with Waightstill Avery a lawyer who took the opppsite side of a civil suit. Jackson claimed Avery attacked his character. No one was hurt in this incident, both men decided to miss on purpose.

Andrew Jackson was selected to be a prosecutor for the Mero District, a territory owned by North Carolina that will later be part of the state of Tennessee. At Nashville, Jackson meet his future wife, Rachel Donelson. Rachel was married at the time with Lewis Robards, a jealous husband who threw her out of his mother's (Robard and Rachel lived with his mother) home after accusing her with adultury. Jackson was boardering at a cabin owned by the Robard's when all this happened. Later when Rachel came back Robards became jealous again accusing Jackson. Jackson denied it and took it as insult, he challenged Robards to a duel. Robards refused and left his wife and mother.

When Jackson left the Robards he developed romantic feelings for Rachel. They later married when the Donelson family and he traveled to Natchez. His marriage was considered illegal by many because Mr. Robards divorce from Rachel was not granted till two years afterward.

Entry into Politics

In 1976 Jackson joined the consitutional convention to prepare for the admission of Tennessee into the US. He was one of the leading forces for the name of the new state and the formation of its constitution. He was selected to be Tennesse's first representative for the House of Representatives.

Jackson was a member of the Republican (anti-federalist) party. The republican party at the time was for a small central government with most of the powers of government is given to the states, anti-monarchist, and anti-british. When Jackson returned home from Philadelphia (the US capital at the time), one of the senators from Tennessee was expelled from the Senate and Jackson was selected for his replacement. During his term as senator he supported the French Revolution and France. His support was opposite of John Adams and the Federalists who were pro-british.

In 1798 Jackson resigned from the Senate after three months. He left because he felt that the Senate spent too much on minor issues and he was not achieving much for his state.