Andrew Jackson Study Guide

President Andrew Jackson Study Guide

1. Introduction:

  • Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States, after winning the elections in 1828 and 1832.
  • Born on March 15, 1767, in the Waxhaws region of South Carolina.
  • He was a military hero and the first president not from the East Coast elite.

2. Early Life:

  • Jackson's childhood was marked by hardship. His father died before he was born, and his mother and brothers died during the American Revolution.
  • Orphaned at a young age, he grew up as a self-reliant and determined individual.

3. Military Career:

  • Andrew Jackson gained fame as a military leader during the War of 1812, particularly for his victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, which came after the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war
  • His military successes earned him the nickname "Old Hickory."

4. Early Political Career

  • Before becoming president, Andrew Jackson served as a senator in Tennessee; the state where he lived for most of his life.
  • Andrew Jackson lost the presidential election to John Quincy Adams in 1824, but became president in 1828 due in large part to support from western settlers

5. The Common Man's President (Jacksonian Democracy):

  • Jackson was often seen as a champion of the common man. He portrayed himself as an outsider who fought against the elite establishment.
  • His presidency emphasized the idea of expanding democracy to include a broader segment of the population as part of the term populism

5. Indian Removal Act:

  • One controversial aspect of Jackson's presidency was the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
  • This policy forced Native American tribes to relocate west of the Mississippi River, resulting in the tragic and infamous Trail of Tears and thousands of Native American deaths

6. Nullification Crisis:

  • Jackson faced a crisis when South Carolina declared the federal tariffs null and void in 1832.
  • He opposed nullification, seeing it as a tool of the elite, and asserted federal authority, preventing South Carolina from seceding. He declared nullification unconstitutional

7. The Bank War:

  • Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States, seeing it as a tool of the wealthy and powerful.
  • He vetoed the rechartering of the bank, leading to its eventual demise.

8. Legacy:

  • Jackson left a lasting impact on the presidency, expanding executive powers (powers of the president) and emphasizing the importance of the common man in American politics.
  • His presidency is, however, controversial due to policies such as Indian removal.