Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson, born in 1767 was a child of poor Scotch-Irish immigrants. He ended up with enough education to be qualified to practice law. Jackson’s father died before he was born. The Revolutionary War started soon after he was born. It was very bloody in the wild and poor country where they lived. Jackson at the age of 13, joined a regiment. He was captured by the British, was wounded and nearly killed by a sword to the face for not polishing a British officers boots. He and his brother, imprisoned together, caught smallpox. Jackson’s mother got the boys released, but his brother died on the long trip home. His mother later went to tend wounded American prisoners and was fatally stricken by cholera. By his 30’s Jackson had been elected a member of the United States House of Representatives of Tennessee and was senator, but resigned after one year. During The War of 1812, Jackson had some difficulties due to some enemies he made. In between overcoming various Indian tribes they won the war. After most of the capitol city of Washington was burned by the British, the Americans were badly in need of cheering up. Jackson became a United States Major General- this was very different from a state militia Major General. He continued to have military successes, though in his invasion of Spanish Florida, he got the reputation of being a kind of Caesar. In 1821, Jackson, at the age of 54 was in a very dangerous state of health. He, like many other southerners had defended his “Honor” in 2 or 3 duels and 1 shoot-out. He took two bullets. One lodged beside his heart and the other shattered his arm. At about this time, the “Hero of New Orleans” was perhaps the most popular man in the country. He received a “Favorite Son” endorsement for the presidency from his state of Tennessee. Believing that Washington had become a “Sink or corruption”, he felt called to work for the office. To gain credibility, he ran for and won a seat in the Senate. This time, in his maturity, he handled the job well, making a favorable impression on the old government hands. Many of which had expected a wild man dressed in buckskins. Jackson immediately made peace with Thomas Hart Benton, who once said Jackson would thrash in the streets of Nashville. Thomas, with the company of his brother, left a bullet in Jackson’s arm in one of his duels. They became close allies. Jackson... ... middle of paper ... ...would all meet each other again in Heaven, “Both Black and White”. A few hours later Jackson’s good friend, Sam Houston, rushed into the room to find a white faced dead Jackson. He was sitting in his chair as stiff as a statue. He dropped to his knees, and wept. When he stood up he grabbed a nearby boy and told him “My son, try to remember that you have looked upon the face of Andrew Jackson. One of the greatest men I have ever met.” Two days after Jackson died friends and family buried him in the garden right next to his wife Rachel. The inscription on his tombstone read: General Andrew Jackson Born March 15, 1767 Died June 8, 1845. That was all it said, but it was enough. Overall, the “Era of Jackson” was a big step for America. He made many of good decisions, and some bad actions as president. I would still name him one of the greatest presidents of all time. Bibliography 1) Coit, Margaret. Andrew Jackson . Boston: Riverside Press Cambridge, 1965. 2) “Jackson, Andrew”. Young People’s Encyclopedia of the United States. 2nd edition. 1992-1993. 3) Jackson, Andrew. “America Online.” May 7, 1999. Online posting: www.biography.com/cgi-bin/biomain.cgi. 1995. Word Count: 1357