American History

Born in backwoods Settlements in the Carolinas on March, 15th 1767 (Whitehouse, 2009, p1), Andrew Jackson’s life remains one of the most inspiring of the American presidents, exemplifying the American dream, (Freidel, 2006,p 12). Elected as the Seventh president of the United States in 1829 he had served several positions such as becoming the military governor of Florida in 1821 and is considered one of the pioneer democrats in American history.  Jackson’s early life was one of hardship; with his father dying three weeks prior to his birth, he received intermittent education before joining the American Revolutionary War in 1780, (Freidel, 2006, p14). Jackson was held prisoner by the British together with his brother, a period that was surrounded by great adversity. He witnessed the death of his two brothers and mother within the same year and was orphaned at the tender age of fourteen, with no immediate family, (Freidel, 2006).

Jackson received legal education in Salisbury, North Carolina, a feat that was made possible by teaching part time gaining admission into the bar in 1787. Nine years later, he was elected as a delegate to the Tennessee constitutional convention, a development that was instrumental in cementing Jackson’s reputation as a national figure. With the elevation of Tennessee as a State  within the year (1796), Jackson was elected into the US house of representatives, and a year later into the US Senate a post he held for less than a year opting to following his appointment as a Tennessee Supreme court, (Freidel, 2006, p 43).

    Brands (2006, p. 18) affirms that perhaps one of the greatest service of Jackson was that in the military that began with his appointment as the commander of the Tennessee Militia in 1801. Following the Fort Mims Massacre, which saw the death of hundreds of settlers, Jackson commanded a battalion against the Creek Indians who had carried out the massacre, defeating them in 1814. Jackson is also credited for imposing the Treaty of Fort Jackson upon the Creek enemies, a development that saw the wresting of millions of acres to white settlers. Brands, (2006) further notes that Jackson’s presidential quest was faced difficult challenges. Losing his first campaign 1n 1824, he suffered a series of character attacks in the 1828 although he still managed to secure nomination defeating the incumbent, John Adams Quincy to become the 7th president of the United States. Comparative to his predecessors, Jackson was perhaps the most popular to voters and was elected by popular vote, and during his service to the people, acted as the direct representative of the common men, (Freidel, 2006, p. 67).

Jackson’s actions were controversial although they shaped much of the American political and economic domains. One of the most astounding feat was the wiping away of the national debt reducing it to the lowest in nearly 4 decades.  Jackson also waged a steady campaign in opposition to the Bank of the United States which was run by private bankers noting that the bank controlled members of the congress, served the rich, centralized the country’s finances and served foreign interest. The campaign remains one of the most significant of Jackson’s legacies. Jackson was in opposition of the electoral college and called for its abolition, a call that was not implemented as the institution still defines American politics, (Freidel, 2006,p. 81).

Political scientists see Jackson as one of the pioneer advocates for rotation in office, a principle that is intentioned to preventing corruption associated with party loyalty and hero worship.  Jackson’s presidency was not without controversy; his implementation of the Trail of Tears campaign has been criticized for being a violent campaign to force native Americans to leave their homeland. This campaign was official following the passing of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, and Freidel (2006,p. 83) documents that Jackson was instrumental in negotiating treaties for the removal of Indian tribes driving them south. This is a sad development since other whites referred to the natives as savages, calling for their total extermination although Jackson is also credited for affirming that the emigration should be voluntary, (Brands, 2006, p. 21).

    Jackson’s life story depict him as one of the most , fascinating, controversial and influential individuals to have served as the president of the United States. Although Jackson was not the only president who had been a Veteran in the American Revolution, he was the last one within the category and was honored for being a prisoner of war. From his youth as an orphan to a notable law experts, his rise as a military death to a keen and decisive president and up to his death, is a story of a man faced with considerable triumphs and tribulations.