Andrew Jackson

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Andrew Jackson

Two Irish folk named Andrew and Elizabeth Jackson came to America in 1867, settling in the Waxhaw area of the North/South Carolina border. Elizabeth wouldn’t know that her child would bring fame, fortune, and great leadership to America. On March 15, 1867, their son was born; Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson. Andrew Sr. died and left Elizabeth a widow with three young boys in poverty. As Andrew grew up, his two brothers joined the militia where they died of disease as well did his mother. He was orphaned at the age of fourteen and gradually picked up bad habits like drinking, gambling, fighting, etc.
Throughout all of his traumatic past, there seemed like there was no hope until he reached the age of seventeen. Andrew went into studying law with a North Carolina lawyer and migrated west to Nashville. After Andrew moved, he became a public prosecutor and married Rachel Donelson, a wealthy family member. Andrew afterwards acquired land and slaves. He was elected to congress in 1796 after Tennessee departed from North Carolina and became the union’s sixteenth state. The following year the legislature elected Andrew as a U.S. senator which he held for only one session before resigning. After he resigned, he went back home and served as a judge on the Tennessee Supreme Court for six years.
Jackson’s military career began in the Revolution. In 1802, he was elected major general of the Tennessee militia. Ten years later, he was elected major general of the U.S. forces by Wille Blount, the Tennessee governor. In 1814, Jackson suffered numerous detrimental campaigns against the Native Americans in the Creek War and was promoted to major general in the regular army. The Creek War began on August 30 of 1813 by the slaying of 250 Alabama settlers in a brutal onslaught by an Indian tribe called the Red Sticks. As a result of the attack, Jackson and 2500 manned forces were deployed to stop and punish the Indians. Jackson ...