Andrew Jackson

7th President of the United States
(March 4, 1829 to March 3, 1837)

Nickname: "Old Hickory"

Born: March 15, 1767, in the Waxhaw area, on North Carolina-South Carolina border
Died: June 8, 1845, at the Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee

Father: Andrew Jackson
Mother: Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson
Married: Rachel Donelson Robards (1767-1828), in August 1791 and in a second ceremony on January 17, 1794
Children: Andrew Jackson, Jr. (adopted)

Religion: Presbyterian
Education: No formal education
Occupation: Lawyer, soldier
Political Party: Democrat
Other Government Positions:

• Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1796-97

• United States Senator, 1797-98

• Justice on Tennessee Supreme Court, 1798-1804

• Governor of the Florida Territory, 1821

• United States Senator, 1823-25

Presidential Salary: $25,000/year

Vice Presidents: John C. Calhoun (1829-1832);  Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)

Cabinet:

Secretary of State

 Martin Van Buren (1829-31)

Edward Livingston (1831-33)

Louis McLane (1833-34)

John Forsyth (1834-37)

Secretary of the Treasury

Samuel D. Ingham (1829-31)

Louis McLane (1831-33)

William J. Duane (1833)

Roger B. Taney (1833-34)

Levi Woodbury (1834-37)

Secretary of War

John H. Eaton (1829-31)

Lewis Cass (1831-36)

Attorney General

John M. Berrien (1829-31)

Roger B. Taney (1831-33)

Benjamin F. Butler (1833-37)

Postmaster General

William T. Barry (1829-35)

Amos Kendall (1835-37)

Secretary of the Navy

John Branch (1829-31)

Levi Woodbury (1831-34)

Mahlon Dickerson (1834-37)

Notable Events:

• 1829

  • Estate of James Smithson funded the establishment of the Smithsonian.

  • About 2,000 of Jackson's supporters given government jobs. Jackson also set up a "kitchen cabinet" of informal advisers.

• 1830

  • Jackson authorizes Indian Removal Act of 1830.

• 1831

  • Samuel F. Smith wrote "My Country, 'tis of Thee."

• 1832

  • Jackson reelected.

  • Jackson vetoed the rechartering of 2nd Bank leading to the creation of the Whig Party.

  • South Carolina attempted to nullify federal tariff laws. Federal troops sent to South Carolina on December 10.

• 1835

  • U.S. became debt free (briefly) for the only time in history.

• 1836

  • 6000 Mexicans defeated 190 Americans in 12 days at the Alamo on March 6.
    The Specie Circular ordered that gold and silver were the only currency acceptable for the purchase of federal lands, issued on July 11.

• 1835

  • Jackson signs Treaty of New Echota with unrecognized leaders of Cherokee Nation, which allows him to force the Cherokees to move to land in what is now Oklahoma. 4,000 Native Americans die on this journey, also known as the Trail of Tears.

Internet Biographies:

Andrew Jackson -- from The Presidents of the United States of America

Compiled by the White House.

Andrew Jackson -- from Table of Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States - MSN Encarta

An encyclopedia entry from MSN Encarta.

Andrew Jackson -- from The American President

From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.

A Brief Biography of Andrew Jackson, 1767 - 1845 -- from From Revolution to Reconstruction

This not-so-brief biography was written by Hal Morris for the American Revolution HTML project. This original material goes into detail about his triumphs and controversies.

Andrew Jackson -- from the North Carolina Encyclopedia

A very text-rich biography on this North Carolina native.

Historical Documents:

First Inaugural Address (1829)

Second Inaugural Address (1833)

Other Internet Resources:

Andrew Jackson State Park

This memorial to Jackson, located on 360-acres in Lancaster, South Carolina, includes a museum, campgrounds and resources for other outdoor activities.

The Hermitage

The home of Andrew Jackson. A brief description, history, archaeological plans and tourist information.

Points of Interest:

• Jackson was the only president who served in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

• Jackson was the only president to have been a prisoner of war. He was thirteen when he joined the South Carolina militia to fight in the Revolutionary War. After his capture, he was ordered to clean the boots of a British officer. Jackson refused. The officer then drew his sword and slashed Jackson across the forehead, leaving a scar.

• Jackson was the first president born in a log cabin.

• Jackson was involved in many duels. A duel on May 30, 1806 against Charles Dickinson was over some unflattering remarks made about Jackson's wife. In this duel Jackson was wounded. After he was hit, he took aim and fired at Dickinson. Jackson's gun misfired. As Dickinson was forced to stand his ground, Jackson took aim once again and killed Dickinson. The bullet that wounded Jackson was lodged near his heart and could not be safely removed. He carried that bullet in his chest for the rest of his days.

• Jackson was the first president to ride on a railroad train.

Andrew Jackson

7th President of the United States
(March 4, 1829 to March 3, 1837)

Rachel Jackson

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