ANDREW JACKSONBackground Information

JACKSON SERVED 2 TERMS AS

PRESIDENT: 1829-1837

Historians usually connect Jackson to “the era of the common man”: when when average people began to have a say in gov’t

But just how democratic was he???

BOYHOOD:

Born in the Carolinas, Jackson grew up poor

His dad died before his birth

BOYHOOD

• During the American Revolution (at the age of 13), he was captured by the British and wounded

• Both of his brothers and his mother died after the the war, leaving him alone

BOYHOOD

• Jackson became a lawyer, growing wealthy enough to own land and slaves.

• He married and moved to Tennessee, and was elected first as a U.S. Representative and later a senator.

MILITARY CAREER

Andrew Jackson became a soldier and a hero during the War of 1812, when he defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans

Was known to be tough: “Old Hickory”

As a general, he fought side by side with his men

MILITARY CAREER

After the War of 1812, he fought to drive the Spanish out of Florida

https://youtu.be/PatU9kzs-bA

https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/32e85857-f746-48b0-af13-7a5f3660c33f

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS

• Election of 1824: No candidate won a majority in the Electoral College:

“Corrupt Bargain”: Henry Clay would give his support & electoral votes to John Quincy Adams, if Adams agreed to make Clay the Secretary of State.

John Quincy Adams won the election in the House of Reps, even though Jackson had more electoral votes (and popular votes!)

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS

• Elections of 1828 & 1832: Jackson wins the presidency

• Jackson vowed to be the voice of the common people

JACKSON’S DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY

To Jackson, democracy meant that all parts of the gov’t must listen to and follow the wishes of the people - the common man

Republicanism: the idea that an elite group of people (wealthy & educated) should hold the power in gov’t - that the common man could not be trusted with power (these elite protected the gov’t from unwise decisions that the common man might make)