Transcript
Andrew Jackson was born in March of 1767, near Lancaster South Carolina. He was born into a family of immigrants from Ireland prior to his birth. He was named after his father who died prior to his birth. Jackson, who was pushed to become a minister had those ideals crushed as Jackson was the quintessential teenager that he was always causing trouble and cursing and fighting. Andrew Jackson volunteered to fight the British when he was just 13 along with his brothers. His eldest brother Hugh succumbs to heat stroke in the Battle of Stone Ferry in 1779. Both Jackson and his brother while in captivity from being captured in that battle contracted smallpox. With arrangements made by his mother, they were both released, but soon after release Robert, Jacksons last brother, died from his illness. Post recovery, he and his mother traveled to Charleston, to aid in the war effort, unfortunately his mother contracted cholera and died, leaving Jackson an orphan at just the age of 14. Being left to basically fend for himself after running out of inheritance, he started as schoolteacher. At the age of 17 Jackson decided to become a lawyer, in North Carolina, and after being an apprentice for three years, he received his license to practice. Just after his 21st birthday by ways a friend who happened to be a Superior Court Judge, Jackson was appointed to the office of prosecuting attorney for his district. The war of 1812 began, he was elected to the General of the Tennessee Militia. General Jackson through led his men through several tide-turning battles. He soon earned the name "Old Hickory" by gaining millions of acres in the south, with the inclusion of Florida. He had many numerous victories over the British with his keen battle strategies. He developed a critique of being a common man, with real sharpness for battle. This put him in the eyes of the country on the road to the White House. Gaining the office of the President Andrew Jackson, he defended the Union and began a US foreign affairs policy and moved the country towards democracy. he worked to pay off the national debt, gain land and started the issuance of new currency. Still today there are those that questioned his tactics and developed a notion of him being a democratic autocrat. There is no doubt that President Andrew Jackson, was not your normal political elite. He fought sickness at an early age, fought in battles in his teen years, studied hard and became a lawyer, to teacher and to eventual General, and then President. He expanded the powers of the presidency and made changes that no doubt changed a nation. He inspired a nation that through hard work and natural abilities rather than privilege that changes can be made. Jackson's Legacy was and is still contemplated today whether he was good or bad, As a champion for the people. a commander in wars, and as a president. From the legacy standpoint, he had his trials in all three areas. being noted as for the people, he made critical changes to laws and regulations, for a better democracy, all the while, he did own slaves. In contrast though he did rescue an orphan on the battlefield and brought him to his home, even while he was removing Indians from their tribal lands, leading to the Trail of Tears. He defended slavery, while having slave quarters at his Hermitage home. The ultimate duality of Jackson's Legacy is that he fought for life and liberty of the people, while restraining the freedoms of others. He gave birth to a nation of changes and possibilities, while limiting the rights of others. Some say he was a champion; some say he was the opposite. Time and review of history is often challenged and debated if it was good or bad, but it depends on which side of the looking glass, you are viewing. Much like this country is today, we are going through changes, some good some bad, some freeing, some restrictive. We have come far since Jackson era, but we do have a long way to go before we could have a détente.!
