Andrew Jackson facts for kids

Andrew Jackson Facts For Kids -  social studies skills studied in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades.

The 7th President of the USA

The 7th President of the USA was Andrew Jackson. He is best known for his support to the idea of ‘individual liberty’. He is also the founding father of the Democratic Party. He served as the President of the country from 1829 to 1837. He is known for representing the rights of the common man and being at the forefront of modern democracy.
Early Life
Andrew Jackson was born on 15th March 1767 in the unnamed border area between North and South Carolina. He was born to Andrew and Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson, who were immigrants from Ireland. His father died just 3 weeks before Andrew’s birth. So most of his growing years were spent in extreme poverty. As a result, he did not get a formal education in his early years.
The American Revolutionary War reached Carolinas. This war affected Andrew’s life significantly. He lost his eldest brother Hugh Jackson in the battle of Stono Ferry in the year 1779. At the age of 13, he became the courier boy for the local militia. Later he along with his brother Robert was taken into captivity by the British. His brother died of smallpox in the year 1781. Later, his mother died of cholera while serving the prisoners of war. He lost his family at a tender age of 14.
In his late teens, he started studying law in Salisbury. Later he got admission to the bar. Soon he became a prosecuting attorney in Tennessee.
He amassed a lot of wealth from his private practice. With this money, he became a wealthy landowner in Nashville.
Later Years
Andrew became an elected delegate to the convention that got Tennessee the status of statehood in late 1796. Later, he became the elected Representative of U.S. Next year, he was elected as a U.S. Senator, but he resigned from the post within one year. In 1798, Andrew was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee where he served till 1804.
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Military Career
Andrew Jackson was appointed as the Major General in the Tennessee militia in the year 1802. His successful defeat of the British in the battle of New Orleans made him a national hero. The battle made him famous because he was able to defeat some of the best British regiments; these were the same soldiers who had defeated Napoleon. Prior to this, the Americans had never won a victory against a major European power without the help of another European power.
Political Career
By 1828, Jackson won the Presidency of the United States. His victory was a celebration for the people. People came from far and wide just to have a glance of their new President.
His Presidency had a low when he destroyed the National bank resulting in a nationwide depression. He was also responsible for relocating the most number of Indian tribes to the West. His practical solution was two things – either Indians could accept a piece of land and become farmers or if they were looking for a distinct identity they have to move to the West.
The South Carolina Legislature disrupted Jackson’s presidency by threatening to secede due to the high tariffs placed on imports. He retaliated by threatening to send 50,000 troops into their state to enforce the Constitution. South Carolina backed down. In the end, he was able to save the Union.
Jackson died on 8th June 1845 at his plantation, the Hermitage.