Andrew Jackson

7th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-18377th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-18377th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-18377th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-18377th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-18377th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837

7th President Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837

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

Full Name: Andrew Jackson
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 (1737-1767)
Mother: Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson (1737-1781)
Married: Rachel Donelson Robards (1767-1828), in August 1791 and in a second ceremony on January 17, 1794
Children: Andrew Jackson, Jr. (1808-1865) (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

Presidential Election Results:

YearCandidatePopular VotesElectoral Votes
1824John Quincy Adams108,74084
(map)Andrew Jackson153,54499
Henry Clay47,13637
William H. Crawford46,61841

YearCandidatePopular VotesElectoral Votes
1828Andrew Jackson647,286178
(map)John Quincy Adams508,06483

YearCandidatePopular VotesElectoral Votes
1832Andrew Jackson687,502219
(map)Henry Clay530,18949
John Floyd11
William Wirt7
(Votes Not Cast)2

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)

Supreme Court Justices:
John McLean (1830-1861)
Henry Baldwin (1830-1844)
James Moore Wayne (1835-1867)
Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice (1836-1864)
Philip Pendleton Barbour (1836-1841)
John Caltron (1837-1865)

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
  • 1831
    • Samuel F. Smith wrote "My Country, 'tis of Thee."
  • 1832
    • 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.
    • 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.
  • 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.
Internet Biographies:
Andrew Jackson -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
Compiled by the White House.
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.
Andrew Jackson -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts about Jackson and his presidency.
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.
Videos:
Historical Documents:
First Inaugural Address (1829)
Second Inaugural Address (1833)
Veto Message Regarding the Bank of the United States (1832)
Proclamation Regarding Nullification (1832)
Message to the Senate and House Regarding South Carolina's Nullification Ordinance (1833)
Farewell Address (1837)
Andrew Jackson Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress

 

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 Best Biographies of Andrew Jackson
In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
Chalmette Battlefield
Site of Jackson's 1815 victory at the Battle of New Orleans.
Health and Medical History of Andrew Jackson
Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
The Hermitage
The home of Andrew Jackson. A brief description, history, archaelogical plans and tourist information.
Points of Interest:

701 West South Main Street, Waxhaw, North Carolina

196 Andrew Jackson Park Rd, Lancaster, SC 29720

4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage, TN 37076
Additional Facts:
  • 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.
  • Jackson survived the first attempt to kill a sitting president when the assassin's two guns both misfire.
  • Jackson was the first president born after the death of his father.
  • Jackson was the first president to marry a divorced woman.
  • Jackson was the first president to have a Vice President resign.
  • in 1834, Jackson became the first (and so far only) president to have been censured by the Senate. It was removed in 1837.
Quotes:

“Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.”

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”

“I know what I am fit for. I can command a body of men in a rough way; but I am not fit to be President.”

“Americans are not a perfect people, but we are called to a perfect mission.”

“There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it.”

“Fear not, the people may be deluded for a moment, but cannot be corrupted.”

“It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word.”

Previous President: John Quincy Adams
Next President: Martin Van Buren