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Born in the Carolinas in 1767, Jackson had little formal education, but during his teen years, studied law and eventually moved to the Tennessee frontier to seek his fortune. In Tennessee, Jackson became a successful attorney and prospered enough as a "self-made man" to build a plantation home outside of Nashville, called the Hermitage. Jackson lived at the Hermitage with his wife, Rachel Donelson. Jackson was the first man from Tennessee to be elected to the United States House of Representatives, and he briefly served in the United States Senate. He rose to national prominence during his tour of duty in the War of 1812 where he served as a Major General, defeating the British at New Orleans. After becoming a national war hero, Jackson ran for President in 1824. Jackson won the popular and electoral vote, but because none of the four candidates—Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and William H. Crawford—had a majority, the election was decided by the House of Representatives. The House voted and John Quincy Adams was chosen. Jackson ran for the Presidency again in 1828 and won. Heralded the champion of the common man, Jackson vowed to clean up the corruption that he believed had led to his denial of the Presidency in 1824. Jacksonian democracy was born. As President, Jackson actively wielded the power of the office, vetoing more pieces of legislation than the first six Presidents combined. He was also a strong supporter of the Union and of federal authority, a stance that eventually clashed with that of his Vice President John C. Calhoun, who resigned over the issue. Other significant events during Jackson's tenure included his dismantling of the national bank system, which he did by vetoing the extension of the bank's charter, claiming that the bank benefited the upper classes at the expense of the working people. Jackson was also responsible for the Trail of Tears—the removal of Native Americans from their east coast homelands. Jackson returned to Heritage in 1837 after serving his second term. He remained active in the Democratic Party and supported the annexation of Texas by the United States. Jackson died on June 8, 1845, having lived to see the passage of the joint annexation resolution by both Houses of Congress (although Texas did not officially become a state until the end of 1845). Jackson was buried at the Hermitage, beside his beloved wife, Rachel, who died shortly after Jackson won the presidency.
Sources: Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, accessed June, 2003 The White House biography of President Andrew Jackson, accessed
June, 2003 The Texas State Library, accessed June, 2003 TIMELINE | HOUSTON
IN TN | PEOPLE | QUIZ
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Andrew Jackson became the seventh President of the United States,
serving two terms from 1829 - 1837. Regarded as the first President
to represent the common man, Jackson reshaped the character of the
Presidency and helped to construct the foundation for the modern
Democratic Party. 
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