Chapter 1 Early Life Early Life Early Life Early Life Early Life Early Life Early Life Early Life Early Life W ith a humble political background Andrew Jackson introduced a new type of democracy in the United States when he became the country’s seventh president in 1829 Rather than winning an elec tion through the traditional backing of a strong political party Jackson triumphed by a direct appeal to a mass of people He was the fi rst pres ident from the area west of the Appalachians and brought a fresh approach to politics in Washington D C With a strong will and bold determination Jackson led the nation with the same rigor that he led his military conquests in the War of 1812 and the First Seminole War which paved the way for the U S annexation of Florida His fi ery disposition commanded the respect 10
Early Life Photo of President Jackson taken later in life Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division 11
Andrew Jackson of his subordinates friends and enemies alike In the White House Jackson over came a domestic crisis with South Carolina over the nullification of federal laws drove Native American tribes farther west vetoed the federal bank charter to eliminate banking corruption and influenced the growth of the Democratic party that stimulated the revival of two-party politics Childhood and Youth Andrew Jackson was born on March 15 1767 in Waxhaw a settlement bordering North and South Carolina His parents were Andrew Jackson for whom he was named and Elizabeth Jackson The couple lived on a farm in the north of Ireland now Northern Ireland near Belfast Their first two sons Hugh and Robert were born in Ireland The family immigrated to North America in 1765 where the elder Jackson built a home in the forested region of the western Carolinas The hard pioneer life exhausted him and he died a few weeks before Andrew’s birth leaving Elizabeth to raise their three sons on her own 12
Early Life Drawing of the purported birthplace of Andrew Jackson in North Carolina Hulton Archive Getty Images 13
