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Biography of President Andrew Jackson Essay

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Andrew Jackson was one of the most controversial presidents that has governed the United States, both historically and while he was the leader of the country. Like many Americans during the time he was born, Andrew Jackson was born to Scottish and Irish immigrant parents on March 15, 1767. It is unclear for certain which, but Jackson was born in one of the Carolinas, which at the time were British colonies. Jackson was raised as a child of the frontier, and likewise received the type of sporadic education that most children got at the time, with formal primary education being years away. Jackson would become an orphan in the American Revolution, and gained early experience in battle, foreshadowing his future military career. In the years …show more content…

Because modern technology was obviously unavailable at the time of 1817, Jackson fought the British at New Orleans in 1817, shockingly defeating a group of experienced British generals. The incredible victory for Jackson, although it really had no effect on the war, once again gained him great respect, and would cement his reputation as one of America’s greatest military heroes. The aggressiveness of Jackson on the battlefield and his willingness to command without fear would gain him the nickname he would own for the remainder of his life, “Old Hickory”. The victory at New Orleans and Jackson’s heroic fighting in the war would be greatly important in Jackson’s fame and run for presidency in 1824 (Tregle, Joseph G., Jr.). Almost immediately after his great win at New Orleans in 1817, Jackson began his push to become president of the United States. From the beginning of his campaigning, his success as a military leader played a huge role in Jackson’s popularity and attraction. In the election of 1824, Jackson was pitted against John Quincy Adams, both running under the sole party at the time, the Democratic-Republicans. Because no candidate won a majority of the electoral college, despite Jackson winning the popular vote, the election went to the House of Representatives to be decided. In the end, John Q. Adams won the presidency after Henry Clay put his support behind Adams. This would go on to be called the “corrupt bargain,” as Jackson and his

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