Very Ill Andrew Jackson example essay topic

Andrew Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson, born in 1767 was a child of poor Scotch-Irish immigrants. He ended up with enough education to be qualified to practice law. Jackson's father died before he was born. The Revolutionary War started soon after he was born. It was very bloody in the wild and poor country where they lived. Jackson at the age of 13, joined a regiment.

He was captured by the British, was wounded and nearly killed by a sword to the face for not polishing a British officers boots. He and his brother, imprisoned together, caught smallpox. Jackson's mother got the boys released, but his brother died on the long trip home. His mother later went to tend wounded American prisoners and was fatally stricken by cholera. By his 30's Jackson had been elected a member of the United States House of Representatives of Tennessee and was senator, but resigned after one year. During The War of 1812, Jackson had some difficulties due to some enemies he made.

In between overcoming various Indian tribes they won the war. After most of the capitol city of Washington was burned by the British, the Americans were badly in need of cheering up. Jackson became a United States Major General- this was very different from a state militia Major General. He continued to have military successes, though in his invasion of Spanish Florida, he got the reputation of being a kind of Caesar.

In 1821, Jackson, at the age of 54 was in a very dangerous state of health. He, like many other southerners had defended his? Honor? in 2 or 3 duels and 1 shoot-out. He took two bullets. One lodged beside his heart and the other shattered his arm. At about this time, the?

Hero of New Orleans? was perhaps the most popular man in the country. He received a? Favorite Son? endorsement for the presidency from his state of Tennessee. Believing that Washington had become a? Sink or corruption? , he felt called to work for the office. To gain credibility, he ran for and won a seat in the Senate.

This time, in his maturity, he handled the job well, making a favorable impression on the old government hands. Many of which had expected a wild man dressed in buckskins. Jackson immediately made peace with Thomas Hart Benton, who once said Jackson would thrash in the streets of Nashville. Thomas, with the company of his brother, left a bullet in Jackson's arm in one of his duels. They became close allies.

Jackson was bitterly disappointed in 1824 by a 4-way race in which he won a substantial plurality, but lost to John Quincy Adams in the House of Representatives. In 1828, Jackson won a? landslide? victory. The new Democratic party, which he helped forge, brought a temporary end to all the fighting and arguing of the parties in American politics. This time was sometimes called the? Era of Good Feelings?

On December 22, 1928, a few weeks before Jackson's inauguration, he was thrown into a deep sadness, caused by the death of his wife. He believed that she had died because of the abusive attacks by the press of the other side. Jackson at times would use his power and authority as a? Hot-Headed? man, going into simulated rages. And at other times, he could appear as the most courteous? Gentleman? alive.

Even though his wife had just passed away, he made it to his inauguration. The morning was bright and clear. Yet there was still snow on the ground which made it very muddy. As Andrew looked out of his window, he saw all of the people coming to Washington to shake his hand. Usually the inauguration was a very peaceful and quiet event. Not this time!

All of the guests were his friends. In their muddy boots, self-made coon-hats, and many other irregular clothes, the northwestern fur traders, mountain men, hunters, and old soldiers came marching to the White House. They broke through the lines of guards and came crashing through the front door. They ripped clothes, smashed fine china and glasses, and climbed on $150 chairs ruining them. In order to get all of these? vandals? out, the butlers and organizers moved all of the punch bowls and food trays to the lawn outside. During Jackson's presidency, he took care of many major events.

One was his refusal to submit to South Carolina. They said they would make their own country, because they did not want to pay the ridiculously high federal tariffs. He rejected the principal they tried to establish that a state could decide on its own whether federal laws applied to it or not. He eliminated the second Bank of the United States. This was a very interesting move. On the one hand, the bank had done much to provide a stable environment in which business could operate.

But on the other hand, they were a private monopoly given a huge privileged place in the economy, and they used their influence to try to affect elections. He carried on a strong and generally successful diplomacy, getting amends from countries which had damaged United States shipping during The War of 1812. He did much to push the Indians to the west of the Mississippi. This formed the? Trail of Tears? , called so because thousands of Indians died due to disease or starvation on a road to Oklahoma. His government eliminated the National Debt for the first time.

Jackson did a great deal of? belt-tightening? and eliminated corrupt public officials. Mostly though the federal government benefited by the massive migration to the west, and consequently profited from the sale of public lands. Because of the strong opposition he created in Congress and elsewhere, a cohesive new party of opposition (the Whigs) was created. In 1832, campaign for Jackson's reelection was fought in the midst of two crises. One was triggered by Jackson's veto to renew the Bank's charter.

It did not have to be renewed until 1836 but was brought for renewal in 1832 out of political considerations by Jackson's opposition. The other crises was South Carolina's pending rebellion. Jackson's Vice President was a South Carolinian and he resigned before his term was over so he could assume a seat in the Senate. Jackson again won by a landslide, with the help of his expert political manager, Martin Van Buren. Van Buren won the presidency in 1836, but served only one term. He was growing unpopular when in 1837, a deposition struck.

Many blamed this on Jackson's slaying of the bank. On Sunday, June 8, 1845, the doctor came to the White House to check on the very ill Andrew Jackson. All of his servants were crowded around the chair he was sitting in. Jackson said good bye to all of them, and kissed and blessed all of his family. He then removed the small picture of his wife, Rachel, that he wore around his neck and put it on their daughter Little Rachel. He told her to wear it at all times.

Then as everybody wept, he told them not to cry, and promised that they would all meet each other again in Heaven, ? Both Black and White? A few hours later Jackson's good friend, Sam Houston, rushed into the room to find a white faced dead Jackson. He was sitting in his chair as stiff as a statue. He dropped to his knees, and wept.

When he stood up he grabbed a nearby boy and told him? My son, try to remember that you have looked upon the face of Andrew Jackson. One of the greatest men I have ever met.? Two days after Jackson died friends and family buried him in the garden right next to his wife Rachel.

The inscription on his tombstone read: General Andrew Jackson Born March 15, 1767 Died June 8, 1845. That was all it said, but it was enough. Overall, the? Era of Jackson? was a big step for America. He made many of good decisions, and some bad actions as president. I would still name him one of the greatest presidents of all time.

1) Coit, Margaret. Andrew Jackson. Boston: Riverside Press Cambridge, 1965.2)? Jackson, Andrew? Young People's Encyclopedia of the United States. 2nd edition.

1992-1993.3) Jackson, Andrew.? America Online.? May 7, 1999. Online posting: web 1995..