Andrew Jackson's Early Years

Study Notes

Born in 1767 in the western frontier of the South Carolina colony
Childhood and early teenage years were spent in a rural and remote settlement, with few opportunities for formal education
Father died in a logging accident when Jackson was two years old
Joined the local militia at age 13, along with his brother, during the Revolutionary War
Both were captured by the British and poorly treated as prisoners of war, resulting in his brother's death and his own near-death experience
Mother died of cholera while treating other captured American soldiers
Studied law in Salisbury, North Carolina, and was admitted to the bar in 1787
Practiced law in the frontier territory of Tennessee before joining the U.S. army during the War of 1812
Defended New Orleans against a much larger British invasion force, earning renown for his military accomplishments

Ran as one of four presidential candidates, receiving the highest plurality of both electoral and popular votes
John Quincy Adams came in second, but due to the lack of a clear majority, the 12th Amendment dictated that the House of Representatives decide the election
Adams was ultimately elected as the sixth U.S. president, with Henry Clay's support
Jackson was furious about his loss, labeling the affair as a "corrupt bargain"

Jackson's supporters splintered off to create the Democratic Party, resulting in the U.S. returning to a two-party system
Jackson's public withdrawal from the previous party and establishment of a separate political demarcation built an even stronger rhetorical position as an anti-establishment leader

Ran against John Quincy Adams, who rebranded under the National Republican Party banner
Jackson's running mate was John C. Calhoun, who switched parties to join Jackson
The race was marked by extensive mudslinging and personal insults by both campaigns
Jackson won in a landslide with 178 electoral votes to Adams' 83, with 80% of qualified voters participating

Served as president for two consecutive terms, true to his mythos as the "common man"
Aims to curb large institutions, both public and private, viewing them as inherently corrupt and distant from the average citizen's needs
Sought to reduce large government spending projects, labeling them "pork-barrel" policies
Critical of large businesses, especially banks, and sought to dissolve monopolies
Believed that the government had been dominated by established elites, corrupt in their dealings with each other and the public
Codified the norm of transparency for all major government appointments
Sought to abolish the electoral college in favor of direct democracy for presidential elections