2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

His aged face with white hair is printed on our $20 bill. With every $20 spent, he became a constant reminder of the forced relocation and extermination of thousands of Native Americans. He emerged from partisan war during a turbulent period in the American Revolution. From that turbulence, he led armies of men to committ mass murder and genocide. He did so in service to his country and the Constitution of the United States. This was the world of Andrew Jackson.

Born in 1767, he grew up a young rebel in Waxhaws, South Carolina. Around a decade or so later, Jackson displayed his toughness.

British troops made their infamous foray in the South. Lieutenant Col. Banastre Tarleton unleashed hell on a Continental force commanded by a Colonel Buford. The bloody engagement occurred nearby Jackson's house. Buford's men were completely routed and savaged by British cavalry. Over a hundred men were killed after surrendering. American soldiers were slashed with sabers, ran through with bayonets, shot or trampled by Tarleton's Legion horses.

To punish Rebel families, British cavalry raided Waxhaws itself. Several men got shot down. Their wives or girlfriends were terrorized. Homes were busted up or burned to the ground. A British officer attempted to brutalize a young Jackson. He fended off a saber blow with his bare hand. He suffered a horrible injury. Since that moment, he professed a hatred of British soldiers and sought vengenance.

During the War of 1812, Jackson rose to rank of Major General. He led a rough contingent of Tennessee volunteers with Regular troops. He also had dependable cavalry under Major Coffee. This army was raised to battle hostile Creek Indians (Red Sticks) under the half-breed chief, William Weatherford. A large, Red Stick war party destroyed Fort Mims (in modern-day Alabama); killing over 500 whites and others. The Red Sticks waged two wars simultaneously. They fought to drive whites from the region and to punish friendly Creeks (White Sticks) who sympathized with the Americans. British agents provided Weatherford's warriors with weapons and rum. They used their main ally, Shawnee chief, Tecumseh to create an Indian "confederation". That confederation bloodied U.S. troops from the Ohio Territory to the South.

Jackson sought to put the hostile Creeks out of action.

His campaign against Weatherford was one-sided and fiendish. His force surrounded and razed two, Creek towns; killing around 250 Indians. At Talledega (Alabama), he trapped a Red Stick army

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Andrew Jackson and his role in the genocide of the Native Americans?
We want to hear your view. Write now!