by Con Fusion

Created on: March 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

In Andrew Jackson, one sees a symbol for an era more than just a single man. He became this symbol of the Jacksonian Era in two ways: taking the highly republican thinking of Jefferson, modifying and implementing it, and in doing so, becoming someone Americans could identify with; along with bringing a new modern shift of power and freshness to the presidency compared to the old colonial system. Jackson's sweeping changes and traditions to the presidency can still be seen in the United States today.

Jackson's life has an interesting start in that no one knows when he was actually born. He just sort of "appeared" in the world in 1767 on the western borders on North and South Carolina to a family of illiterate drifters. Such "appearances" were frequent in the rural back country of the Appalachians with no formal records or documentation. His father died when he was three and his mother when he was fourteen. At this age he was essentially on his own and we only know of his existence through court records where we first learn of his drinking, rowdiness, and violent behavior. Eventually he becomes a self-proclaimed attorney, very successful, but not necessarily a good one.

At 27 years old in 1796, Tennessee entered the union and was looking for political leadership. Jackson ran and was elected for both the House of Representatives and Senate but he disliked Washington D.C. because it was too urban and sophisticated, or, at least by his standards. Back in Nashville he was elected a city judge and with his notorious temper he was very irrational in this position. In his late 30's he used his public office to place himself in the position of a plantation owner growing cotton. He settles down and marries Rachel Robards, but she was already in marriage yet not exactly seeing her husband. Situations like this were not at all uncommon on the frontier but this marriage would give Andrew's opponents mud to sling at him in later elections.

In his mid 40's he is by now one of the best-known men west of the Appalachians. At this time the War of 1812 is raging, and Jackson decides to take action. He uses his popularity to declare himself general and rallies men to New Orleans. Here, he wins the most significant victory of a losing war. Although the battle of New Orleans occurred after the war was officially over, Jackson was still catapulted to a national figure. Being the "Hero of New Orleans" satisfies Jackson quite well and with little hesitation he decides to attack Spanish

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