ANDREW JACKSON

THE MOST HARDCORE AND TERRIFYING PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY

EARLY LIFE1767 - Born on the NC/SC border in an area called the “Waxhaws” to Irish immigrants

1779 – 12 years old, enlisted in the Continental Army

1781 – 14 years old, taken as a prisoner of war by the British

• Refused to polish a British officer’s boots and was slashed with a sword

• Contracted smallpox while captured and SURVIVED!

• Mother and brother both died of smallpox

TEEN YEARSMoved to Charleston, SC and basically messed around for a few years

• Known for his red hair, blue eyes, tall stature, fiery temper, fearlessness, playfulness, and rebelliousness

Age 17 – decided to become a lawyer and studied in Salisbury, NC

Early 20s – practiced law and worked in small stores in backwoods NC

• Gained a reputation for being charismatic, wild, and ambitious

• Loved to dance, entertain, gamble, and drink

LIFE IN TENNESSEE1788 – moved to Nashville to be a prosecutor and met his wife, Rachel

• Rachel was actually married, but she and Jackson dated until her husband divorced her.

Established his home called “The Hermitage” outside of Nashville

• Helped develop western lands in NC into the state of TN

Joined the TN militia and was soon promoted to Major General (1802)

1812 – Called to serve in the War of 1812

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANSCommanded US troops against the British at the Battle of New Orleans

• Hundreds of British troops died

• Only a few Americans died

• Jackson called a “hero”

Jackson’s toughness in battle earned him the nickname “Old Hickory”

• As tough as a hickory tree

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

1824 – won the popular vote against Adams, but House of Reps chose Adams as POTUS

• Outraged – “The Corrupt Bargain”

1828 – elected as 7th POTUS

• Forced natives westward

• Weakened the BUS

• Destabilized the US economy

While most of his policies are looked back on as being less-than-favorable, Jackson as a person was a lunatic of a guy…

JACKSON DID WHAT?Dueling

• Around 100 duels (mostly with guys who insulted his wife’s honor)

• Shot… TWICE!

• During a duel with a Charles Dickenson, a guy that insulted his wife, Jackson let him shoot first. Jackson took a bullet in the chest. He stuck his finger in the wound, licked it, and then shot the other guy in the throat.

• The bullet to the chest was so close to his heart that he couldn’t get it removed.

• Coughed up blood and had a body that rattled like a “bag of marbles”

JACKSON DID WHAT?Hosted TONS of parties

• Often opened the White House up for house parties

• Kegger at the White House – pissed off elitist Congressmen

• 1835 – a farmer gave Jackson a 1,400 pound cheese wheel, Jackson let it age in the lobby of the White House for 2 years

• 1837 – opened up the White House doors to anyone who wanted cheese gone in 2 hours

• Left a cheese-grease stain on the carpet for several years

JACKSON DID WHAT?Survived the 1st assassination attempt made on a POTUS

• 1835 – Jackson attended a funeral in DC

• Richard Lawrence (probably suffering from schizophrenia) attempted to shoot Jackson with his pistol.

• The first pistol misfired. Jackson heard the sound and turned around.

• Lawrence tried to shoot with the 2nd pistol… also misfired.

JACKSON DID WHAT?• Jackson beat Lawrence

repeatedly with his wooden cane.

• Had to be pulled off of the guy by bystanders or Jackson would have probably killed him.

• PS… Jackson was 67 years old when this happened.

• Jackson then got a statue of himself erected at the site of the attempt on his life.

JACKSON DID WHAT?

Threatened to HANG John Calhoun… his Vice President.

When reflecting on his life…

"I have only two regrets: I didn't shoot Henry Clay and

I didn't hang John C. Calhoun."

JACKSON DID WHAT?Had a pet parrot… that cursed a lot

• Poll the parrot

• 1837 – Jackson’s funeral - Poll had to be removed from the service… for swearing too much

• The presiding Reverend at the funeral said… “Before the sermon and while the crowd was gathering, a wicked parrot that was a household pet got excited and commenced swearing so loud and long as to disturb the people and had to be carried from the house.”

Jackson’s Firsts and Jackson’s Death