Painting of Potus 7: Andrew Jackson a/k/a "Old Hickory"

click Andrew Jackson to enlarge

President Jackson is probably best known for his mug starring on the Twenty Dollar Bill. As you probably know, his nickname was Old Hickory. He was a hero in the War of 1812, where he took the British for a ride. Jackson was a polarizing figure who nevertheless dominated American politics in the 1820s and 1830s.

In the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, Jackson's 5,000 soldiers stomped the Brits. Out of 7,500 British soldiers, the British had more than 2,000 casualties vs. Jackson's 13 killed and 58 wounded or missing.

Possibly the most shameful legacy of Andrew Jackson's presidency was his advocacy of a policy of "Indian removal." In his December 8, 1829 Annual Message to Congress, Jackson stated:

"This emigration should be voluntary, for it would be as cruel as unjust to compel the aborigines to abandon the graves of their fathers and seek a home in a distant land. But they should be distinctly informed that if they remain within the limits of the States they must be subject to their laws. In return for their obedience as individuals they will without doubt be protected in the enjoyment of those possessions which they have improved by their industry."

Andy was responsible for a number of POTUS firsts: he was the first populist president to not rise from the aristocracy; he was the first President to have his vice-president (John C. Calhoun) resign, and he was the first to marry a divorcee. Most importantly to the partisans among us, he helped shape The Democratic Party. He may have believed in democracy, and been a Democrat, but sadly, he "owned" up to 150 slaves, who worked his nearly 1,000 acre plantation.
---o0o---