Defining Characteristics Of Andrew Jackson's Life

Although Andrew Jackson is known for many defining characteristics such as his anger, courageousness, and fierceness, his perseverance was always more dominant. From a very young age, Jackson experienced numerous hardships which transformed him into the icon he is. For example in the 1970’s, Jackson and his brother were sold out by a neighbor and taken as prisoners by the British (Remini, 8). In the prisoner of war camps, many of the prisoners fell ill and caught smallpox. Jackson and his brother were two of the victims (Remini,8). However, after persevering through all of the hardships he would face throughout his life, Jackson’s determination saved his life. When he was fourteen, Jackson’s mother caught the cholera and died, leaving Jackson
with no direct family members (Remini, 9 & 10). After moving in and out of different family members’ homes, Jackson moved to South Carolina where he would take in an interest with law. Although he moved here to practice law, he spent most of his time expressing behaviors similar to that of a delinquent. Soon realizing that his lifestyle in South Carolina was turning for worse than better, he moved up north where he would be granted the ability to become an attorney. After becoming an attorney he showed interest in politics. The move to Nashville provided Jackson with more opportunities than either of the Carolinas. Before reaching Nashville, Jackson and his friends would stop in multiple places. The city of Nashville turned out to be a positive impact on Andrew Jackson’s life.
As a lawyer, he became very popular. Within one month of determination, he worked relentlessly to issue over seventy writs against delinquent debtors (Remini, 21). When Jackson became a general in the Civil War, he had marched his troops five hundred miles towards New Orleans. However, a letter arrived from the Secretary of War notifying Jackson that he needs to dismiss his army and return back to Nashville. With the lacked funding and necessities to bring his troops home, he and other troops gave the injured and sick their horses. As the troops were marching home, the troops started discussing how Jackson was so tough and prideful. This is where the nickname “Old Hickory” came from. After they reached Nashville, Jackson was involved in a duel where he ended up being shot in the arm. “...but the determined Jackson issued one final order before falling unconscious, “I’ll keep my arm!” he said” (Remini, 55). Jackson woke up and the surgeons did not go through with the amputation of his arm, leaving the bullet inside. As the a battle broke out at The Fort, General Jackson was called to service even though his arm was not fully healed. “... the weak, and unsteady Jackson, his arm bound in a sling, took the field and marched towards Alabama” (Remini,
57). As rumours of an incoming British invasion made its way to Jackson, he took his troops towards Mobile, Alabama with the determination of dissolving the attack. Upon his arrival in Mobile, he distributed troops throughout the fort and took the rest towards Pensacola, Florida. With orders not to invade Pensacola, Jackson’s temper problem overtook his brain. Having said this, Jackson attacked Pensacola which was under Spanish control. Now, America was in a war with two different countries, Britain in Mobile, and Spain in Pensacola. After Jackson left Florida, he headed back to Mobile but then realized after days of waiting, the British forces were docking in New Orleans. Upon his arrival, Jackson immediately started planning ways to block off the city from invasions by water. “ First, he called a conference with engineers to learn the best way to seal the city against invasion. Next, he sent squads of men to fell the huge trees in the bayous and so clog the streams and creeks…” (Remini, 65). However as Jackson thought the tensions were decreasing, the British found and unblocked channel and sailed their ships into New Orleans. After the War of 1812 and deporting the Spanish to Havana, Jackson was considered the war hero. “ … and the American people acclaimed him as the glory of the nation” (Remini, 89). When Jackson ended his career in the army as a general, he became a governor in Florida.
However, he soon grew tired of the weather and decided it was time to run for presidency. He gained support from all over the nation due to his success in the army as Major General. “ … by the summer of 1822 … the managers succeeded in inducing the legislature of Tennessee to nominate Andrew Jackson for the presidency of the United States” (Remini, 101). While running for the presidency, he was also running for a seat in the Senate. Ultimately he secured a seat in the Senate at the end of the election. After fighting relentlessly for the presidency, Jackson ended up losing the presidency. However, his perseverance kept him would not let him stop there, he decided to run again in 1828. Jackson began to spend the next three years campaigning for the election in 1828. “ The Tennessee legislature obligingly renominated him in October of 1825. During these three years, he would quit his role as a Senator to focus on his campaign. “ He resigned from the Senate after two sessions …” (Remini, 109). Jackson would become the face of the Democratic Party. However just as the campaign was taking off, Jackson and his team would face brutal journalism. Jackson and everyone associated with him, including his wife, were accused of unethical living. Although his campaign was sinking, he realized this had to be false accusations from the opposing candidates. Once again, Jackson’s perseverance would not
let the opposing candidates get away easily. “ Democrats countered by accusing Adams of pimping for the Czar of Russia when he was the U.S minister to that country” (Remini, 111). As the tensions between the two parties rose, Jackson was accused and charged with many things such as adultery and murder (Remini, 111). Although being accused of such heinous acts, he ended up winning the presidential election, smashing his opponent John Adams. Andrew Jackson was the type of man to never give up no matter what obstacle was thrown his way. From battling smallpox and becoming an orphan as a kid to fighting through two elections to finally become a United States president. During his time as a General/Major General, his perseverance and determination helped him win the War of 1812, drive out the Spanish from Florida and become a successful lawyer in Nashville. Andrew Jackson will always be remembered for many notable traits. However, he always pushed himself and his troops past their limit. Even though he started his adulthood as a promising lawyer in Nashville, he would go on to accomplish much more. After all the hardships Jackson went through such as losing his mom to cholera, losing his wife suddenly and having his first adopted child died at the age of eleven due to TB, it is remarkable how he was still able to keep on going. Jackson’s character and temper were also tested many time during his life. He lost a “rigged” election in 1824, was charged with over five different crimes ranging from adultery to murder, and the British taking him and his brother as prisoners of war, ultimately leading to his brother’s death in the camp.