Andrew Jackson 1829 - 1837

Born: 1767, Waxhaw, SC
Died: 1845

Andrew Jackson was a Tennessee frontiersman, lawyer and military hero whose stunning defeat of the British at New Orleans in 1815 launched a colorful and tumultuous political career. After losing the presidency to fellow Republican John Quincy Adams in 1825, he started an opposition party in Congress, calling it the Democratic-Republicans (shortened to Democrats). Jackson wrested the Presidency from Adams in 1829. His personal charisma, his penchant for plain talk and his image as a Washington outsider proved irresistible to Americans who had just gained the vote. "Old Hickory" rolled into office on a wave of populist fervor, his supporters nearly causing a riot at his inaugural.

Jackson used the power of the Presidency as none before him. He dismissed almost 2,000 government employees in an effort to eradicate a "corrupt bureaucracy," and filled the vacancies with party loyalists. His veto of a bill to recharter the National Bank infuriated his opponents -- but not the electorate, who re-elected him decisively. In his second term, Jackson defeated South Carolina's attempt to nullify the tariff laws, paid off the national debt, and survived a bungled assassination attempt. He recognized the Republic of Texas in 1836 and retired from office as popular as ever.

Seventh President
Democrat