author
Andrew Jackson
1767–1845
Born on the Carolina frontier and shaped by war, he rose from orphaned teenager to military hero and seventh president of the United States. His life left a huge mark on American politics, while his legacy remains fiercely debated because of policies including Indian removal and his hard-edged use of presidential power.
1 Audiobook
State of the Union Addresses
by Andrew Jackson
About the author
Born in the Waxhaws region on March 15, 1767, he lost family members during the Revolutionary War and trained as a lawyer before building a career in Tennessee. He served as a congressman, senator, and judge, then became nationally famous as a general, especially after the Battle of New Orleans.
As president from 1829 to 1837, he helped reshape the office by presenting himself as a direct representative of ordinary voters. He became the central figure of what came to be called Jacksonian Democracy and was known for confrontations over the national bank, nullification, and the scope of federal power.
His story is also inseparable from the most troubling parts of his record. Historians and major reference sources consistently note his support for the Indian Removal Act and the forced displacement of Native peoples, which makes him one of the most influential and controversial figures in U.S. history.