The Common Man's Hero
Andrew Jackson:
Rags to Riches
Andrew Jackson was born to a single mother in 1767. He received very little formal education growing up, and Jackson was orphaned by age 14. At age 13, he joined a militia in which he would later become major general.
In his late teens, he started studying law and became a lawyer. Meanwhile, he stayed with his militia and defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans (1815), earning him the respect of Americans nationwide.
Jackson decided to run for president, and ran for the first time in the 1824 election. He was defeated by John Quincy Adams at first, but was elected in his second run in 1828. He was then re-elected in 1832 by a landslide (55% of the popular vote, 77% of the electoral vote).
Getting People Involved
Andrew Jackson wanted to get more people involved in politics, not just the wealthier members of society. In fulfilling his mission, he used the 'spoils system' - giving government jobs to his supporters.
Better Land from Indians
The Indian Removal Act, which was passed by Jackson in 1830, forced certain Indian tribes to move off their land onto reservations in present-day Oklahoma. This got the United States more land that was fertile for growing crops and rich with gold.
Killing the National Bank
Jackson felt that the National Bank, founded during George Washington's presidency, was corrupt and didn't help the "common man." Using his power to veto, he killed the National Bank and in its place founded more state/local banks. This benefited commoners more than anyone (especially farmers and laborers).
The above political cartoon portrays Jackson "killing" the National Bank (the monster) with the power to veto (the cane he's using...if you look the cane says "veto" on it).
Andrew Jackson Disney Education