Name: ________________________________
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States
and is often considered a controversial president. He was born on
March 15, 1767 in the Washaws region between North and South
Carolina. He did not receive much schooling and was considered
a common man because he was a president born in a simple log
cabin. He had a great dislike towards Great Britain starting from
an early age because his mother and two brothers died in a British
invasion of the Carolinas. After their death, he studied law and
became a lawyer in Tennessee. While here he married Rachel
Robars, the daughter of a local colonel.
Jackson was a successful lawyer. He became interested in
politics and was elected to the House of Representatives, then the
Senate, then decided to instead lead the state militia. The War of
1812 against Great Britain broke out as soon as he was chosen to lead the state militia. He
fought against British and Native Americas and became a national hero when he defeated the
British in the Battle of New Orleans. He earned himself the nickname “Old Hickory” because he
was said to be as tough as a hickory stick.
He became so popular that people wanted him to run for president. In 1828 Jackson won
the presidential election and became the first frontier president that was not born in either
Massachusetts or Virginia. Because of this and the fact that he was the first president born in
poverty, his election marked a turning point in American politics. While president, Jackson
started the spoils system, which is the practice of replacing government employees with the
winner’s supporters. He argued that this was good for democracy.
Jackson had several other notable occurrences during his presidency. One of these was
the tariff debate, also called the Nullification Crisis. A tariff is a fee on imported goods, and the
Southerners did not like it because it led to higher prices. South Carolina argued that they had
the right to nullify, or cancel, any federal law that is against their state’s interests. This crisis
brings up the question of federal rights vs. states’ rights, an issue that would later be addressed in
the Civil War. Another notable occurrence in Jackson’s presidency deals with the National Bank
of the United States. Jackson did not like the National Bank because he thought it was a tool for
the wealthy. He vetoed the bill to renew the Bank’s charter and placed federal money in state
banks. This caused a lot of panic.
Jackson’s legacy as president is probably most haunted by his treatment of Native
Americans. He spent many years fighting natives as a military man and had a strong dislike
towards them as a result. Many Native Americans still lived in the fertile southern lands and it
was soon discovered new land in the west was not as good for farming. Many people wanted the
natives to relocate, or forced to leave lands in the south and move west. Jackson supported
Native American relocation. Under Jackson’s presidency, the Indian Removal Act was passed
that allowed the federal government to pay natives to move west. Congress created Indian
Territory in present day Oklahoma as a reservation area for relocated natives. Most natives left
their homes, feeling they had no other choice. However, the Cherokee refused and were
eventually escorted by federal troops to Indian Territory. This forced removal and long journey
west was called the Trail of Tears because thousands died along the way. Although this event
technically occurred under President Van Buren, Jackson’s policies is what set this in motion.
Jackson was a popular president during his time, but today his policies are questioned.
©Sanderson’s Social Studies
Name: ________________________________
Directions: After reading the passage, answer the following questions
1. Why did Jackson dislike Great Britain?
2. What caused Jackson to become a national hero?
3. What was Jackson’s nickname and why?
4. Why is his presidency marked as a turning point in American politics?
5. What is the spoils system?
6. What is a tariff?
7. What happened in the Nullification Crisis?
8. Why did Jackson veto the bill to renew the National Bank’s charter?
9. Why did Jackson and others support Native American relocation?
10. Why do you think Jackson was so popular during his time? Why do you think he is not
so popular now?
©Sanderson’s Social Studies
Name: ________________________________
Directions: After reading the passage, answer the following questions
1. Why did Jackson dislike Great Britain?
He disliked Britain because his mother and brother were killed in a British invasion.
2. What caused Jackson to become a national hero?
He became a hero in the War of 1812 when he defeated the British in the Battle of New
Orleans.
3. What was Jackson’s nickname and why?
Old Hickory – he was said to be as tough as a hickory stick.
4. Why is his presidency marked as a turning point in American politics?
His presidency was a turning point because he was the first president to be born in a state
other than Massachusetts or Virginia and he was the first to be born in poverty.
5. What is the spoils system?
Replacing government officials with the winner’s supporters.
6. What is a tariff?
A tariff is a fee on imported goods.
7. What happened in the Nullification Crisis?
South Carolina thought they could nullify any federal law that went against the state’s
interests. They wanted to nullify the tariffs.
8. Why did Jackson veto the bill to renew the National Bank’s charter?
He didn’t like the National Bank because he thought it was a tool for the wealthy.
9. Why did Jackson and others support Native American relocation?
They supported relocation because lands in the west weren’t good for farming so they
wanted fertile native lands in the south. Jackson also didn’t like natives because of the
years he spent fighting them in the military.
10. Why do you think Jackson was so popular during his time? Why do you think he is not
so popular now?
Answers will vary. Possible answers: he was popular because he was a common man and
relatable. He is not as popular now because people feel he treated natives poorly.
©Sanderson’s Social Studies