Andrew Jackson Biography

The Age of Jackson

Andrew Jackson’s presidency brought about great democratic change. His policies appealed to the common man. Lower and middle class participation in politics soared during the Jacksonian Era. With many positive changes during his presidency, Jackson also contributed to corruption and controversy. President Andrew Jackson brought about major political and social changes within the lower and middle class.

Andrew Jackson was born on March 15th, 1767 along the border connecting North and South Carolina. As a child, Jackson received a good quality education by private tutors. Hardship soon pressed the young boy when his mother died and he became an orphan. At the age of seventeen, Jackson went on to study law. Jackson became an exceptional lawyer in Tennessee. Through the 1790s, Jackson participated in the Tennessee Constitutional Convention, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Later in his life, Jackson participated in the War of 1812 as a general of American armed forces. In the battle of New Orleans, Jackson successfully defeated British armed forces. Although he did this after the treaty to end the war had been signed, be became one of America’s great war heroes.  

Jackson’s name as a great war hero aided in his win as America’s 7th president.   Unlike other presidents of the time, Jackson appealed to the common man. Jackson appealed to the common man so much so that his presidency is now called the “Age of the Common Man”.   During his presidency, the democratic attitude of Americans skyrocketed.   Peoples of all classes were seen together at hotel tables; both poor and rich Americans had no need for separation on stagecoaches and steamboats.   European visitors had trouble picking out the upper class from the lower class citizen based on apparel. Equality among white Americans began taking a turn as Jackson rose to power.

Too add to the rise of democratic society, politics of the common man began transforming. From 1824 to...