Unit Study Supplement: Andrew Jackson, U.S. 7th President

Andrew Jackson is often called “the first populist president,” because his was the first political campaign to appeal directly to the American public. Jackson was a farmer, a pioneer, a lawyer, a judge, a military hero, a politician and a president of the United States. To help, we’ve created an American Presidents unit study that will answer questions like:

What number president was Andrew Jackson?
Where was Andrew Jackson born?
What were Andrew Jackson’s accomplishments?

Are you ready to find out these and more interesting details about President Jackson? Then let’s get started learning!

Andrew Jackson Fast Facts

Presidential Order	7th President
Political Party	Democratic-Republican
Born	March 15, 1767
Death	June 8, 1845
State of Birth	South Carolina
Name of Spouse	Rachel Donelson
Served as President	1829-1837
Age When Elected to Office	61 years old
Vice Presidents	Had 2 Vice Presidents: John C. Calhoun (1829-1832) Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)

Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson Timeline

1767

Born to Irish immigrant Elizabeth Jackson (father, Andrew, died just 3 weeks before his son’s birth).

1781

While serving during the Revolutionary War, Jackson was captured by the British but released later that year.

1779-1781

Lost both brothers and his mother as a direct result of the Revolutionary War, leaving him an orphan at age 14.

1784-1787

Studied law in North Carolina and was admitted to the bar.

1791

Became attorney general of the Tennessee territory.

1794

Married Rachel Donelson in Nashville (before it was the state of TN).

1796

Was elected the first ever U.S Representative of Tennessee when it gained statehood.

1798

Became a judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

1804

Acquired The Hermitage, a slave plantation in Tennessee primarily focused on growing cotton.

1813-1818

Fought in The Battle of 1812 and the First Seminole War.

1828

Elected President, and wife, Rachel, died 3 weeks later.

1830

Signed the Indian Removal Act, designed to remove Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. The forced relocation came to be known as the Trail of Tears..

1832

Reelected to a second term as U.S. president; his VP John C Calhoun resigns.

1835

Survived a failed assassination attempt (the first ever assassination attempt on a U.S. president).

1836-1837

Two new states were admitted to the Union: Arkansas and Michigan.

1845

Passed away at his plantation.

Interesting Facts About Andrew Jackson

Jackson was the first president to ever ride in a train.
He was reportedly involved in over 100 duels, including the most famous Jackson-Dickinson duel which resulted in Charles Dickinson’s death.
During the War of 1812, as General of the Tennessee militia, he defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans although his troops were outnumbered by more than 2,500 men.
Also during the War of 1812, he adopted two Native American infants.
Along with Martin Van Buren, Jackson was one of the founders of the Democratic Party in 1828.
Since his wife had died shortly after taking office, his niece served as “First Lady” during his first presidential term of office.
Mistakenly thinking that her first husband had completed their divorce, Jackson married his wife Rachel while she was still officially married to another man. They remarried again, officially this time, a few years later.
He gained the nickname “Old Hickory” for his extreme toughness during his service in the War of 1812.
Both North and South Carolina claim to be the birthplace of the president because he was born in a border area – called the Waxhaws – that was still under dispute at the time of his birth.
Jackson was the first president to invite the public to attend the inauguration ball at the White House. The event earned Jackson the nickname “King Mob.”
Andrew Jackson nominated Roger Taney to the Supreme Court. Taney was the man responsible for the infamous Dred Scott decision, that declared African-Americans weren’t U.S. citizens. In an interesting turn of events, Taney would go on to swear in Abraham Lincoln (the man who abolished slavery) as president.

Hands-On Activities For Andrew Jackson

Learning facts about a historical figure such as President Jackson is interesting, but what truly makes the information stick with your child is to actively engage with it. Below, you will find ideas, organized by grade level, for incorporating hands-on learning into your Andrew Jackson history study.

Elementary Andrew Jackson Activities

The idea that men like Andrew Jackson regularly participated in duels will fascinate most elementary age students. Have a discussion with them about why dueling was more common the in the early days of American history. What has changed in society that would make dueling less appealing or necessary today? What part did politics and law play in dueling regulations?
Using the President’s last name, have your student write an acrostic poem that ties together some of the most important things he or she has learned about him.

Middle School Andrew Jackson Activities

Because there are so many controversial aspects of Jackson’s life and career, students have multiple options for writing an opinion essay about him. His approach to Native Americans, his penchant for duels, and his political accomplishments would all be topics that students might enjoy “taking a side” on.
Andrew Jackson was not only fighting in the Revolutionary War at age 13, but also became an orphan at age 14. Discuss with your middle schooler how that might have affected both his outlook on life and the paths he chose

High School Andrew Jackson Activities

President Jackson had many personal and political enemies. Have your student participate in a “mock” debate he or she is portraying Andrew Jackson and you are portraying one of his specific enemies. Ahead of time, you’ll want to research the key conflicts each man had with the other to make the debate more exciting.
Have your student research who their own state representatives were (House of Representatives and Senate) during the time of the vote on the Indian Removal Act in 1830. How did those representatives vote – were they for or against it?