Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States from March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837. As noted in my previous posts, Jackson had a huge impact in the removal of Native Americans West of the Mississippi during his presidency. But even before his presidency, Jackson had been involved in aspects of Indian removal for over 10 years. From the Creek and Seminole wars, to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, Jackson played a significant role in the relocation and sometimes outright destruction of tens of thousands of Native American Indians. Although one cannot discredit the many accomplishments of Jackson both in his military and political career, we also cannot overlook the evident desire of Jackson to remove the Native Americans from their tribal lands to make room for western expansion. So the important question is, was President Andrew Jackson a hero or a villain? To many American’s he could be very well seen as a hero, ranted as one of the top 10 presidents in our history. To others, including many Native Americans, chances are he would be seen as a villain.
The Early Years
Jackson started his military career at an early age of 13 when he joined a local regiment as a courier during the American Revolutionary War. During his time serving, he was taken (along with his brother) by the British as a prisoner of war. While being held, he was ordered by a British officer to clean his boots. When Jackson refused, the officer struck him with a sword and cut his hand to the bone. This ill treatment would cause Jackson to harbor a deep resentment towards the British until his death. (Encyclopedia) His mother would soon secure the release of both him and his brother on April 27, 1781. (Wikipedia) His brother would dies days after being released and his mother would pass away later that year. Jackson was left orphaned at the age of 14.
At age 17 (1784), Jackson decided he wanted to practice law and set out for Salisbury, North Carolina where he would study for several years. In 1787, he would be admitted to the North Carolina Bar. This would be the start of the advancement to his public career. He would soon become prosecuting officer for the Superior Court in Tennessee. When, in 1796 Tennessee was separated from North Carolina and admitted into the Union as the sixteen state, Jackson was elected the new state’s first congressman. (Encyclopedia) From congressman, he was soon elected a U.S. senator for which he held the position for only one session before resigning. (American History) Jackson would spend the next six years (from 1798-1804) serving as a Justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Jackson started his military career at an early age of 13 when he joined a local regiment as a courier during the American Revolutionary War. During his time serving, he was taken (along with his brother) by the British as a prisoner of war. While being held, he was ordered by a British officer to clean his boots. When Jackson refused, the officer struck him with a sword and cut his hand to the bone. This ill treatment would cause Jackson to harbor a deep resentment towards the British until his death. (Encyclopedia) His mother would soon secure the release of both him and his brother on April 27, 1781. (Wikipedia) His brother would dies days after being released and his mother would pass away later that year. Jackson was left orphaned at the age of 14.
At age 17 (1784), Jackson decided he wanted to practice law and set out for Salisbury, North Carolina where he would study for several years. In 1787, he would be admitted to the North Carolina Bar. This would be the start of the advancement to his public career. He would soon become prosecuting officer for the Superior Court in Tennessee. When, in 1796 Tennessee was separated from North Carolina and admitted into the Union as the sixteen state, Jackson was elected the new state’s first congressman. (Encyclopedia) From congressman, he was soon elected a U.S. senator for which he held the position for only one session before resigning. (American History) Jackson would spend the next six years (from 1798-1804) serving as a Justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
The Creek War
A civil war soon erupted among the Red Sticks and the Creeks in 1812. The Creek “Red Sticks” feeling the pressure of white encroachment and the need to return to traditional tribal values soon lead to an attack on white settlers in Fort Mims. This attack led to the involvement of the U.S. forces. In 1802, Andrew Jackson had been appointed major general of the Tennessee militia and then appointment major general of U.S. Forces and sent to command the forces to defeat the Creek “Red Sticks”. These forces included the Tennessee militia, U.S. regulars, Cherokee, Choctaw and Southern Creek Indians. On March 27, 1814, Jackson along with his forces defeated the Creek “Red Sticks” at the Battle of Horseshow Bend. (nps.gov) Eight hundred Red Sticks were killed in this battle. Jackson however spared the life of Chief William Weatherford and let him go. This would put an end to the Creek war. On August 9, 1814, Andrew Jackson forced the Creeks to sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson. This treaty would cede 23 million acres (half of Alabama and part of southern Georgia) to the U.S. government. This treaty was signed under much protest of the Creek chiefs, as many Creeks had added Jackson in his defeat against the “Red Sticks”. Jackson however did not distingue the difference between the “Red Sticks” and the creeks and therefore took lands from both.
A civil war soon erupted among the Red Sticks and the Creeks in 1812. The Creek “Red Sticks” feeling the pressure of white encroachment and the need to return to traditional tribal values soon lead to an attack on white settlers in Fort Mims. This attack led to the involvement of the U.S. forces. In 1802, Andrew Jackson had been appointed major general of the Tennessee militia and then appointment major general of U.S. Forces and sent to command the forces to defeat the Creek “Red Sticks”. These forces included the Tennessee militia, U.S. regulars, Cherokee, Choctaw and Southern Creek Indians. On March 27, 1814, Jackson along with his forces defeated the Creek “Red Sticks” at the Battle of Horseshow Bend. (nps.gov) Eight hundred Red Sticks were killed in this battle. Jackson however spared the life of Chief William Weatherford and let him go. This would put an end to the Creek war. On August 9, 1814, Andrew Jackson forced the Creeks to sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson. This treaty would cede 23 million acres (half of Alabama and part of southern Georgia) to the U.S. government. This treaty was signed under much protest of the Creek chiefs, as many Creeks had added Jackson in his defeat against the “Red Sticks”. Jackson however did not distingue the difference between the “Red Sticks” and the creeks and therefore took lands from both.
Depection of William Weatherford surrendering to Andrew Jackson after the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Jackson was so impressed with Weatherford's boldness that he let him go.
The Cherokee nation
Back in 1791, a treaty had been signed by the Cherokee Nation and the U.S. allocating the Cherokee with lands in Georgia. However, trouble struck in 1828 when gold was discovered on the Cherokee land. So not only where the Cherokee having to deal with white settlers pushing their way onto their lands, now they had gold seekers invading their lands. In 1830, Georgia tried to reclaim the land and the Cherokee Nation took them to the U.S. Supreme Court. This was all happening in a time after Andrew Jackson had become president and was already pushing his Indian Removal Act. In 1831, the Supreme court ruled in favor of the Cherokee and declared Georgia’s extension of state law over them to be unconstitutional. The state of Georgia refused to abide by the courts decision, and President Jackson refused to enforce the law. President Jackson however knew that the only way he could now get the Cherokee off of their land, he would need the Cherokee to agree to a removal treaty. Although the treaty violated Cherokee law, The Treaty of New Echota was signed by a small number of the Cherokee Nation. Even though Chief John Ross gathered 16,000 signatures protesting the treaty and opposing the removal, the treaty was ratified by the U.S. Senate. (Cherokee North Carolina) In 1838 President Jackson called in the Federal troops to escort approximately 15,000 Cherokee people off their tribal home lands to new Indian Territory. (History Matters)
Conclusion
“Is he a president we should celebrate or a president we should apologize for? It’s a question that could certainly spark a fierce debate about our current chief executive,” notes Carly Byker, producer, writer and co-director of Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and The Presidency. “But of all the presidents who American’s have had conflicting feelings about, the one who’s been simultaneously adored and reviled with the most intensity is Andrew Jackson.” (pbs) He leaves with us a legacy of mixed emotions. One of an advocate for popular democracy and individual liberty for white men, but also one that is plaid with support and hands on cruelty to Native Americans.
Sources:
American History. “Andrew Jackson – 7th President of the United States”.
4/2/2010. http://americanhistory.about.com/od/andrewjackson/p/pjackson.htm?p=1
American History. “Andrew Jackson – 7th President of the United States”.
4/2/2010. http://americanhistory.about.com/od/andrewjackson/p/pjackson.htm?p=1
Cherokee North Carolina. “Jackson”
5/11/2010. http://www.cherokee-nc.com/index.php?page=64
Encyclopedia. “Andrew Jackson”
4/2/2010. http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/nc/bio/public/jackson.htm
History Matters. “The Indian Removal Act and the trail of Tears: Cause, Effect and Justification”.
3/25/2010. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/7402
NPS. “The Creek War 1813-1814”.
5/11/2010. http://www.nps.gov/archive/hobe/home/creakwar.htm
PBS. “Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and The Presidency”.
5/11/2010. http://www.pbs.org/previews/andrewjackson
Wikipedia. “Andrew Jackson”.
4/2/2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson
