Jackson, Andrew

(1767–1845) was the seventh President of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general, and a hero of the war of 1812, a military conflict between the US and the British Empire and their Indian allies. Jackson defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814), and the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1815). He became a wealthy slaveholder, known for his toughness and aggressive personality. He fought politically against what he denounced as a closed, undemocratic aristocracy, adding to his appeal to common citizens.
As president, Jackson supported a small and limited federal government. He strengthened the power of the presidency, which he saw as the mouthpiece for the entire population. He is acknowledged for his protection of popular democracy and individual liberty for US citizens, and criticized for his support of slavery and his role in the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans.