Andrew Jackson"Old Hickory"

Born March 15, 1767, in the Waxhaws region on the border of North and South Carolina (both states have historically claimed him as a native son). Orphaned by age 14 after losing his family during the Revolutionary War, he rose from humble beginnings to become a lawyer, judge, and militia commander. He gained national fame as a general in the War of 1812, most notably for his decisive victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. He later led military campaigns in Florida during the First Seminole War, which helped push Spain to cede the territory to the U.S. After losing a controversial election in 1824 despite winning the popular vote, he came back to win the presidency in 1828, serving two terms as the 7th President. His presidency was marked by the expansion of democracy for common white men, a fierce battle against the national bank, and the forced removal of Native American tribes under the Indian Removal Act, including the Trail of Tears — a policy that caused immense suffering and death among Cherokee and other Southeastern tribes.