who was andrew jackson?

Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) was the seventh president of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. He gained fame as a U.S. Army general, notably winning the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Jackson was a populist leader who became the founder of the modern Democratic Party and was the first president elected by appealing directly to the common voters rather than elites. His presidency is known for expanding executive power and his advocacy for the "common man." However, his legacy is controversial due to his policies toward Native Americans, including the Indian Removal Act, which led to the Trail of Tears, a forced and deadly relocation of Native peoples. Jackson was also a wealthy plantation owner who profited from enslaved labor. Born in the Carolinas, orphaned in youth, and rising as a self-made man and frontier lawyer in Tennessee, he served in various political and military roles before becoming president.