Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson did not have much formal education as a child, and he was imprisoned by the British during the American Revolution, when he was in his teens. However, he later studied law and became a lawyer and a politician.

As leader of the Tennessee militia, during the War of 1812 Andrew Jackson decisively defeated the Creek Indians (allied with the British). His heroic defeat of the British in the Battle of New Orleans cemented his reputation as a war hero. In 1817–18 he responded to Seminole raids into Georgia by taking control of Spanish Florida.

Andrew Jackson was the first to be elected president by appealing to the mass of voters rather than the party elite. He established the principle that states may not disregard federal law. However, he also signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the Trail of Tears.

Whether the United States should use the Electoral College in presidential elections so that candidates such as John Quincy Adams can win over popular vote winners like Andrew Jackson is heavily debated. Some say the Electoral College was created to protect the voices of the minority from being overwhelmed by the will of the majority and ensures that that all parts of the country are involved in selecting the president. Others say the Electoral College is rooted in slavery and racism and gives too much power to swing states and allows the presidential election to be decided by a handful of states. For more on the Electoral College debate, visit ProCon.org.