Activity:  Research Andrew Jackson's rise in politics and the political events that are associated with his administration. Then evaluate his career using a report card!  You will grade him on a variety of subjects using a standard grading scale.  A=Excellent, B= Good, C=Average, D=Below Average, F=Poor or Unacceptable.  You can also use pluses and minuses to be more accurate in you assessment.  Use evidence to support your reasoning!  Grades and comments should reflect your understanding not only of what Jackson did, but also your evaluation of his career based on the information you researched. 

General Background Information on Andrew Jackson

American Presidents: Life Portraits http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=7 This site provides information about his education and early career. Scroll down to the last section to read about his views on slavery.

The White House: Glimpses of the Presidents, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/aj7.html This site provides biographical information on Jackson.

Andrew Jackson's Personality and use of power.  Click on the portrait of Jackson and then click on the article link on the right side called Kunhardt, "The Power of the People" http://www.americanpresident.org/KoTrain/Courses/AJA/AJA_Campaigns_and_Elections.htm

Wikipedia: Good information on Jackson, read his famous quotes to get a better idea of Jackson's personality.

World Almanac for Kids: This is a good general source on Jackson especially the evaluation found at the end.

Campaigns and Elections

The Rough and Tumble World of 19th-Century Politics:
A description of Andrew Jackson's presidential campaigns, tracing the origins of political parties in the United States.

Andrew Jackson in Society: This site also provides information related to the elections and early presidency.

American Indian Policy and Slavery

Indian Removal Policy Developing & Applying the Removal Act, Andrew Jackson Addresses Congress.

Cherokee Trail of Tears:
A Web site honoring the 13,000 Cherokee forced to migrate to southeast Missouri. The site contains background history, statistics, maps, time lines, first-hand accounts, and stories from the Trail of Tears.  After you click on the painting scroll down the list of links.  "Andrew Jackson was my great-grandfather" is an interesting article.

Indian Removal Act
A PBS site describing the events leading up to and following the Indian Removal Act.

Trail of Tears, available at http://www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/articles/princes.html  This discusses Jackson's policy towards Native Americans.

American Presidents: Life Portraits http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=7 This site also provides information on Andrew Jackson's role in the developing slavery issue.

Jackson and slavery: This site provides good information related to Jackson's response to slavery.

Financial Policy

Andrew Jackson Battles The Bank:
An account of how Andrew Jackson managed to close down the Second Bank of the United States. Start the tour by reading a description of Jackson's beliefs about banking, and then click on "Bank Wars" to proceed.