I’ve been enjoying HW Brands’ biography of the United States’ 7th president – Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times.
Andrew Jackson‘s mom died just after she had secured his and his brother’s release as a prisoner-of-war from the British during the Revolutionary War. His father had died before he was born and his brother also died shortly after he was released. Andrew was only 14 and he was alone. Jackson’s mom died after she left him to go and attempt to secure the release of Andrew’s cousins, who were also prisoners-of-war. Before she left she said,
“Andrew, if I should not see you again, I wish you to remember and treasure up some things I have already said to you. In this world you will have to make your own way.
To do that you must have friends.
You can make friends by being honest and you can keep them by being steadfast.
You must keep in mind that friends worth having will in the long run expect as much from you as they give to you.
To forget an obligation or be ungrateful for a kindness is a base crime, not merely a fault or a sin, but an actual crime. Men guilty of it sooner or later must suffer the penalty.
In personal conduct be always polite but never obsequious.
None will respect you more than you respect yourself.
Avoid quarrels as long as you can without yielding to imposition. But sustain your manhood always.
Never bring a suit in law for assault and battery or for defamation. The law affords no remedy for such outrages that can satisfy the feelings of a true man.
Never wound the feelings of others. Never brook wanton outrage upon your own feelings. If you ever have to vindicate your feelings or defend your honor, do it calmly. If angry at first, wait till your wrath cools before you proceed.”
After Jackson has shared these words with a group, he said, “Gentlemen, her last words have been the law of my life.”
Leadership Lessons from Other American Leaders
- George Washington: The Benefits of Recognizing the Limits of Power
- On Richard Nixon: A Cautionary Tale of Leadership
- On Alexander Hamilton
- Abraham Lincoln: The Window and the Mirror
- The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
- The Extraordinary Reconciliation of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
- Lyndon Johnson and Leadership Formation
- The Psychological Hardiness of FDR
Ok as a pres. I know that Andrew Jackson was under a lot of pressure running a state. But why did he ever have to be so mean to Native Americans what was it so bad that did to you that you had to treat them the way you treated them at that time. You took their homes made them misrable and on top of all that you separated their families. some even died to they’er way to find a new home.
I have nothing against Native Americans but in my honest opinion I think the Indian Removal Act was actually GOOD for them. They were adopting more an more white customs and I beleive the Removal Act allowed them to preserve some of their heritage.
After the Creek War, Jackson adopted a Creek Native American boy named Lyncoya. Thus, his actions were not made lightly and it should be taken into consideration that presidents rarely make decisions alone. Furthermore, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act sending Native Americans westward in 1830; eight years before the Trail of Tears.
HE adopted the baby after killing his parents. thats sick.
Andrew Jackson is my great great grandfather
Liar, he didnt have any kids.
if it helps hes related to both jesse james outlaw and biker through the youngers
this was a very good peice im using this peice for a school project i know im getting an a++ because that is how much i liked this peice.
some relation to him not exactly sure how close great man only time us had no deficit would vote for him rite now
some relation to him not exactly sure how close great man only time us had no deficit would vote for him rite now david buskirk i doudt it he had no children
david buskirk grab your own glory