Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, Indian fighter and hero of the Battle of New Orleans—the first president of truly humble background and the first from the West&mdashushered in a new political era. His supporters hailed him as "The People's President"; conservatives saw his election as the ascent of "King Mob." Before his two terms in office were out, Jackson vetoed more legislation than his predecessors combined, and his opponents coalesced into a new political party called the Whigs.