Slavery was the source of President Andrew Jackson’s wealth. Without the forced labor of men, women, and children, The Hermitage (Plantation owned by Jackson) would not have been economically viable.
The Hermitage was a 1,050 acre self-sufficient plantation that raised cotton as its sole cash crop and relied on the labor of African American men, women, and children. The enslaved performed the hard labor that allowed for the Jackson Family survival and profit on this land. As Andrew Jackson acquired more land, he also bought more human beings to work that land.
When Andrew Jackson bought The Hermitage in 1804, he owned nine enslaved African Americans. By 1829, that number had increased through purchase and reproduction to over 100 African American men, women, and children. At the time of his death in 1845, Jackson owned approximately 150 human beings who lived and worked on this property. .
Slaves didn't have surnames. Upon emancipation, they needed legal first and last names. There were two common practices. Some would take the last names of their former masters. Others would take the names of famous Americans, especially presidents. Occasionally, a name might just be made up because the sound of it appealed to the person in question. If you could just pick your name, you may base it on someone you know or something you just happen to like.
That's why there are many black Washington's, Jefferson's, and Jackson's. Washington, Jefferson, and Jackson were perhaps the most well-known American presidents by 1865. (Lincoln was popular among some, but still a very controversial figure at the time.)
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 at 9:57AM
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