Editing Andrew Jackson (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Rachel Donelson Jackson by Ralph E. W. Earl.jpg|thumb|Posthumous portrait of Jackson's wife Rachel, by [[Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl]] now housed at [[The Hermitage (Nashville, Tennessee)|The Hermitage]] in [[Nashville]]|alt=Woman in black with white bonnet and lace collar looking forward]]
[[File:Tennessee Gentleman portrait of Andrew Jackson by Ralph E. W. Earl.jpg|thumb|Jackson depicted in 1831 as a ''Tennessee Gentleman'' by [[Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl]], now housed at Hermitage in Nashville|alt=Painting of a man with a tall white hat, cane, black pants and coat, and a white shirt. He is standing on grass beside a tree.]]

=== Family ===
{{Further|Wards of Andrew Jackson}}Jackson and Rachel had no children together but adopted [[Andrew Jackson Jr.]], the son of Rachel's brother Severn Donelson. The Jacksons also acted as guardians for the children of another of Rachel's brothers, Samuel Donelson: John Samuel, [[Daniel Smith Donelson]], and [[Andrew Jackson Donelson]]. They were also guardians for [[A. J. Hutchings]], Rachel's orphaned grandnephew, and the orphaned children of a friend, [[Edward Butler (soldier)|Edward Butler]]{{mdash}}Caroline, Eliza, [[Edward G. W. Butler|Edward]], and Anthony{{mdash}}who lived with the Jacksons after their father died.{{sfn|Remini|1977|pp=160–161}} There were also three [[Indigenous members of the Andrew Jackson household|Indigenous members of Jackson's household]]: [[Lyncoya Jackson|Lyncoya]],{{sfn|Remini|1977|p=194}} [[Theodore (Andrew Jackson captive)|Theodore]],{{sfn|Moser|Macpherson|1984|p=444, fn 5}} and [[Charley (Andrew Jackson captive)|Charley]].{{sfn|Moser|Hoth|Macpherson|Reinbold|1991|p=60, fn 3}}

For the only time in U.S. history, two women acted simultaneously as unofficial first lady for the widower Jackson. Rachel's niece [[Emily Donelson]] was married to Andrew Jackson Donelson (who acted as Jackson's private secretary) and served as hostess at the White House. The president and Emily became estranged for over a year during the Petticoat affair, but they eventually reconciled and she resumed her duties as White House hostess. [[Sarah Yorke Jackson]], the wife of Andrew Jackson Jr., became co-hostess of the White House in 1834, and took over all hostess duties after Emily died from tuberculosis in 1836.{{sfn|Meacham|2008|pp=109; 315}}

=== Temperament ===
Jackson had a reputation for being short-tempered and violent,{{sfn|Somit|1948|p= 295}} which terrified his opponents.{{sfn|Brands|2005|p=297}} He was able to use his temper strategically to accomplish what he wanted.{{sfnm|Meacham|2008|1p=37|Remini|1977|2p=7|Wilentz|2005|3p=3}} He could keep it in check when necessary: his behavior was friendly and urbane when he went to Washington as senator during the campaign leading up to the 1824 election. According to Van Buren, he remained calm in times of difficulty and made his decisions deliberatively.{{sfn|Somit|1948|p=302}}

He had the tendency to take things personally. If someone crossed him, he would often become obsessed with crushing them.{{sfn|Somit|1948|p=297–300}} For example, on the last day of his presidency, Jackson declared he had only two regrets: that he had not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun.{{sfn|Borneman|2008|p=36}} He also had a strong sense of loyalty. He considered threats to his friends as threats to himself, but he demanded unquestioning loyalty in return.{{sfn|Somit|1948|p=306}}

Jackson was self-confident,{{sfn|Meacham|2008|p=19}} without projecting a sense of self-importance.{{sfn|Somit|1948|pp=299–300}} This self-confidence gave him the ability to persevere in the face of adversity.{{sfn|Remini|1977|pp=178– 179}} Once he decided on a plan of action, he would adhere to it.{{sfn|Somit|1948|p=312}} His reputation for being both quick-tempered and confident worked to his advantage;{{sfn|Brown|2022|p=[{{Google Books|id=3t9IEAAAQBAJ|pg=PA191|plainurl=yes}} 191]}} it misled opponents to see him as simple and direct, leading them to often understimate his political shrewdness.{{sfn|Somit|1948|p=304}}

===Religion===
In 1838, Jackson became an official member of the [[Downtown Presbyterian Church (Nashville)|First Presbyterian Church]] in Nashville.{{sfn|Wilentz|2005|p=160}} Both his mother and his wife had been devout Presbyterians all their lives, but Jackson stated that he had postponed officially entering the church until after his retirement to avoid accusations that he had done so for political reasons.{{sfn|Remini|1984|p=444}}