Final Answer:
Rachel Jackson, the wife of President Andrew Jackson, faced a scandal related to her marriage. Before marrying Jackson, Rachel had previously married Lewis Robards, but their relationship was tumultuous, leading to separation. The scandal stemmed from the controversy surrounding the timing of Rachel's divorce from Robards and her subsequent marriage to Jackson. Critics accused Rachel of bigamy, claiming that she had married Jackson before her divorce from Robards was finalized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scandal that plagued Rachel Jackson revolved around the circumstances of her marriage to Andrew Jackson. Rachel's first marriage to Lewis Robards was troubled, prompting their separation. However, due to the complexities of divorce proceedings at the time, Rachel believed she was legally divorced before marrying Jackson. Unfortunately, the divorce process was prolonged and finalized after her marriage to Jackson had taken place.
Opponents of Andrew Jackson seized upon this situation, alleging that Rachel had committed bigamy by marrying Jackson before her divorce from Robards was legally completed. The scandalous accusations and public attacks on Rachel's character took a toll on her health and well-being.
The stress and emotional strain resulting from the scandal greatly impacted Rachel's health, contributing significantly to her declining condition. She suffered emotionally and physically, experiencing profound distress due to the public scrutiny and criticism. Tragically, Rachel Jackson passed away just weeks before Andrew Jackson's presidential inauguration in 1829, making her death a deeply sorrowful consequence of the scandal and its toll on her health and spirit.