Final answer:
Andrew Jackson had a challenging childhood as the son of a poor planter, becoming orphaned early and fighting in the Revolutionary War as a boy. These formative experiences contributed to his image as a self-made man and his eventual political career, where he represented the common man and faced major national issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Andrew Jackson's childhood was fraught with hardship and conflict. Born the son of a poor planter in South Carolina, he was orphaned at a young age. Jackson became involved in the Revolutionary War as a boy soldier, signaling the beginning of a lifetime marked by battles and controversies. His early experiences foreshadowed his later reputation as a self-made man who would rise from humble beginnings to become a prosecutor, judge, senator, congressman, and eventually the President of the United States. His personal resilience and fierce determination seemed to draw from his early life's adversities and would eventually shape his approach to high-stakes political challenges such as the Indian removal, nullification, and the issue of the national bank. Jackson's legacy as a war hero and an advocate of the common man was a reflection of his own upbringing and helped him establish a connection with the American people, leading to the emergence of the second party system.