Nashville's Hermitage: How Andrew Jackson Built Power Through Slavery

Nashville, Tennessee. What's the first step in becoming the most powerful man in America? For our seventh president, Andrew Jackson, the first step in his journey to prominence began with the purchase of his first slave. I sat down with Erin Adams, director of education at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, a museum on the premises of the president's former home, to learn more. TIMELINE 1788: when he bought his first person, a black woman roughly his own age. 1861: Nashville, like the rest of Tennessee, sided with the Confederacy, but the Confederate Army made a costly assumption. 1864: Confederate troops were moving toward Nashville with the plan. 1897: also known as the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, and has since been converted into a public museum. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of Nashville is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 72 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters If you liked this: Episode 175 (Athens, Tennessee) Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy