Witness

David Crockett (1786-1836)

Davy Crockett, the son of John and Rebecca Crockett, was born on Aug. 17, 1786, in Tennessee. John
Crockett failed as a farmer, mill operator, and storekeeper. In fact, he remained in debt, as did Davy, all his
life. Because of continuing poverty, Davy's father put him to work driving cattle to Virginia when he was12
years old. Returning to Tennessee in the winter of 1798, Davy spent 5 days in school. After a fight there, he
played hookey until his father found out and then, to escape punishment, ran away.

Crockett worked and traveled throughout Virginia and did not return home for nearly 3 years. Several years
later he decided that his lack of education limited his marriage possibilities, and he arranged to work 6
months for a nearby Quaker teacher. In 1806 Crockett married and rented a farm. Frontier farming proved
difficult and unrewarding to Crockett, who enjoyed hunting more than work. After five years he decided to
move farther west. By 1813 he had located his family in Franklin Country, Tenn.

Life on the Frontier

Shortly afterward, the Creek War began. During the summer of 1813 a party of frontiersmen ambushed a
band of Creek Indian warriors in southern Alabama. Settlers in the area gathered at a stockade called Ft.
Mims. The Native Americans attacked on Aug. 30, 1813, found the garrison undefended, and killed over 500
people. Within 2 weeks frontier militia units gathered for revenge, and Crockett volunteered for 3 months'
duty that year. In September and October he served as a scout. During the famous mutiny against Andrew
Jackson in December, Crockett was on leave, and reports that he deserted the militia during the Creek War
are unfounded. He served again from September 1814 to February 1815. During this campaign Crockett
was a mounted scout and hunter; apparently his unit encountered little fighting.

Local and State Politics

After the victory in the Creek War, Crockett participated in local politics as justice of the peace and later,
commander of the local militia. During the campaign for state level legislature, Crockett showed a strong
connection to his fellow settlers on the western frontier of America. He realized that their isolation and need
for recreation outweighed other desires. Therefore, he gave short speeches laced with stories, followed by
a trip to the ever present liquor stand--a tactic well received by his audience, who elected him. Having
grown poor and without property, Crockett proposed bills to reduce taxes, to settle land claim disputes, and
in general to protect the economic interests of western settlers.

Congressional Career
In 1827, Crockett ran for Congress; he campaigned as an anti tariff man, however, and the incumbent easily
defeated him. Throughout his congressional terms he worked for the Tennessee Vacant Land Bill, which he
introduced during his first term. This proposal would have offered free land to frontier settlers in return for the
increase in value which they would bring about because of their improvements.

In 1829, although he opposed several of President Andrew Jackson's measures, Crockett campaigned for
reelection as a Jacksonian Democrat. But during his second term in Congress, Crockett grew increasingly
hostile to Jackson. He opposed the President on the issues of Native American removal, land policy, and the
Second National Bank. In the election of 1831 Crockett was defeated. Two years later he regained his
congressional seat by a narrow margin. By 1834 he had become such an outspoken critic of Jackson that
Whig party leaders used Crockett as a popular symbol in their anti-Jackson campaigns. Crockett was
defeated in 1835, ending his congressional career.

During his three terms in Washington, Crockett tried to represent the interests of his frontier district. In doing
so, he became enmeshed in a dispute with the Tennessee Jackson forces. The continuing fight with this
group not only prevented him from making any lasting legislative contributions but also ended his political
career.