Secretary of State John Quincy Adams defended him as he thought Jackson's occupation of Pensacola would lead Spain to sell Florida, which Spain did in the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819.[142] In February 1819, a congressional investigation exonerated Jackson, [143] and his victory was instrumental in convincing the Seminoles to sign Treaty of Moultrie Creek in 1823, which surrendered much of their land in Florida.[144]

Presidential aspirations
Election of 1824
Main article: 1824 United States presidential election
Painting of Jackson by Thomas Sully (1824)
In 1819, mismanagement by the Second Bank of the United States created a financial panic that sent the U.S. into its first prolonged financial depression. The United States reduced its military and Jackson was forced to retire from his major general position.[145] In compensation, Monroe made him the first territorial governor of Florida in 1821.[146] Jackson served as the governor for two months, returning to the Hermitage in ill health.[147] During his convalescence, Jackson, who had been a Freemason since at least 1798, became the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee for 1822–1823.[148] Around this time, he also completed negotiations for Tennessee to purchase Chickasaw lands. 