The prominent Cajun leader fighting for independence from Spain was General Andrew Jackson. Although he was not a Cajun himself, during the early 19th century, Jackson emerged as a significant military figure in the region, particularly in Louisiana. His leadership during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 helped secure American control over the territory, further influencing the local Cajun population. The Cajuns, descendants of Acadian exiles, viewed Jackson as a key figure in the struggles over their rights and land amid the geopolitical changes in the region.