He has a successful law practice in his home town and was involved in local politics, finding his clients and followers in that community, whose cause he defended against the large landowners. Van Buren became a leader of the Bucktails, whose support helped him to win as attorney general in 1816. By 1827 he was known as a principal northern leader for Andrew Jackson. President Jackson rewarded Van Buren by making him Secretary of State. As Jackson's adviser he helped in the struggle over the Bank of the United States, and he emerged as a champion of Jackson during his term. A nickname given to him that described how he managed to get he point across was The "Little Magician". Another conflict under he term was in trying to help Canada free itself from rule by Great Britian. A reason may have been that he was the first president not born a British subject, or even of British ancestry. In the presidency the relocation on native americans continued from the policies set up by Andrew Jackson under his term known as "the Trail of Tears".

His presidency was marred by the Panic of 1837 which was due to the program set up by Andrew Jackson. The depression that followed would continue while he was in term. Hundreds of banks and businesses failed and many lost their lands. For years the United States was in the worst depression thus far in its history. The longer he was in office his opposition to slavery grew even though at one time he owned a slave. He opposed the expansion of slavery which is why he was against the annexation of Texas because it would add to slave territory and it might bring war with Mexico. After spending a few years in Europe, to which he was the only president to do so thus far Van Buren retired in 1855 to his home in Kinderhook, where he died on July 24, 1862. Three times he tried to get re-elected, but failed due to his poor popularity.