PDF AMERICAN LION Andrew Jackson in the White House Jon Meacham 8601406104884 Books
PDF AMERICAN LION Andrew Jackson in the White House Jon Meacham 8601406104884 Books
Download As PDF : AMERICAN LION Andrew Jackson in the White House Jon Meacham 8601406104884 Books
The definitive biography of a larger-than-life president who defied norms, divided a nation, and changed Washington forever
Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson’s election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson’s presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama–the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers– that shaped Jackson’s private world through years of storm and victory.
One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will– or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House–from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman–have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision.
Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe–no matter what it took.
PDF AMERICAN LION Andrew Jackson in the White House Jon Meacham 8601406104884 Books
"Meacham is a great writer, and has overseen excellent research. While there may be better full-on biographies of Jackson, this one certainly is perhaps the best at focusing on how he changed the presidency, and Meacham makes a good case for Jackson being the first really "modern" president, who saw it as a national office, as the one person to represent all of the people. It's a little uncanny that this was written before the most recent election, and one can understand why the new President (or perhaps his advisors) are taken by Jackson: he fought against his own party almost as much as against the opposition, he was a determined nationalist, was quick to defend Anerica's "honor" (as well as his own when attacked, which was frequently). It's a good and timely read. I'd add a 5th star if there was a bit more bio of his pre-presidency life."
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AMERICAN LION Andrew Jackson in the White House Jon Meacham 8601406104884 Books Reviews :
AMERICAN LION Andrew Jackson in the White House Jon Meacham 8601406104884 Books Reviews
- My formal training in American History ended in high school, so I approached Meacham's book without a great deal of prior knowledge of the subject.
I would say that this is not a good first book to read about Jackson. His childhood is covered in some detail, but the periods of his military career, his training as a lawyer, his term as a Tennessee congressman, are covered too briefly. Meacham states in his acknowledgment section that he has deliberately not attempted to cover Jackson entire life in detail.
The eight years of Jackson's presidency are the focus of the book. The main issues that characterize Jackson's presidency the threat of secession by South Carolina, the dissolution of the national bank, standoff with the French over the payment of reparations, expanded use of the presidential veto, etc., were covered in detail. However, as a newcomer to the subject, I sometimes could have used more context. For instance, there was not much discussion of how a national bank came to be and what the counter-arguments might have been for preserving it.
On the other hand, there was (in my view) excessive detail given over infighting between some very minor characters in American history. In the acknowledgment section, Meacham explains that new information about these people had come to light since previous biographies on Jackson were published so Meacham deliberately focused on these matters.
If you have read previous books on Jackson and on this period in American history, you may find some interesting new stuff in Meacham's book. But if you are a novice like myself, there must be a better book out there to start with. - Jackson was never a favorite of mine, but there are things in this Pulitzer Prize-winning book of Jon Meacham’s that has me a bit more respectful of his presidency.
Yes, he did break treaties and banish the Creek, Chickasaw, and Choctaw tribes to lands west of the Mississippi, fought two wars against the Seminoles, and later deported the Cherokee, all in the most gruesome manner possible. He also broke with fifty year-old precedent in the fledgling republic and took Presidential powers to new heights. And he introduced a new and raucous pioneer sensibility to the U.S.’s governance. But there are similarities to Jefferson that bear considering here.
Jackson took the long view that Jefferson took in preserving the new republic and protecting it from enemies without. When France reneged on its debts to the U.S., Jackson demanded payment. When South Carolina threatened to nullify certain federal laws, particularly a tariff the slave-owning plantation owners didn’t like, he went to the brink of civil war to protect the union against such erosion. Parallel to that, he had political battles with the Northeast states over Abolition, these state issuing rumblings about secession should the U.S. continue to maintain slavery. And when he thought Nicholas Biddle was using his position as head of the National Bank to fight Jackson politically, Jackson withdrew federal money from the bank, risking economic catastrophe.
Ever “The General,†Jackson fought such fights throughout his two terms in office. Meacham portrays him as a solitary sort, since Jackson’s wife, Rachel died just prior to his taking office, and Jackson never got over the loss. He did bring in family members, however, to support him emotionally and to serve politically and socially in roles necessary to his Presidency. Andrew and Emily Donelson became private secretary and White House hostess respectively to Jackson, and much of Meacham’s early tale seems rather gossipy concerning the Donelsons’ social feuds with Margaret Eaton, wife of one of Jackson’s advisors. But even here, Jackson’s aplomb under fire put oil on the intra-squabble waters.
But why did Meacham win the Pulitzer for this book? I think for three reasons
He focused more on the man, his personality, and allowed that to dictate the history to which he was attached - rather than the other way around.
Jackson’s efforts to resolve the nullification issue with South Carolina without bloodshed. He did in fact compromise with South Carolina in order to end this standoff peaceably.
Meacham found new documents of historical significance, many of these regarding the social squabbles that haunted Jackson’s Presidency, and these added greatly to revealing Jackson the person, rather than Jackson the general, Indian fighter, and President.
My rating 17 of 20 stars - Meacham is a great writer, and has overseen excellent research. While there may be better full-on biographies of Jackson, this one certainly is perhaps the best at focusing on how he changed the presidency, and Meacham makes a good case for Jackson being the first really "modern" president, who saw it as a national office, as the one person to represent all of the people. It's a little uncanny that this was written before the most recent election, and one can understand why the new President (or perhaps his advisors) are taken by Jackson he fought against his own party almost as much as against the opposition, he was a determined nationalist, was quick to defend Anerica's "honor" (as well as his own when attacked, which was frequently). It's a good and timely read. I'd add a 5th star if there was a bit more bio of his pre-presidency life.
- Firstly, I am a fan of Jon Meacham's writing style in general. He seems to have an agreeable way of illustrating his biographies in my opinion. I aso have always thought that Andrew Jackson was a highly underrated President and never given his just recognition in the history lessons of America. Jacksonian politics have been a widely effective and widely used political stratagem and he was one of the most influential Presidents in our history as a nation. As usual, Jon Meacham doesn't hold back. He shares the triumphs as well as the more questionable acts or attributes of his subject and I believe that is what draws me towards his work in the first place. A must read for the America history enthusiasts.
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