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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. This book is great for anyone interested in the history of the U. Its great to see a dramatic change from how Presidents like Jackson were to today's time. Jackson is truly the "People's President" and this book brings out everything in him, the good or the bad. Andrew Jackson is much like Ben Franklin in that the more one reads about him, the more one becomes infatuated with the subject. However, Meacham's "American Lion" is just plain disappointing.
Missing is any meaningful discussion of the myriad Indian wars, for example. Further, his treatment of the subject of Jackson's life- from pre-presidency and beyond- is incessantly dry and tedious. For those looking for a more David McCullough-like exploration of Jackson, this sure is not the book to read. Try H. I have never been a big fan of Andrew Jackson, and this book did nothing to change my opinion. Loved the book. It was my experience that, as the action shifted back and forth, both in geography and time, I found the names blurring together and confusing me by their similarities.
Brands before reading this book. Brands give an excellent overview of the world in which Andrew Jackson lived, struggled, survived, and excelled. Meacham, on the other hand does a convincing job of analyzing the many reminiscences and anecdotes of and about Jackson to give us a reasonable view of his inner thoughts and sentiments. I will say that I enjoyed this book and came away much educated about the flaws of our Founding Fathers; and very appreciative of the relative sedateness of our governmental proceedings today…even against the incredible ignobility of our most recent election.
And maybe some insight into our current turmoils Let me admit that I read this book, and the book by H. Brand, in order to examine the similarities to our current President and to see what encouragement and comparisons we can draw from history. He also brought the Party system into the mainstream and was instrumental in instituting many other governmental changes that we now take for granted.
How did this man merit his face on our money? How much is he like our current President? And how much different? I have drawn my own conclusions on these questions, and will leave you to draw your own. However, I want to entice you by presenting several quotations from this book in which, however your partisanship, I expect you will find much that will probably confirm your opinions of the current President, whatever they are.
Many leaders would have been seduced by the roar of that crowd, lulled into thinking themselves infallible, or omnipotent, or secure in the love of their followers.
Lee C. Stephen F. He could be unwavering, but he was not closed-minded. The two reconnected and became friends. You must be logged in to Tag Records. He could be unwavering, but he was not closed-minded.
But Jackson knew that politics, like emotion, is not static. Parties were one thing; partisanship another. Yet the attacks also brought his loyalists together by investing them and their hero with a shared sense of persecution and a strong incentive to defeat those bent on Jackson's destruction….
Bloodthirsty bids for power often provoke equally bloodthirsty reactions—especially when the target is a man like Jackson, whose own appetite for control and for the elimination of enemies knew few bounds. Jackson felt that no one a cared as much about the common-man as he did; b no one was strong enough and capable enough to resist the encroachments upon the rights of the common man as he was; c no one was as emotionally committed to fighting for the rights of the common man as he was: he thus felt justified in bending the rules and reinterpreting them for his own ends.
Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection…it would be an unqualified blessing. Meacham says "Jackson believed that 'the intelligence and wisdom of our countrymen' would provide 'relief and deliverance' from the 'difficulties which surround us and the dangers which threaten our institutions'—in every era. He could be brutal in his application of power, but he was not a brute. He could be unwavering, but he was not closed-minded. After Jackson's remarks to the Cabinet [about the need to destroy the National Bank] were published in the Globe [newspaper] an enraged [John C.
Making the arguments to the Cabinet public, Calhoun said, 'was clearly and manifestly intended as an appeal to the people of the United States, and opens a new and direct organ of communication between the President and them unknown to the Constitution and the laws. But his successes so outshine his failures that we can forgive him much.
I did not know that South Carolina was actually raising an army to safeguard their secession from the Union in ; and that England, France and Spain were ready and eager to step in and help any actions that might weaken the new country and make it more susceptible to outside influence. Remember, we're talking of only the sixth President of a country that was barely 40 years old. Even Abraham Lincoln studied Jackson's writings looking for some help with the turmoil of the 's. Never underestimate the damage the chief of state can do.
But Meacham has missed an opportunity to reflect on the nature of American populism as personified by Jackson. Meacham, the editor of Newsweek, dispenses with the usual view of Jackson as a Tennessee hothead and instead sees a cannily ambitious figure determined to reshape the power of the presidency during his time in office to Case by case, Mr.
American Lion book. Coffin Handbills. File:American lion by jon meacham cover. First Sumatran expedition.
Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Samuel L. Secession in the United States. Sister Margarita of Jesus. Sign up to get a pre-publication copy in exchange for a review. Home Groups Talk Zeitgeist.
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Best Biographies Tennessee Writings 3. No current Talk conversations about this book. I thought this book was absolutely fascinating. GaylaBassham May 27, I came away disappointed with this book. Incredible figure. American Lion by Jon Meacham It's worth putting a bookmark on page xv, the list of principal characters.
President Jackson is especially relevant with President Trump at the helm. You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data. John Quincy Adams 6th President. Thomas Hart Benton Senator, Maryland. Francis Preston Blair founding editor, Washington Globe. John C. Calhoun Vice President. Henry Clay Congressman and Senator, Kentucky.