Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Book Report - "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands

Good Essays
316 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Book Report - "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands
Book Report: Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times The following report of H.W Brands’, Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times, will contain a synopsis of the book and a review of the contents. Brands brilliantly portrays the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson. Jackson is born in the mountains of South Carolina on March 15, 1767. His widowed mother loves him dearly. Jackson fighting in the war against British ignites hate inside Jackson which is ongoing throughout his life. Orphaned at fourteen, he starts studying to be a lawyer. In 1788, he becomes a prosecutor working out of Nashville. Falling in love with the married Rachel Robards, they claim to marry in 1791, before her divorce with Lewis Robards in finalized. In January 1794, they again wed, this time legally. “Jackson made Rachel the emotional center of his universe.” (Page 65).
Jackson is selected as Tennessee’s first congressman and in next to no time senator, but resigns in 2 years. Jackson gains national fame as an Indian fighter and as the defender of New Orleans in the ending battle of the War of 1812. President Monroe wants him out of politics, appoints Jackson governor of Florida until the territory is annexed. His plan is to retire and work on his farm, but his followers persuade him that he become president.
In the election of 1824, Jackson wins the popular and electoral vote but loses in the House of Representatives to John Quincy Adams. In the election of 1828, Jackson wins by a landslide. The vicious campaign has Jackson distracted, and Rachel falls sick and dies. Jackson enters the White House with grief. He surprises citizens when he surrounds himself with a “kitchen cabinet” to support him without Rachel. His firm belief in “rotation of office” rather than “permanent tenure” of officials is practiced, dreading that enjoying authority for elongated periods inescapably corrupts.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    man endowed with virtue and strength. The results of the election of 1824 proved that Jackson…

    • 380 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The first issue to be evaluated in Jackson's presidency is the policy of "rotation in office" and also the cabinet reorganisation in 1831. Jackson began by rewarding his supporters with Cabinet positions and removing those against him. Rotation soon became the official policy and was used to "prevent the growth of an entrenched bureaucracy" . Although some historians like Robert Remini have argued that the aim of this was honest, to be rid of "the problem of corruption and concentration of power....in order to protect American freedom" , it is hard to believe that this was Jackson's sole belief. The need to have a co-operative, and loyal bureaucracy was crucial to Jackson's success. It also has to be noted that rewarding the party faithful, though unofficial, was common in all administrations. And Jackson's appointments on the whole (with the exception of Samuel Swartwout) were honest and well deserving. Some historians such as James Parton never forgave Jackson for "rotation" saying that "instead of reform he had introduced one of the worst political practises conceivable" . Indeed it gained a more sinister aspect in 1832 after Senator Marcy defended the rule that "to the victor belong the spoils…

    • 2244 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jackson was democratic because he extended voting rights and encouraged participation in the government to different classes. In 1824, six states in the United States elected presidential electors by legislature (Doc 1). By 1832, only one state elected presidential electors by legislature which can be credited to Jackson and a new spirit that he brought to politics. Many state legislatures had been dominated by the wealthy and elite. Jackson presented more equality in voting by granting lower class people the ability to vote. Some describe the election of 1828 as a political revolution because, “Jackson's victory accelerated the transfer of national power from the country house to the farmhouse,” (Doc 2). Because of Jackson, there was a major shift in…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Andrew Jackson was born in rural South Carolina March 15, 1767, the son of impoverished Irish immigrants. He received no formal education as young child and became a messenger boy in the American Revolution at the age of 13. At the Age of 35, he was elected to the Tennessee Militia as a Major General.(LOC) The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. In this decisive battle of the American Revolution, the American forces were led by Andrew Jackson. After this victory, Jackson emerged as a hero for his actions. Andrew Jackson was an aggressive leader, he knew his intentions, and that offended some, but he also knew how to get his ideas popularized and accepted. He also realized what would happen if the British would have won and taken New Orleans. Andrew Jackson demonstrated the will to win and possessed strategic and tactical skills, leadership and knowledge.…

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    He was born of low class parents in bad financial standings, and also, to whom had next to no education with not a single relation to any politically important people. In other words, this guy had a lot of really tough adversities to overcome in order to achieve what he would soon perform. Soon, Jackson saw his first days of heroic might and popularity, which was the result of a great victory to which many of all americans had sought great joy in, the War of 1812. From this mighty performance, Jackson had accrued a strong relation and trust with the so called “common people”. To help explain what the “common people” were comprised of; like Jackson, this category of people were also not fortunate to live among or be connected with the important rulers, or in better terms, the cool group of Founding Fathers. Due to Jackson attracting such a large and strong relationship with these “common people”, his popularity skyrocketed. So at this time in which the popular vote influenced the electors strongly, Jackson managed to ascend to the position of such presidency. President Jackson offered much reform to the democratic motives and methods. These can range anywhere from the expanding of the suffrage, reaching to the restructuring of federal institutions. One way in which President Andrew Jackson would soon carry out these principles would reflect in the enacting of a war upon the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson wanted to find a way to remove the few rich, unelected private bankers who seemed to have a strong hand, or influence on the nation’s…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    We can begin to see Jackson's vigilante style leadership following the War of 1812. During this conflict, General Jackson became a national icon through several decisive victories over the British. Most notably the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. During this battle the British suffered more than 2,000 casualties while the American sustained six killed and 10 wounded. This victory helped to restore the nation's pride which had been floundering, since the torching of the White House by the British. This event in particular assured that Jackson's name was on the tip of every American tongue during a revolutionary time. As a newly…

    • 1445 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Andrew Jackson Dbq

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Andrew Jackson was a man of his time, elected in 1828 he became the seventh president of the United States of America. He leads several victorious battles during his time, this includes when he lead an attack on the British on January 8, 1815, since this leap was taken it helped contribute to his presidency. As read within the Background Essay, he started out as the Tennessee representative at only 29 he gradually moved up within a year to become the senate. In 1824, Jackson decided to run for president of the United States, the vote was separated down the middle and Jackson was outraged at the results he argued that he had the majority of the people's votes and it was only fair for him to be elected. Motivated Jackson was determined to create…

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before Jackson’s military exploits, back in 1790’s he played an instrumental role in developing North Carolina’s western lands into the state of Tennessee. Dishearten by the antics in Washington, Jackson resigned to Tennessee immediately he and his supporters began laying the ground work for his election in 1828.…

    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Andre Jackson was more than a symbol, he was a vital force. As the force was rarely at rest, so the man was rarely at peace” (Curtis IX) The book Andrew Jackson and the Search for Vindication, written in 1976 by James C. Curtis, winner of the University of Delaware Excellence in Teaching Award. The author focuses on Jackson’s stormy life, and the impact his experiences had on his gaining of power. As well as the influence, he made on the War of 1812, achievement and his two-term presidency.…

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Andrew Jackson Villain

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages

    President Andrew Jackson, the first man from the western state of Tennessee voted into office in 1828, was one of the most controversial president in American history. As the American political party system takes its shape, Andrew Jackson became the leader of the newly established Democratic Party. Andrew Jackson represented and appealed to the common man. Jackson, as a military hero, displayed a heroic aura that attracted many of his western supporters and additionally captivated the support from workingmen in the East. This Jacksonian Democracy alarmed political elites as he establishes the spoil system in…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the election of 1824, Jackson ran against John Quincy Adams. On election day, Jackson won the most popular votes, but no candidate won a majority in the Electoral College. Adams eventually won the presidency and appointed Clay, his former adversary, the secretary of state because Clay got his supporters to back Adams. This was a major act of corruption, and made Andrew Jackson and his supports very mad. In 1828, Jackson ran against Quincy Adams again. This time, Jackson wanted revenge because he felt he was cheated out of the last election. Jackson…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Politically, the nation was in great turmoil. There was still an everlasting debate among men in power, over what should prevail. The right to vote was still a major issue, the middle class feeling robbed of power in governmental decisions, the upper class feeling threatened by the growth of the middleclass. However, Jackson brought with him many new ideas and principles. Since he himself had very modest roots, he…

    • 893 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Andrew Jackson was our 7th president from 1829 to 1837. In Jackson’s first election his supporters were bitterly disappointed, by the government unfortunately denying Jackson the presidency by the House of Representatives. He wanted to be the direct representative for the common man in America. The reason why Andrew Jackson presidency was so significant was because he won the popular vote by appealing to the common people.…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jackson , who was a major war general in the war of 1812 commanded U.S. forces against the creek indians who were allies of the british. In 1814 Jackson led forces to defeat the british in the battle of new orleans. After all the wins jackson had led his troops to he was elevated to a nation hero. Jackson's popularity led to suggestions about him running for president but at first he didn't have any interest. But by 1824 his boosters has rallied enough support to…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The love story of Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel, has been acclaimed one of the greatest romances of the nineteenth century. Author Irving Stone went to great lengths to write a book of accuracy of their life together. Using many different government libraries and historical reference groups to build a fact filled book on a great American president and his wife.…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays