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Andrew Jackson: Symbol for an Age
Was the man who lent his name to "Jacksonian America" a rough-hewn frontiersman? A powerful, victorious general? Or merely a man of will? Separating myth from reality, John William Ward here demonstrates how Andrew Jackson captured the imagination of a generation of Americans and came to represent not just leadership but the ideal of courage, foresight, and ability.
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 10, 2024
A fractal look at the idea of Andrew Jackson and what that idea meant to America. The themes of Nature, Providence, and Will were floating over the waters of the early republic. They were adumbrated in one man- the champion of New Orleans, the orphan of the interior, the man of action. In Jackson, the American people saw the image of themselves they'd been waiting to see.
There’s lots of great insight in this little book. I was particularly dazzled by the idea that the American mind took the primeval curse of Genesis (“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground”) and transmuted it into a blessing. America turned its back on Eden, the past, and family and threw itself into the toil of the Wilderness with cheer. Like the patriarch Jacob who fraudulently stole his brother’s blessing, the Americans, through cunning and guile, cut the line in the parade of nations and took the top spot.
There’s lots of great insight in this little book. I was particularly dazzled by the idea that the American mind took the primeval curse of Genesis (“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground”) and transmuted it into a blessing. America turned its back on Eden, the past, and family and threw itself into the toil of the Wilderness with cheer. Like the patriarch Jacob who fraudulently stole his brother’s blessing, the Americans, through cunning and guile, cut the line in the parade of nations and took the top spot.
July 18, 2023
The author is a genius.
August 7, 2020
I wouldn't have picked this book out to read necessarily, but after buying it at a used book sale I thought I'd give it a try. It isn't a biography of Jackson, but more about the "age of Jackson" and the influence he had on society and vice versa.
I found it particularly interesting because Jackson was the first populist president elected. He was very different from his predecessors who were Harvard educated and part of the elite. There are benefits and disadvantages to both types of men.
I thought a lot about Trump as I've studied Jackson, the two have some similarities. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the election and whether the country wants another "populist" president.
I found it particularly interesting because Jackson was the first populist president elected. He was very different from his predecessors who were Harvard educated and part of the elite. There are benefits and disadvantages to both types of men.
I thought a lot about Trump as I've studied Jackson, the two have some similarities. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the election and whether the country wants another "populist" president.
May 31, 2017
A classic of American Studies that certainly has its moments still, at least as literary/cultural analysis.
June 23, 2020
Solid book on Andrew Jackson
July 9, 2009
One of the worst books ever!!!!!!!! It is so stupid!! It is not even about him. It doesn't even make sense.
May 24, 2012
Smart and unconventional bio. Excellent study and a great read.
August 29, 2013
The man, the myth, the legend. You choose, which one was he.
March 20, 2024
I learned about this book during a class I took a few years ago. Someone there highly recommended it. I can't honestly say why. I knew this wasn't a biography, per se, but I wasn't really sure what the author's point was. There were a lot of things in the book that didn't really seem connected to me. Maybe it was because it took me so long to read it. Maybe it's because I wasn't interested enough, and my mind frequently wandered. Whatever the reason, I just didn't really enjoy it.
September 6, 2017
Fits more as an American Studies work than a true history or biography. Ward explores the ideas of nature, providence, and will in the Early Republic through the person of Andrew Jackson.
December 18, 2019
The Jacksonian age is fascinating in light of present political circumstances. While the book purports to be about President Jackson, it is much more about American politics and culture in the first half of the 19th century. Reading it reminded me that there is nothing new under the sun. The politics of that day were as corrupt, as personal, as sensational as today's. We simply have not learned enough history to realize it. The parallels between Jackson's political life--definitely not his military life--and President Trump's are intriguing. As one example, Jackson often sent out "memoranda" to circulate amongst the Washington elite then beyond. These are nothing more than early "tweets" attempting to accomplish similar goals of attacking the political elite and exposing their pretensions to the common man. There are many other parallels, none of which are exact, but make for scintillating discussion.
The Jacksonian era is worth another look. There are certainly better biographies out there, but as a starting place, this is very good.
The Jacksonian era is worth another look. There are certainly better biographies out there, but as a starting place, this is very good.
March 15, 2014
This is not a book for those who want a normal biography of this president. However, the book provides considerable information on political thought (of elites and the public at large) in the Jacksonian era including long quotes from original sources that most of us would never ferret out.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews