American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White... by Jon Meacham

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Description

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... read more

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Summary

Important People

Andrew Jackson: The seventh president of the United States of America, serving from 1829 to 1837.
Rachel Donelson Jackson: Andrew Jackson's wife.

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Memorable Quotes

“Jackson was a transformative president in part because he had a transcendent personality; other presidents who followed him were not transformative, and served unremarkably.”
“With a writer's eye, Irving detected Jackson's depths. "As his admirers say, he is truly an old Roman-to which I would add, with a little dash of the Greek; for I suspect he is as knowing as I believe he is honest.”
“Or, as Jackson would have said: The people, sir-the people will set things right.”

First Sentence

Christmas 1828 should have been the happiest of seasons at the Hermitage, Jackson's plantation twelve miles outside Nashville.

A Note on the Text
Principal Characters
Prologue: With the Feelings of a Father
Part I - The Love of Country, Fame and Honor - Beginnings to Late 1830: Andy Will Fight His Way in the World, Follow Me and I'll Save You Yet, A Marriage a Defeat and a Victory, You Know Best My Dear, Ladies' Wars are Always Fierce and Hot, A Busybody Presbyterian Clergyman, My White and Red Children, Major Eaton Has Spoken of Resigning, An Opinion of the President Alone, Liberty and Union Now and Forever, General Jackson Rules by His Personal Popularity
Part II - I Will Die with the Union - Late 1830 to 1834: I Have Been Left to Sup Alone, A Mean and Scurvy Piece of Business, Now Let Him Enforce It, The Fury of a Chained Panther, Hurra for the Hickory Tree!, A Dreadful Crisis of Excitement and Violence, The Mad Project of Disunion, We Are Threatened to Have Our Throats Cut, Great is the Stake Placed in Our Hands, My Mind is Made Up, He Appeared to Feel as a Father, The People Sir Are with Me, We Are in the Midst of a Revolution
Part III - The Evening of His Days - 1834 to the End: So You Want War, A Dark Lawless and Insatiable Ambition!, There Is a Rank Due to the United States Among Nations, The Wretched Victims of a Dreadful Delusion, How Would You Like to be a Slave?, The Strife About the Next Presidency, Not One Would Have Ever Got Out Alive, I Fear Emily Will Not Recover, The President Will Go Out Triumphant, The Shock is Great and Grief Universal
Epilogue: He Still Lives
Author's Note and Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Illustration Credits
Index