Little did I realize growing up that I was surrounded by the history of the Jacksonian period. I spent many of my school field trips and church outings at Red Clay State Park, located about ten miles from my hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. Red Clay served as "the seat of Cherokee government" from 1832-1838, but for … Continue reading Surrounded by Cherokee History
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Review of Daniel Walker Howe’s What Hath God Wrought
What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. By Daniel Walker Howe (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007), 904 pages; $35.00. Andrew Jackson has been dead 165 years, yet he remains the locus of intense political controversy. Since 1945, and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.’s, The Age of Jackson, three generations of American historians and journalists … Continue reading Review of Daniel Walker Howe’s What Hath God Wrought
Charles Dickinson’s Reinterment
I had the pleasure of attending Charles Dickinson's reinterment in late June. Dickinson was the young lawyer who was killed in a duel with Andrew Jackson in 1806. The story of how Dickinson's grave was discovered is a testament to hard work and persistence, by both Charles Miller, Dickinson's great-great-great-grandson, and Fletch Coke, a well-known historic preservationist in Nashville. Most people who … Continue reading Charles Dickinson’s Reinterment
Michael Bellesiles’ Comeback
Michael Bellesiles' new book 1877: America's Year of Living Violently, is coming out next week. For those of you who don't know or remember, in 2001-02, Bellesiles was accused of scholarly dishonesty and falsifying data in his award-winning book Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture. Arming America's critical argument was that widespread gun ownership was … Continue reading Michael Bellesiles’ Comeback
Civil War Book Review: Summer 2010
The Summer 2010 issue of Civil War Book Review contains a number of book reviews addressing works on the Early Republic, including Robert Remini's book on Henry Clay and the Compromise of 1850; Earl Maltz's book on Slavery and the U.S. Supreme Court, and Craig Friend's and Anya Jabour's edited collection of essays on family in the Old South.
Books I’ve Used in My Jacksonian Course
I've taught the Jacksonian course three times: twice at my previous institution and once at Cumberland. I conceived of the course at my previous institution as an Early Republic course; the title, "Republicanism, Democracy, and Expansion, 1789-1845," emphasized the themes around which the content was organized. At Cumberland, the course is entitled "Jacksonian Democracy," but I organized it … Continue reading Books I’ve Used in My Jacksonian Course
Housekeeping Notes
After a couple of weeks of posting, and with the realization that the semester will leave less time for coming up with brilliant and interesting topics, I've decided to go to a three-times-a-week posting schedule. There may be weeks when I post more often, but I will do my best to post, at a minimum, on … Continue reading Housekeeping Notes
Waxing Eloquent about Jackson
My parents recently visited the Natural Bridge Wax Museum in Virginia. There were a number of famous and historic personalities portrayed, including Ben Franklin and other founders of the Republic, some indistinguishable frontiersmen and Native Americans, a security guard, and a postman. Oh, and they took a photo of the wax figure of Andrew Jackson, displayed … Continue reading Waxing Eloquent about Jackson
2010 Presidential Rankings
Siena Research Institute, housed at Siena College in Loudonville, New York, recently released its presidential expert poll. The SRI press release explains the methodology used: The Siena College Research Institute (SRI) Survey of U.S. Presidents is based on responses from 238 presidential scholars, historians and political scientists that responded via mail or web to an invitation … Continue reading 2010 Presidential Rankings
Biographies That Need Writing
In a 1997 essay entitled "American Political Biography," Robert V. Remini assessed the state of the field and found it wanting: "Old-fashioned political biographies of 'dead white males' that are 'character-driven narratives' seem to have little appeal for graduate students. . . . These biographies could be written by doctoral candidates and would add significantly to our … Continue reading Biographies That Need Writing
