I recently completed a review of A.J. Langguth's Driven West: Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War for Presidential Studies Quarterly. In brief, historians will not find anything new in the book, while general readers should beware of several factual and interpretive errors. You can read another review by Adam Pratt … Continue reading Brief Book Review of A.J. Langguth’s Driven West: Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War
Teasing My Research
No, not the kindergarten brand of teasing. I'm excited about presenting some of my Jackson research at this summer's SHEAR and this fall's Southern. At this year's SHEAR, which meets in Philadelphia, I'll be presenting a paper entitled, "Masculinity and Familial Relations in the Early Republic South: A Study of Andrew Jackson’s Advice to His … Continue reading Teasing My Research
The Hermitage’s Podcast Series: An Interview with Andrew Jackson VI
The March podcast from The Hermitage is an interview with Andrew Jackson VI. From meeting him on a couple of occasions, my impression of Judge Jackson is that he is a very friendly man who doesn't sugarcoat Jackson's faults. He also has a good sense of humor.
The Hermitage: A Near Miss
I was very surprised to see a local news report last week that The Hermitage has been in serious financial trouble over the past year. The economic recession, combined with the Middle Tennessee flooding of last May, not only cut into attendance but also destroyed the climate control system used to keep the house and its … Continue reading The Hermitage: A Near Miss
Early Republic Biographies That Need To Be Written
While I'm on break this week, I'm posting two of the blog posts that generated the most interest. Today's post is one of the first posts I wrote for the blog. It addresses the Early Republic individuals who still need a scholarly or an updated biography written about them. From 28 July 2010: In a … Continue reading Early Republic Biographies That Need To Be Written
Interview: Vol. 8 of Papers of Andrew Jackson
While I'm on break this week, I'm posting two of the blog posts that generated the most interest. Today's post is the interview with Laure-Eve Moss on the newest volume of the Papers of Andrew Jackson. From 1 November 2010: The eighth volume of The Papers of Andrew Jackson is scheduled for publication later this month. … Continue reading Interview: Vol. 8 of Papers of Andrew Jackson
Did Andrew Jackson Stay at the Black Horse Tavern?
A recent article in the Roanoke Times noted the restoration of the Black Horse Tavern in northern Roanoke County. Part of the reason for the restoration, according to the article, is that "[t]radition asserts that President Andrew Jackson occasionally stayed at the Black Horse Tavern in what is now North Roanoke County when he traveled … Continue reading Did Andrew Jackson Stay at the Black Horse Tavern?
Yay, Adams! Boo, Jackson!
Tony Petersen, editor-in-chief of the CSU Fresno Collegian, has given his opinion on some of the best and worst U.S. presidents. Petersen's favorite president is John Adams, who had a distinguished pre-presidential career but wasn't so great as chief executive, if you ask me. The XYZ Affair, the Quasi-War with France, and the Alien and … Continue reading Yay, Adams! Boo, Jackson!
New Jacksonian Books: Feb. 2011 Edition
The year 2011 is off to a strong start in the field of Jacksonian studies. I'm currently reading Haynes' book and hope to get a chance to review it and the others in the near future. (All book descriptions are excerpted from History Book Club.) Patricia Brady, A Being So Gentle: The Frontier Love Story of Rachel … Continue reading New Jacksonian Books: Feb. 2011 Edition
The Hermitage’s Podcast Series: Privilege vs. Equality
From The Hermitage's podcast series: Listen in on a conversation with Dr. Robert Wettemann, Director of the Center for Oral History at the United States Air Force Academy, as he explains what happened during the War of 1812 and how the Battle of New Orleans changed the face of the military.
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 