Andrew Jackson

Rating:
Summary: Robert Remini is the Jacksonian Scholar of our time.
Review: This book, "Andrew Jackson", is a short but highly readable book you need to start knowing the man as well as the president. We find he is the first self made man, that is he was born in poverty. The first "up by his own bootstraps" type whereas the first six presidents were born to the wealthy elite. More importantly he was the first westener, that is, at that time, the first president to represent people living west of the Appalachian Mountains. These, and many other factors, Mr Remini points out impacted on how Jackson's presidency differs from those before him. By streaching & expanding executive power he changed the federal government from a congressional dominated government to a presidential dominated government during his administration. He vetoed more bills than all his predescessors combined. Mr. Remini expands his studies in lengthier books such as "The Course of American Democracy" and "Andrew Jackson & the Bank Wars." But if your serious about studing United States history linger on the Jacksonian era and read this book first

Rating:
Summary: Robert Remini is the Jacksonian Scholar of our time.
Review: This book, "Andrew Jackson", is a short but highly readable book you need to start knowing the man as well as the president. We find he is the first self made man, that is he was born in poverty. The first "up by his own bootstraps" type whereas the first six presidents were born to the wealthy elite. More importantly he was the first westener, that is, at that time, the first president to represent people living west of the Appalachian Mountains. These, and many other factors, Mr Remini points out impacted on how Jackson's presidency differs from those before him. By streaching & expanding executive power he changed the federal government from a congressional dominated government to a presidential dominated government during his administration. He vetoed more bills than all his predescessors combined. Mr. Remini expands his studies in lengthier books such as "The Course of American Democracy" and "Andrew Jackson & the Bank Wars." But if your serious about studing United States history linger on the Jacksonian era and read this book first

Rating:
Summary: Short, Informative, and Entertaining
Review: This may not be the most thorough of biographies but it is very good. Although Mr. Remini does seem to admire Andrew Jackson, he doesn't gloss over his failings: his treatment of the Cherokee Nation, his inability to see the need for some sort of central bank, his brutal treatment of just about everybody during the Indian wars. I felt the author's refering to Andrew Jackson as 'the hero' was done more for artistic flourish rather than concrete evaluation.

The book is an easy read and Mr. Remini is an entertaining writer. He packs an amazing amount of information into the 200 pages of this book. I am looking forward to reading his three volume biography of Andrew Jackson.

Rating:
Summary: Short, Informative, and Entertaining
Review: This may not be the most thorough of biographies but it is very good. Although Mr. Remini does seem to admire Andrew Jackson, he doesn't gloss over his failings: his treatment of the Cherokee Nation, his inability to see the need for some sort of central bank, his brutal treatment of just about everybody during the Indian wars. I felt the author's refering to Andrew Jackson as 'the hero' was done more for artistic flourish rather than concrete evaluation.

The book is an easy read and Mr. Remini is an entertaining writer. He packs an amazing amount of information into the 200 pages of this book. I am looking forward to reading his three volume biography of Andrew Jackson.