Andrew Jackson: Symbol for an Age

Rating:
Summary: cultural history at its best
Review: As a self pro-claimed cultural historian, John William Ward is attempting to demonstrate how Andrew Jackson captured the imagination of the people of his time (early nineteenth century America) and how the ideals of the period were "fused" in him through symbolism and myth. Although Andrew Jackson was a political figure who served as President of the United States, this book serves a "cultural study of Jackson's time" rather than a political history of his presidency. The thesis of the book is that Jackson, "who was the age's hero in a wider sense than has been commonly realized" symbolized to the people of the United States all those things upopn which they based thier national pride. This national pride, Ward contends, rested upon three main concepts; "Nature", "Providence", and "Will". These three concepts serve as major themes in the developmnet of Ward's thesis. Ward makes a very compelling argument and thouroughly supports it throughout the book with relative evidence including a variety of newspaper articles and headlines, political cartoons, speeches, poems, songs, letters, diaries, euolgies, government documents, and historical biographies. Overall, the structure of the book, the development of the thesis as it relates to the major themes, and the way in which Ward skillfully interweaves descriptive information with analytical reasoning makes for a very clear, concise, relatively easy, and interesting read. Although this book is not a political or narative history, it is a valuable and stimulating resource for any student seeking to understand this particular period in American history.

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening American History
Review: As one generation describes slices of history to another, the events and personalities are altered in the process. Ward shows how Jackson's persona emerged in the transfer of historical knowledge from one generation to the next.
In earning a national reputation as a war hero in the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson credited God with the victory and saw himself as a chosen instrument in His hands.
A city-wide religious ceremony was held in the aftermath of that victory. All New Orleans acknowledged humble thanksgiving to God for the successful defense of the city.
Riding the crest of this military popularity Jackson was elected president and the masses who turned out for his inaugural events were unlike any other before him. His administration was a shift from the elite to a populous approach to government. Ward includes helpful anecdotes to keep the readers abreast of some of the details of the time and places covered.

Rating:
Summary: Abstract but discerning
Review: My first impression of this book was that it was nothing more than rampant ramblings of senseless quibble. Once the reader understands that this is a psychoanalytical, socio-political, cultural and philosophical study of Andrew Jackson the man, versus the times he endured, it is truly an insightful work.
Touted as a man of iron-will, determination and unbound democratic principles, Jackson was a man for the ages which he represented.
Praised for his efforts in the Florida Indian battles and the Battle of New Orleans against the British (and denounced by some for his disregard for orders), he nonetheless came out on top of the situation for the people and his country.
He exhibited qualities of the self-made man and this is what swayed his popularity. Jackson started from humble beginnings, and with his resolve and perceptiveness, became not only President of the United States for two terms, but was also looked up to as a hero with no self-limitations.

Rating:
Summary: An american original
Review: Ward was a deep, even radical, but at the same time understated, American thinker at a time when almost all of his colleagues preferred either to play it safe or to grandstand stylistically. His books were dry and careful, but produced definitive classics of the field. Jackson is his best known, but he himself preferred his translation of Grimke. To see true American thought at work, read this book.

Rating:
Summary: An american original
Review: Ward was a deep, even radical, but at the same time understated, American thinker at a time when almost all of his colleagues preferred either to play it safe or to grandstand stylistically. His books were dry and careful, but produced definitive classics of the field. Jackson is his best known, but he himself preferred his translation of Grimke. To see true American thought at work, read this book.