Theevents of the period covered in this volume are described with some fullness in all of the general American histories. Of these, two are especially noteworthy for literary quality and other elements of popular interest: Woodrow Wilson’sHistory of the American People, 5 vols. (1902), and John B. McMaster’sHistory of the People of the United States, 8 vols. (1883-1913). The Jacksonian epoch is treated in Wilson’s fourth volume and in McMaster’s fifth and sixth volumes. On similar lines, but with more emphasis on political and constitutional matters, is James Schouler’sHistory of the United States under the Constitution, 7 vols. (1880-1913), vols. III-IV. One seeking a scholarly view of the period, in an adequate literary setting, can hardly do better, however, than to read Frederick J. Turner’sRise of the New West(1906) and William MacDonald’sJacksonian Democracy(1906). These are volumes XIV and XV inThe American Nation, edited by Albert B. Hart.
Biographies are numerous and in a number of instances excellent. Of lives of Jackson, upwards of a dozen have been published. The most recent and in every respect the best is John S. Bassett’sLife of Andrew Jackson, 2 vols. (1911). This work is based throughout on the sources; its literary quality is above the averageand it appraises Jackson and his times in an unimpeachable spirit of fairness. Within very limited space, William G. Brown’sAndrew Jackson(1900) tells the story of Jackson admirably; and a good biography, marred only by a lack of sympathy and by occasional inaccuracy in details, is William G. Sumner’sAndrew Jackson(rev. ed., 1899). Of older biographies, the most important is James Parton’sLife of Andrew Jackson, 3 vols. (1861). This work is sketchy, full of irrelevant or unimportant matter, and uncritical; but for a half-century it was the repository from which historians and biographers chiefly drew in dealing with Jackson’s epoch. John H. Eaton’sLife of Andrew Jackson(1842) describes Jackson’s earlier career, mainly on the military side; but it never rises above the level of a campaign document.
Among biographies of Jackson’s contemporaries may be mentioned George T. Curtis,Life of Daniel Webster, 2 vols. (1870); Henry C. Lodge,Daniel Webster(1883); John B. McMaster,Daniel Webster(1902); Frederic A. Ogg,Daniel Webster(1914); Carl Schurz,Henry Clay, 2 vols. (1887); Gaillard Hunt,John C. Calhoun(1908); William M. Meigs,The Life of John Caldwell Calhoun, 2 vols. (1917); John T. Morse,John Quincy Adams(1882); Edward M. Shepard,Martin Van Buren(1888); Theodore Roosevelt,Thomas Hart Benton(1888); and Theodore D. Jervey,Robert Y. Hayne and His Times(1909).
On many topics the reader will do well to go to monographs or other special works. Thus Jackson’s policy of removals from public office is presented with good perspective in Carl R. Fish,The Civil Service and the Patronage(Harvard Historical Studies, xi, 1905). Thehistory of the bank controversy is best told in Ralph C. H. Catterall,The Second Bank of the United States(1903); and interesting chapters in the country’s financial history are presented in Edward G. Bourne,History of the Surplus Revenue of 1837(1885), and David Kinley,The History, Organization, and Influence of the Independent Treasury of the United States(1893). On the tariff one should consult Frank W. Taussig,Tariff History of the United States(6th ed., 1914) and Edward Stanwood,American Tariff Controversies, 2 vols. (1903). Similarly illuminating studies of nullification are David F. Houston,Critical Study of Nullification in South Carolina(Harvard Historical Studies, III, 1896) and Ulrich B. Phillips,Georgia and State Rights(American Historical Association Reports, 1901, II).
Aside from newspapers, and from collections of public documents of private correspondence, which cannot be enumerated here, the source materials for the period fall into two main classes: books of autobiography and reminiscence, and the writings of travelers. Most conspicuous in the first group is Thomas H. Benton,Thirty Years’ View; or, a History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850, 2 vols. (1854). Benton was an active member of the Senate throughout the Jacksonian period, and his book gives an interesting and valuable first-hand account of the public affairs of the time. Amos Kendall’sAutobiography(1872) is, unfortunately, hardly more than a collection of papers and scattered memoranda. Nathan Sargent’sPublic Men and Events, 1817-1853, 2 vols. (1875), consists of chatty sketches, with an anti-Jackson slant. Other books of contemporary reminiscence are Lyman Beecher’sAutobiography, 2 vols. (1863-65);Robert Mayo’sPolitical Sketches of Eight Years in Washington(1839); and S.C. Goodrich’sRecollections of a Lifetime, 2 vols. (1856). The one monumental diary is John Quincy Adams,Memoirs; Comprising Portions of his Diary from 1795 to 1848(ed. by Charles F. Adams, 12 vols., 1874-77). All things considered, there is no more important nonofficial source for the period.
In Jackson’s day the United States was visited by an extraordinary number of Europeans who forthwith wrote books descriptive of what they had seen. Two of the most interesting—although the least flattering—of these works are Charles Dickens’sAmerican Notes for General Circulation(1842, and many reprints) and Mrs. Frances E. Trollope’sDomestic Manners of the Americans(1832). Two very readable and generally sympathetic English accounts are Frances A. Kemble’sJournal, 1832-1833, 2 vols. (1835) and Harriet Martineau’sSociety in America, 3 vols. (2d ed., 1837). The principal French work of the sort is M. Chevalier,Society, Manners, and Politics in the United States(Eng. trans. from 3d French ed., 1839). Political conditions in the country are described in Alexis de Tocqueville,Democracy in America(Eng. trans. by Reeve in 2 vols., 1862), and the economic situation is set forth in detail in James S. Buckingham,America, Historical, Statistical and Descriptive, 2 vols. (1841), andThe Slave States of America, 2 vols. (1842).
Adams, John, Jackson makes acquaintance of,17.Adams, J. Q., Secretary of State, and Jackson’s Florida expedition,62,63,64; candidate for presidency,76-77,82-83,84,86,87,88-93; and Jackson,80,93-94,108,122,220; diary quoted,88,109; “corrupt bargain,”89-92,96; elected,93; as President,95-100,104-106; personal characteristics,96-97; abolishes patronage,97-98; and internal improvements,99,100,105; candidate for reëlection (1828),106,109-110; no enthusiasm for,113; on Calhoun,139; and Indian question,206; biography,238.Alabama, Indians in,202,203,204,214.Ambrister, Robert,58.American, New York, quoted,229.Apalachicola River, Nicholls builds fort on,53; Jackson’s army marches down,57.Arbuthnot, Alexander,53,58.Aurora, Pennsylvania newspaper,193.
Baltimore, welcomes Jackson,64,219; Democratic convention at (1835),225.Bancroft, George, quoted,222.Bank, United States, Jackson’s attitude toward,79,184-188; Adams and,99; established,138,182; and the South,140; war on,181-200; Congress supports,187; Jackson plans reorganization of,187; bill to recharter,189-191; bill vetoed,190,218; as political issue,191; believed insolvent by Jackson,192-193; removal of deposits,193-195; senate censures Jackson for removal,196-198; Whigs try to resurrect (1841),200; bibliography,239.Barry, W. T., Postmaster-General,118.Bassett, J. S., biographer of Jackson, cited,4,238; quoted,37.Benton, Jesse, Jackson encounters,21,33.Benton, T. H.,26,149,232,233; Jackson fights with,21,33; quoted,49,113,167; introduces bills against Adams,105; on Van Buren’s defeat as minister,136; on Foote’s resolution,144; on Hayne,147; and United States Bank question,190-191,195; and censure of Jackson,197; biography,238.Berrien, J. M., Attorney-General,118.Biddle, Nicholas, President of United States Bank,183,184,185-186,187,188,189,192,195.Black Hawk War,215.Blair, F. P., editor of theGlobe,130,193,221,232.Blount, William,17; Governor of Tennessee,26,28,30,35,55,74.Borgne, Lake, British army at,40.Boston, endorses Jackson’s proclamation to South Carolina,176; welcomes President Jackson,219.Bowyer, Fort, British attempt to destroy,39.Branch, John, Secretary of Navy,118.Brown, Jacob, of New York,51.Buchanan, James, author of “corrupt bargain,”90.Burr, Aaron, Jackson makes acquaintance of,17; opinion of Jackson,73.Butler, General,233.
Cabinet, Jackson’s,117-118,129-130,135-136,193-194,218; Kitchen,130-131.Cadwalader, General Thomas,110,184.Calhoun, J. C., father makes home at Waxhaw,5; Secretary of War, and Jackson’s Florida expedition,56,62,135; aspirant for presidency,77-78,87,103,131; Jackson’s attitude toward,80; candidate for vice presidency,84; elected,85; described by Adams,109;reëlectedto vice presidency,110; Eaton controversy,132-134; against Van Buren,134; sectionalist,139; at Hayne-Webster debate,149; change in political ideas,159;Exposition,161,168; and nullification,161,162,164-165,166,167-168,171,172; seeks support of South Carolina,162;Address to the People of South Carolina,168;Fort Hill Letter,168; and tariff,169; resigns vice presidency,172; in Senate,172,196; on Indian policy,216; bibliography,238.Calhoun, Mrs. J. C.,134.Calhoun, Rebecca, marries Andrew Pickens,5.Callava, José, Governor of Florida,58-59,65,66,67.Campbell, G. W., Senator from Tennessee,23.Carrickfergus (Ireland), home of Jackson’s father,1,9.Carroll, William,111.Cass, Lewis, Secretary of War,136; accompanies Jackson to New England,219; possible candidate for presidency,233.Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Lord Viscount, quoted,61.Caucus as nominating device,81-82,84.Charleston (S. C.), Andrew Jackson’s father arrives at,1; Jackson in,9,10; preparations against,173; nullifiers meet at,178.Cherokee Indians, number,203; location,203; civilization,204; and Georgia,207-213; treaty with,214; remainder removed from the East,215.Cherokee Nationvs.State of Georgia,210-211.Cheves, Langdon, exponent of broad constitutional construction,159; President of United States Bank,183.Chickasaw Indians, number,203; location,203; civilization,203-204; removed,214.Choctaw Indians, number,203; location,203; civilization,203-204; removed,214.Cincinnati greets Jackson,115.Civil service, Adams and,97-98; bibliography,239;see alsoSpoils System.Claiborne, W. C. C., Governor-General and Intendant of Louisiana,25.Clay, Henry, quoted,43; and Jackson’s Florida expedition,62,63; candidate for presidency (1824),78,82,83,84,86,87,88; and Jackson,80; “corrupt bargain,”89-92;96; Secretary of State,94,97,105; and nationalism,100; loses hope of presidency,109; Compromise Tariff,179; and United States Bank,189,196; on veto power,190; nominee of National Republican party (1832),191,225; on disposal of proceeds from public lands,199; on removal of Indians,215-216.Clayton, J. M., of Delaware,148.Clinton, DeWitt, toasted at Tammany dinner,64.Cochrane, Sir Alexander Inglis, Admiral, sends news of peace to Jackson,46.Cocke, General John,33,34.Cohensvs.Virginia,141.Columbia (S. C.), ordinance of nullification drawn up at,170-171,174.Columbian Observerof Philadelphia,89,90.Concord (N. H.), Jackson goes to,219.Congress, question of Jackson’s Florida expedition,62-63; and Adams,104-105; nationalistic laws,138; Webster-Hayne debate,145-157; Force Bill,177,179,180; Verplanck Bill,178; and United States Bank,187,189-191,196; Senate censures Jackson,196-198,228; Senate ratifies Indian treaty,206; creates Indian reservation,209.Constitution, Adams for liberal construction,99; amendment proposed,105; questions in 1828,143; Webster-Hayne debate,145-157.Corn Tassel, Cherokee executed in Georgia,212.Cotton, influence of price on sentiment of South Carolina,159.Crawford, W. H., at Waxhaw settlement,5; and Jackson,62,80; supported by Van Buren,64; candidate for presidency,76,77,81,82,83,86; health fails,83-84; supporters ally themselves to Jackson,103.Creek Indians, and Tecumseh,25; massacre at Fort Mims,31,32; outbreak in South,32-36;52,54-55; treaty with,37-38; number,203; location,203; civilization,203; dispossessed,205-207,214;see alsoCreek War, Seminole War.Creek War,32-38.Cumberland River, Jackson’s army down the,28.