Andrew Jackson: A Biography (Great Generals)
A foremost scholar of the Jacksonian era and official historian of the House of Representatives considers the seventh president’s military career for the Great Generals series. A teenaged Jackson fought in the Revolution’s vicious campaigns in the Carolinas. Later, heading the local militia in Tennessee, he led numerous skirmishes against the Cherokees, Creeks, and others. Remini covers Jackson’s best-known battle, that of New Orleans in 1815, in some detail. He completely though succinctly explains the “pacification” of Florida and the Seminole wars, which greatly embarrassed President Monroe and his cabinet, though Jackson was motivated in his wars against the Creeks and the Seminoles by the belief that settlers deserved to live unmolested as well as by subscribing to the concept of Manifest Destiny. He weaves Jackson’s personal characteristics—stubbornness, ambition, a very thin skin, but great concern for those under his responsibility—and details of the times into his account, thereby creating a very well-drawn sketch, if hardly a full portrait. A first choice for nonspecialist readers about matters now obscured by partisan propaganda. --Frieda Murray