Andrew Jackson rose from rural poverty to become the dominant figure in American politics between Jefferson and Lincoln. His reputation, however, defies easy description.
Some regard him as the symbol of a powerful democratic movement that saw early 19th century suffrage restrictions recede for white men. Others stress his prominent role in removing Native American peoples from their ancestral lands, which were then opened to create a southern cotton kingdom, home to more than a million enslaved people.
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A self-defined champion of “farmers, mechanics, and laborers,” Jackson railed against the established ruling order, fostering a brand of democracy that struck a chord with the common man and helped catapult him into the presidency—he was the first westerner, first orphan, and thus far the only prisoner of war to occupy the office.
Drawing on a wide range of research material, The First Populist takes a fresh look at Jackson’s public career, including the momentous Battle of New Orleans and the far-reaching Bank War; it reveals his marriage to an already married woman, a deadly duel with a Nashville dandy, and analyzes his magnetic hold on much of the country at the time.
Presenting a full portrait of a controversial American life, The First Populist offers a new way to interpret Jackson’s legacy, connecting “Old Hickory” to a longer history of division, dissent, and partisanship that has come to define our current times.
What the Critics Are Saying:
“In this comprehensive and evenhanded biography, historian Brown (The Last American Aristocrat) makes a convincing case that Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) was the most consequential American leader between Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. . . . Thoroughly researched and fluidly written, this accessible presidential biography will appeal to admirers of Ron Chernow and Doris Kearns Goodwin.”
Publishers Weekly
“David Brown’s new book on Jackson is a fine piece of work, both engaging and informative.”
Donald Hickey
Author“Brown profiles the rise and career of seventh U.S. President, scrutinizing in particular Jackson’s reputation as a populist. . . . Brown juggles the personal and political controversies surrounding Jackson to reveal, as much as possible, what drove the man.”
Booklist
“Brown’s approach offers an often revealing view of how Jackson, drawing on reserves of charisma and ferocity, leveraged his identity as a political outsider to claim widespread popular support. . . . An instructive exploration of a controversial and enduringly relevant president.”
Kirkus Reviews
Author“In a narrative influenced by recent US politics, David S. Brown’s The First Populist revisits the contentious question of whether Andrew Jackson was a democratic populist or a charismatic strongman. Then, as now, Brown finds that the line between the two is not always clearly drawn.”
Mark Cheathem
Author“In this brisk and vividly written biography of Andrew Jackson, David S. Brown gives us a fresh, compelling portrait of Old Hickory.”
