Andrew Jackson, Southerner (Southern Biography Series)

He was one of the most controversial Presidents in the early years of the United States. At times he ruled as if he was a military dictator; he felt that it was his way or his way, there was no other way to view things. He was viewed as a hero after the Battle of New Orleans, and used that to springboard into politics; while he is not revered he grew up during a time of change in the United States, in a part of the country that did not want to change. In this new biography of President Andrew Jackson, Mark Cheathem looks at the Southern roots of President Jackson and how that influenced his life, his politics, and his worldview. While not apologizing for Jackson’s behavior, or policy decisions, Mr. Cheathem makes the convincing claim that we can’t understand the man unless we understand where he came from, what kind of culture he grew up in, and what kind of values he appreciated.

There are many biographies written on Andrew Jackson; this is one of the better ones. It is easy to read and follow, and Mr. Cheathem goes against the trend and looks at the culture, instead of just the politics.