Andrew Jackson

Moral Capitalism

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Georgetown University historian Michael Kazin points us toward a better way: What kind of economy do Democrats believe in? Joe Biden calls for “stronger labor laws and a tax code that rewards [the] middle class.” Bernie Sanders wants to raise taxes...

19th Century Conspiracy Theories

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According to historian Mark Cheathem, “rumors of secret alliance, bank deals, and double-crossings were rampant in early American elections.”  Here is a taste of his recent piece at Smithsonian.com: From claims that NASA faked the moon landing to suspicions about...

Can a Presidential Administration Run on Loyalty Alone?

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Over at The Washington Post column “Made by History, Cumberland University history professor Mark Cheathem reflects historically on the idea of “loyalty” in presidential administrations.  Here is a taste of his piece on Andrew Jackson’s presidency: Chaos seems to dominate President...

The Author’s Corner with Mark Cheathem

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Mark Cheathem is Professor of History and project director of the Papers of Martin Van Buren at Cumberland University. This interview is based on his new book The Coming Democracy (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018). JF: What led you to write The Coming Democracy?...

Populist or Demagogue? Liberty or Power?

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Here is the cover of the Spring 2018 issue of The American Scholar: It seems like we have been here before.  My HIST 141 students are studying this right now.  You should be too!...

Trump Echoed His Favorite President Last Night

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Andrew Jackson was a great defender of American democracy.  He was a president elected by the “common man.” He believed that the people gave him his mandate to rule.  “The people,” of course, were white men.  They deserved his loyalty...

The Author’s Corner with William Bolt

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William Bolt is Assistant Professor of History at Francis Marion University. This interview is based on his new book, Tariff Wars and the Politics of Jacksonian America (Vanderbilt University Press, 2017). JF: What led you to write Tariff Wars and the Politics...

Daniel Walker Howe Goes There

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As most of you know, many folks are comparing Donald Trump to Andrew Jackson. Frankly, the comparisons are getting a bit tiresome. But when Pulitzer Prize-winner Daniel Walker Howe, author of What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848, gets into...

The Author’s Corner with Jason Opal

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Jason Opal is Associate Professor of History at McGill University.  This interview is based on his new book Avenging the People: Andrew Jackson, the Rule of Law, and the American Nation (Oxford University Press, 2017). JF: What led you to write Avenging...

More on the Trump-Jackson “Bromance”

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This piece comes from McGill University history professor J.M. Opal, author of the forthcoming Avenging People: Andrew Jackson, the Rule of Law, and the American Nation. Here is a taste of his piece in the New York Daily News: Bottom line: The...

Yesterday’s Twitter Rant on Trump and the Civil War

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Context: here and here. “He was a very tough person”–Yes, just asked the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles” #trumpteacheshistory #civilwar #trumpcivilwar — John Fea (@JohnFea1) May 1, 2017 “but he had a big heart”: So big. When he sent Cherokee on...