Old Hickory's War

This is a well-researched book on AJ and his Indian Wars leading up to and including the Battle of New Orleans. Not much detail as far as military operations. It should be noted that the author's are coming at this subject from a strongly anti-Jackson bias, which some times is overstated.

This easily readable, complete account of the origins of the Southeast United States pulls no punches. It is fascinating. I am an unabashed Andrew Jackson admirer. But how he ever got away with what he did confuses me. Aaron Burr was charged with treason and tried four times for only thinking about what Jackson executed with impunity. Timing, as they say, is everything.Frontier justice, combined with an officially unsanctioned invasion of indisputably Spanish sovereign territory, is accomplished without so much as a truly serious international whimper. Jackson simply ignored and crushed ALL domestic opposition. This event has all the improbable content of the most outrageous novel: land based buccaneering, genocide, invasion, forced removal, betrayal and, most of all, proof that in the early stages of this part of what was going to become a major cornerstone of the future United States, that certain political sections of early America's hierarchy believed that might made right. Absolutely no democratic ideals here. I have never read anywhere what this book made me feel but I truly believe this was Jackson's first formal execution of his and other's concept of Manifest Destiny.The authors are excellent. The subject matter is riveting. The local history is fascinating. Jackson is an American original. With all the good he did for his country he had to know that to execute this plan he needed safe harbor in the highest levels of the US government. Thank God he was on our side.

The historiographical fortunes of Andrew Jackson have varied over the years from the controversy of his own time to virtual adoration during the New Deal years to today's increasingly jaundiced opinion of the general/politician/Indian fighter. The Heiders, professional historians, definitely fall into the disapproving faction that lately has been gaining the upper hand. In part, their work is a logical outgrowth of the current political climate. In the 1930s, when Reform was in vogue, Jackson's role as "reformer" (or, destroyer) of such "elitist" institutions as the Second Bank of the United States and his rough nationalism as expressed towards South Carolina during the nullification crisis played well with the generally liberal guild of historians. But, times have changed and with "multi-culturalism" the current fashion, Andrew Jackson is less a frontier hero in the eyes of many than a frontier sociopath with a brutal contempt for both Indians (now called "Native Americans") and blacks. That, at least, is, in part, how the Heider's seem to regard him. And, with good reason. Jackson's contempt for the Indians is, despite the apologetics of biographer Robert Remini, too patent to be ignored. His general bloodlust -- he was an extraordinarily violent man in both private and personal life -- don't endear him to modern sensibilities either. The Heiders, in this well-researched and well-written book, see Jackson as the Loose Cannon of antebellum America: headstrong, insubordinate, genocidal -- and an out and out liar. His prevarications about his unauthorized seizure of Spanish Pensicola in 1818, which included an after-the-fact falsified map, his summary killing of two British nationals on flimsy pretext and his ruthless persecution of anyone who dared to differ with him leave the Old Hero's moral and ethical standing in tatters. To be sure, the Heiders, when presented with two interpretations of Jackson's actions -- his own and that of his enemies -- generally side with the more hostile account. But, their thorough research builds a persuasive case that Jackson was, indeed, out-of-control, arrogant, and a blood-stained imperialist with abiding racial hatreds. The Monroe administration found Jackson's actions reprehensible and insubordinate -- but very useful. Thus, the president and his cabinet, led by John Quincy Adams, winked at Old Hickory's depredations. The political popularity of the "Napoeleon of the Woods" made him, as well, too dangerous a potential adversary. The book goes into considerable detail and some of it may be lost on those not familiar with its period. Still, it is a valuable antidote to two generations of Jackson-worship on the part of historians. One wonders what, a few generations hence, the view of Jackson will be once the cultural wheel has turned over a few more times from now.

This easily readable, complete account of the origins of the Southeast United States pulls no punches. It is fascinating.I am an unabashed Andrew Jackson admirer. But how he ever got away with what he did confuses me. Aaron Burr was charged with treason and tried four times for only thinking about what Jackson executed with impunity. Timing, as they say, is everything.Frontier justice, combined with an officially unsanctioned invasion of undisputably Spainish soverign territory, is accomplished without so much as a truely serious international whimper. Jackson simply ignored and crushed ALL domestic opposition. This event has all the improbable content of the most outrageous novel: land based buccaneering, genocide, invasion, forced removal, betrayal and, most of all, proof that in the early stages of this part of what was going to become a major cornorstone of the future United States, that certain political sections of early America's hierarchy believed that might made right. Absolutly no democratic ideals here.I have never read anywhere what this book made me feel but I truely believe this was Jackson's first formal execution of his and other's concept of Manefest Destiny.The authors are excellent. The subject matter is riviting. The local history is fascinating. Jackson is an American original. With all the good he did for his country he had to know that to execute this plan he needed safe harbor in the highest levels of the US government. Thank God he was on our side.

An often forgotten episode in American history was the United State's pursuit to gain Florida. Troubles on the border allowed Andrew Jackson to come in at remove the Creek and Seminole people. He invaded a foreign territory and executed citizens of a third county while there. His actions were unauthorized (but with the blessings of the President), but he still got away with it.This is one of the few books that covers the First Seminole War. The authors have done their research and used sources that have been ignored in the past. Many factors went into this conflict, and they are all examined. All the political aspects in Washington City, as well as ramifications from the Fort Jackson Treaty of 1815 that disinherited the Creeks.The overall impression is that Jackson knew what he wanted and would not let anything get in his way. He pulled off an obviously illegal operation, and got away with it all.