Robert V. Remini is the great modern authority on Andrew Jackson, having
written a majestic, award winning, three volume biography. Now he
has taken a lifetime of research and consideration and distilled it down
into one slender volume examining the pivotal moment in Jackson's career
and, he argues, one of the vital events in our nation's history.
If you're like me you know exactly three things about the War of 1812.
First, that Dolly Madison saved the White House portrait of George Washington
from being burned by invading British troops. Second, every kid who
ever went to summer camp knows the great Johnny Horton song Battle
of New Orleans. Third, that the battle itself took place
after the peace treaty had been signed ending the War, but before the combatants
had been informed. That was seriously all I knew until I read David
Nevin's novel 1812
a couple of years ago (see review).
You may know more. If so, more power to you. Should we know
more? Remini makes a compelling case that we should.
In addition to doing an excellent job of narrating the events of the
battle, he argues that the victory was the moment that really made
America a nation. The elements he cites include not merely the fact
that it produced a future President, but also the confidence building importance
of a citizen army winning a battle against the professional troops of the
great British Empire, as well as the fact that this overwhelming defeat
made the nations of Europe begin to take the United States seriously as
a player on the world stage. In fact, he goes beyond this to argue
that New Orleans was actually the nation's first military victory, discounting
actions like Saratoga and Yorktown as mere surrenders. It is, of
course, possible that he overstates this case a little, having such
a vested interest in Jackson's career.
On the other hand, he raises an excellent and little understood point
about the War. It was one of only three wars in our history where
our existence as a nation was truly threatened (obviously the Revolution
and the Civil War were the others). We've fought all kinds of skirmishes,
minor brush wars and mopping up operations--Mexican, Spanish-American,
WWI, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, etc. And we like to kid ourselves
about the threat that the Nazis posed in WWII, though by the time we got
in, they were already toast. But really there were only the three
conflicts where the United States as we understand it could have perished.
If we understood that fact better, perhaps we would pay more heed to the
events of 1812-1815. As is, Remini has done his part to capture our
attention with this excellent little book.
(Reviewed:14-Feb-00)
Grade: (B+)
Websites:
Book-related and General Links:
Andrew Jackson on the Web
-A
Closer Look: The Battle of New Orleans
-The
Battle of New Orleans (Louisiana State Museum)
-Jackson's
Report: The Battle of New Orleans Major-General Andrew Jackson to the
Secretary of War
-SONG:
The Battle of New Orleans (Music and lyrics by Jimmy Driftwood)
-SONG:
The Battle Of New Orleans Page
-ESSAY:
The Battle Of New Orleans (A. Wilson Greene, History Net)
-REVIEW:
of SAM HOUSTON A Biography of the Father of Texas By John Hoyt Williams
(Robert V. Remini, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of THE ROAD TO DISUNION Volume One. Secessionists at Bay: 1776-1854.
By William W. Freehling (Robert V. Remini, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of PRECIOUS DUST The American Gold Rush Era: 1848-1900. By Paula Mitchell
Marks (Robert V. Remini, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of THE APPROACHING FURY Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861. By Stephen
B. Oates (Robert V. Remini, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of CUSTER The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer. By Jeffry
D. Wert (Robert V. Remini, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of NATIVISM AND SLAVERY The Northern Know Nothings and the Politics
of the 1850s. By Tyler Anbinder (Robert V. Remini, NY Times Book Review)
-BOOKNOTES:
Author: Robert Remini Title: Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union (CSPAN)
-REVIEW:
of THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS By Robert V. Remini (Carlo D'Este, NY
Times Book Review)
-ARTICLE: Politicians revive congressional censure
option for Clinton (Nando Media)
http://www.nando.net/newsroom/nt/828clcens.html
-REVIEW:
of ANDREW JACKSON AND THE COURSE OF AMERICAN FREEDOM, 1822-1832
Volume II. By Robert V. Remini (John William Ward, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of ANDREW JACKSON AND THE COURSE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, 1833-1845
By Robert V. Remini (John A. Garraty, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of HENRY CLAY Statesman for the Union. By Robert V. Remini (George
F. Will, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
Eric L. McKitrick: The Great White Hope, NY Review of Books
Henry Clay: Statesman for
the Union by Robert V. Remini
-REVIEW:
of DANIEL WEBSTER: The Man and His Time. By Robert Remini
A sturdy constitution: Biography illuminates impact of Daniel
Webster on young U.S. (JAMES D. FAIRBANKS, Houston Chronicle)
-REVIEW:
of Daniel Webster: The Man and His Time by Robert Remini (Ashbrook
Center for Public Affairs)
-REVIEW
: of ANDREW JACKSON AND HIS INDIAN WARS By Robert V. Remini (Eric Schine,
Business Week)
-Hebron
Academy: Good Books, 150 Suggestions for Hebron Readers
ANDREW JACKSON:
-The Hermitage:
Home of Andrew Jackson
-PORTRAITS:
Andrew Jackson (National Portrait Gallery)
-BIO:
A brief biography of Andrew Jackson 1767 - 1845 7th President
of the United States: 1829 - 1837
-BIO:
Andrew Jackson: Seventh President 1829-1837 (The White House)
-POTUS:
Andrew Jackson (Internet Public Library)
-SPEECHES:
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) 7th president of the United States: 1829-1837
-ESSAY:
Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: The Ages of Jackson
-ESSAY:
Andrew Jackson's Honor (Bertram Wyatt-Brown)
-ARTICLE:
Poisoned President? Hair Study Reveals Andrew Jackson's Exposure to
Lead and Mercury (Journal of the American Medical Association)
-BOOKNOTES:
Title: The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's
White House. Author: John Marszalek (CSPAN)
-REVIEW:
of The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's
White House, by John F. Marszalek (Florence King, National Review)
-REVIEW:
of The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's
White House, by John F. Marszalek (Roy Maynard, World Magazine)
-ESSAY:
Andrew Jackson and the Petticoat Affair (J. Kingston Pierce, American
History found on the History Net)
-REVIEW: of The Passions of Andrew Jackson by Andrew Burstein (Sean Wilentz, New Republic)
GENERAL:
-Listing
of Presidential Biographies (Irving Public Library)
-REVIEW:
Gordon S. Wood: The American Love Boat, NY Review of Books
Sentimental Democracy: The
Evolution of America's Romantic Self-Image by Andrew Burstein
-REVIEW:
of THE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP TRADITION Moral Vision From Washington to
Clinton. By Marvin Olasky (David Brooks, NY Times Book Review)
-REVIEW:
of THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY An Intellectual History. By Forrest McDonald
(John Patrick Diggins, NY Times Book Review)
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