Andrew Jackson And The Search For Vindication Analysis

Andrew Jackson and the Search for Vindication, a biography written by James C. Curtis and published in 1976, explores Andrew Jackson’s life from his childhood experiences to his presidency. James C. Curtis analyzes Andrew Jackson’s actions psychologically during his life-long search for vindication. James C. Curtis allows the reader to better understand why Jackson was such a troubled person, in both his childhood and adult years. Growing up, Jackson was a “hellion” (James C. Curtis 7). Jackson’s family experienced many tragedies. Starting with the Jackson’s family decision to migrate from Ireland to America where they “found themselves in a society nearly as disrupted as the one they had abandoned” to the deaths of Andrew Jackson senior,

Jackson “tried to disown his troubled childhood, replacing it with aspirations for an orderly life” (22). Anyone who threatened view would have to face Jackson. He always made sure to prove himself not only to himself, but others as well. During the Peggy Eaton affair, Jackson defended Mr. Eaton and his wife from gossips. Mrs. Eaton was charged with adultery after her first husband had committed suicide. Mr. Eaton married Mrs. Eaton to give her a worthy name and in hopes that the rumors die down. Other political families did not agree that Mrs. Eaton was good women. They “unwelcomed [her] at all social functions” (100). This reminded Jackson of his own problems with his deceased wife, Rachel Jackson. She, too, had rumors circulating from her first marriage and it haunted her all the way to her death. Because of the similar circumstance for the Eaton’s, Jackson defended them and even lost some relationships with people who did not agree with him. Jackson had major trust issues towards everyone. “Distrustful of politics and politicians,” (180) Andrew Jackson always followed his ideas. It is questionable whether Jackson’s actions were for protection of the people and state’s rights or mostly for his own interests. He is known as the president for the people. “ To the South, he was a slaveholder; to the Scotch Irish of Pennsylvania he was kin; to the frontiersmen of

I would recommend this book to more advanced readers. Jackson was involved in many relationships with many people of different views. Although he tried to surround himself with his own supporters, sometimes the opponent seemed more reliable than his own people. These various relationships make the book a bit difficult to read because there is just a lot of information over his personal life, political life, and how personal affected political views. The book is in chronological order and uses reliable resources. The book is thorough and explains many of the relationships and scandals Jackson was a part of. The book remains constant in its theme of analyzing Jackson’s life in a psychological viewpoint to support that his character was influence by his experiences. The book is best explained to be a textbook. It has an overall subject about Andrew Jackson’s life. Then each chapter explains furthermore details about what happens in his