The American Lion - Book Review

American Lion

American Lion by Jon Meacham is about the important American history figure and seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson. As an editor for Time Magazine, Meacham has the credentials and plenty of experience to dedicate five years to elucidate Jackson’s life experiences starting as an orphaned teenager in colonial South Carolina and its evolvement into a fervent patriot and politician. In a Washington Post interview, Meacham explains “I chose to call my book ‘American Lion’, not to lionize Jackson, but to capture the contradictions at his core. If he were on your side, he would do all he could to protect you. If he believed you a foe, then he was a ferocious and merciless predator.” (Bridget, 2008) Historian Meacham explains his purpose in writing this biography was not to provide full-scale accounts and assessments of Jackson’s life or the politics and policies of his career, but to use recently recovered letters between Jackson and his family and friends to illustrate a biographical portrait of Jackson and the people around him during his turbulent years in power. (Meacham 362) Meacham emphasizes Jackson’s many personalities and the contributions from his circle of family and friends as a common theme. Interested history seekers get a glimpse of Jackson's’ journey through the controversial and somewhat politically chaotic times they underwent.

While the book takes a comprehensive look into the many facets of President Jackson’s life, Meacham concentrates predominantly on Jackson’s time as a two term president and how he shaped the office into the strongest branch of government for the future. During his eight years of service as president, Jackson broke the economic power and political dominance of the Second Bank of the United States, averted South Carolina from separating from the Union, developed federal construction plans for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, initiated the violent removal of Indian tribes from the South, showed political patronage, and demanded other nations show the United States the respect he believed it deserved. (Edward, 2008) He outlines the roles of Jackson’s tight circle of family and friends to tell the facts of Jackson’s time in the White House. Two of these confidants included Jackson’s married nephew and niece, Andrew and Emily Donelson. Emily served as the official White House hostess and Andrew was Jackson’s private secretary. Meacham attributes much duty to the couple for Jackson’s success. Throughout Jackson’s life, Meacham