Recently, we had the great pleasure of meeting with Dr. Feller to discuss "Jackson's America." This seminar was one in a long line through our American History Project. Unfortunately, I became ill the morning of the seminar, and was unable attend. However, the readings Dr. Feller chose for us to dive into is worth a blog post. Dr. Feller had us read a selection of writings, from the beginning of Andrew Jackson's presidency through his farewell address. These readings included an excerpt of de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," which spoke of the great equality found in America. We then were led to writings by Jackson, who detailed his idea of people, leaving out blacks, Indians, and women. Dr. Feller was illustrating that Jackson's idea of America was different than those who had an outside view. The readings concluded Jackson's ideas on the banking system, compared with the ideas of Henry Clay. Overall, Andrew Jackson had a radical view of what America should be, a view that was not shared by all of the greats of his time.
McConnellCenter.org