Robert V Remini Summary

Historian and a specialist on the life of Andrew Jackson, Robert V. Remini, tells the story of Jackson’s life from childhood to his years of presidency, and how his whole life revolved around the Indian conflicts of the time. Remini stays on widely known topics of Jackson’s life throughout most of the book. Although he strays from most historians when he feels that Jackson is justified in his actions and believes. Remini starts the book by telling of Jackson’s family and their heritage. He gives many accounts that he found of young Jackson’s horrid and traumatizing childhood. Remini tells about the deaths of Jackson’s father mother, and brothers, while he was still a young child. The author tells of the Indian raids on his …show more content…
Remini then says Jackson was out of his class in the Senate, and he accomplished nothing and soon resigned his position. This is when Jackson turned his sights to Major General in the Tennessee Militia, according to the author. Jackson had always prided himself in his Indian fighting skills, and wanted a chance to lead the Indian campaign. Jackson earned his way in and won the election. Jackson then turns his campaign against the Indians, who according to Remini, Jackson always referred to them as “savages”. Early on in his career as General, Jackson earned his nickname of “Old Hickory”. Remini says Jackson got the name out of respect from his troops after the toughness he displayed on a long and harsh journey back home to Nashville from Natchez. Jackson was soon appointed a General in the United States army, where he got to engage his real desire of fighting Indians. According to Remini, Jackson had a shaky start as a General. Jackson displayed his toughness and stubbornness throughout that time. While on his war path throughout the Creek nation he built Fort Strother. Many times his men attempted mutiny, because of threatened starvation and dwindled supplies. Jackson over and over again kept his men inline and kept …show more content…
Once Jackson had a refreshed militia, he started his attack one again. He went on to win many battles. Among those was The Battle of Horseshoe Bend that ended the Red Stick’s uprisings. Jackson was named the hero of The Battle of New Orleans. Jackson waged in war with the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Creeks, Choctaws, and Seminoles, to name the majority. Remini says Jackson felt that the only solution for both the Unites States and the Native tribes was that they had to be removed. This attitude towards the Indians followed him into the White house when he was elected President in 1828. Of all the things Jackson accomplished during his presidency, his Indian Removal Act was most important. Jackson finally accomplished his long thought solution to the Indian problem. Today’s historians see this a cruel act against his seemingly long term enemy. Remini however, agrees with Jackson that, through their removal, he did indeed save the Indians, for they were too tired and weakened in numbers to continue in the way of life they had grown accustomed to. Andrew Jackson died