Presidential Chronicles

Andrew Jackson #9: Jacksonian Federalism (1829-1833); Topics covered include: Federalism, states' rights, Tariff of Abominations, Jefferson Day Dinner toasts, Ordinance of Nullification (South Carolina), Nullification Proclamation, Force Bill, congressional compromise, and the results of this set of confrontations Key people: John Calhoun, Thomas Jefferson, Joel Poinsett, and Henry Clay For mo...

Andrew Jackson #8: Kill the Bank … and the Economy (1829-1837); Topics covered include: Reduce Federal debt, Re-charter of the Bank of the United States (BUS) and veto and impact, removal of Federal funds from the BUS, congressional censure, Specie Circular (and impact), and King Andrew I Key people: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Nicholas Biddle, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, L...

Andrew Jackson #7: New Kind of President (1829-1837); Topics covered include: Presidency of Andrew Jackson, Cabinet and Kitchen Cabinet, patronage ("rotation in office"), veto approach (constitutionality and policy concerns), Indian Removal Act, Worcester v. Georgia, President as the primary representative of the people, Peggy Eaton Affair, and resignations of the entire Cabinet Key peop...

Andrew Jackson #6: Path to the Presidency (1824-1829); Topics covered include: Election of 1824, results in the House of Representatives, charges of "Corrupt Bargain," Election of 1828, Jackson elected President, and the death of Rachel Jackson Key people: John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William Crawford, John Calhoun, Duff Green, James Buchanan, and Rachel Jackson For more information on...

Andrew Jackson #5: On His Own Responsibility (1817-1821); Topics covered include: Seminole War, capture of Fort Marks and Pensacola, execution of Alexander Arbuthnot and Robert Ambrister, reaction to Jackson's actions by President James Monroe and his Cabinet, rebuke by President Monroe and defense against, attempt of congressional censure, resignation from the army, acquisition of Florida, Go...

Andrew Jackson #4: Hero of New Orleans (1814-1815); Topics covered include: Invasion of Florida, Deployment to New Orleans, declares martial law, skirmish at the Villere Plantation, establish defense at the Rodriguez Canal, Battle of New Orleans and results and impact, Treaty of Ghent, and contempt judgment by a Federal judge Key people: Augustus Macarte, John Coffee, John Keane, William Thornton,...

Andrew Jackson #3: Major General and War (1802-1814); Topics covered include: Major General in Tennessee Militia, War of 1812, Creek War, mutiny incident, imposing discipline, Battle at Horseshoe Bend, and the end of the Creek War and terms Key people: John Sevier, Archibald Roane, John Armstrong, William Martin, John Wood, and William Weatherford For more information on the "Presidential Chr...

Andrew Jackson #2: Serial Duelist (1788-1813); Topics covered include: Duels (4 over period of 25 years) Key people: Waightstill Avery, John Sevier, Charles Dickinson, Thomas Swann, Jesse Benton, and Thomas Benton For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" series, please visit https://www.presidentialchronicles.com/

Andrew Jackson #1: Rough Upbringing (1767-1800); Topics covered include: Youth; Revolutionary War; prisoner of war, deaths of father, brothers, and mother; becomes lawyer; moves to Tennessee; marries Rachel Donelson; Judge Advocate General of the Tennessee Militia; Member of Congress; U.S. Senator; and Judge of the State Supreme Court Key people: Andrew Jackson (father), Elizabeth Jackson, Hugh Ja...

John Quincy Adams #10: Petitions and Slavery (1836-1848); Topics covered include: Congressman from Massachusetts, slavery petitions, Gag Rule, U.S. v. The Amistad, Presidencies of William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, Texas Annexation, Mexican War, charged with treason (in the House)/defense, Gag Rule eliminated, death of John Quincy Adams, and reflection/perspective Key people: James Polk, Roger...

John Quincy Adams #9: To the House (1829-1833); Topics covered include: Death of son, George Adams (suicide), elected to the House of Representatives, independence, Nullification Crisis, and other Congressional positions Key people: George Adams, Charles Adams (brother), Louisa Adams, Charles Francis Adams (son), Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and John Calhoun For more information on the "Presidentia...

John Quincy Adams #8: Inconsequential Presidency (1825-1829); Topics covered include: Presidency of John Quincy Adams, presidential agenda, conflict with Congress, Pan American Conference, exercise habits, death of father (John Adams), Peacefield, dispute between Creek Indians and the state of Georgia, Tariff of Abominations, charges of "Corrupt Bargain," and loses re-election Key people: Andrew J...

John Quincy Adams #7: Corrupt Bargain? (1824-1825); Topics covered include: Election of 1824, role of House of Representatives, Presidency of John Quincy Adams, charges of "Corrupt Bargain" throughout presidency, election of 1828, and perspective on the "Corrupt Bargain" Key people: William Crawford, John Calhoun, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, Duff Green, and James Buchanan For more information on t...

John Quincy Adams #6: Secretary of State, Part II (1819-1825); Topics covered include: Presidency of James Monroe, Secretary of State, Louisiana Purchase, conflict over slavery expansion, Missouri Compromise, recognition for South American republics, and the Monroe Doctrine Key people: James Monroe, John Tallmadge, and Henry Clay For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" series, please...

John Quincy Adams #5: Secretary of State, Part I (1817-1821); Topics covered include: Presidency of James Monroe, Secretary of State, Era of Good Feelings, Seminole War, Adams-Onis Treaty (acquire Florida), exercise habits, and Report on Weights and Measures Key people: James Monroe, William Crawford, John Calhoun, Benjamin Crowninshield, Edmund Gaines, Luis de Onis, King Ferdinand, and Abigail Ad...

John Quincy Adams #4: Russia and Peace (1809-1816); Topics covered include: Presidency of James Madison, Minister to Russia, interest in weights and measures, impressment, War of 1812, Peace Commission, Treaty of Ghent, and the Minister to Great Britain Key people: James Madison, Napoleon, Louisa Adams (wife), Charles Francis Adams, Tsar Alexander and wife Elizabeth, George Adams, John Adams, Abig...

John Quincy Adams #3: Politician (1801-1808); Topics covered include: Massachusetts state senator, Boston attorney, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Louisiana Purchase, Embargo Act of 1807, Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory (Harvard), and Senate resignation Key people: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Louisa Adams, and Charles Francis Adams For more information on the "Presidential...

John Quincy Adams #2: Minister (1791-1801); Topics covered include: Washington presidency, Practicing lawyer, Genet Affair, Minister to The Netherlands, marries Louisa Johnson, relationship with Louisa, John Adams presidency, Minister to Prussia, avoiding war with France, and recalled from Europe Key people: John Adams, George Washington, Edmond Genet, Louisa (Johnson) Adams, and George Adams For...

John Quincy Adams #1: Chip Off the Old Block (1767-1790); Topics covered include: Youth, Puritan work ethic, with parents, Puritan work ethic, Battle of Bunker Hill, trips to France (2), school in Europe, diplomatic assignment to Russia, Treaty of Paris, leisure time in Europe, attends Harvard, and passes the Bar Key people: John Adams, Abigail Adams, Charles Adams, Thomas Adams, Benjamin Franklin...

James Monroe #10: Retirement and Legacy (1824-1831); Topics covered include: Final Message to Congress, end of presidency, election of 1824, new home (Oak Hill), University of Virginia (Board of Visitors), American Colonization Society, Monrovia (Liberia), personal debts, petitions Congress for reimbursement of expenses as foreign minister, death of Elizabeth Monroe, death of James Monroe, and ref...

James Monroe #9: Doctrine (1819-1823); Topics covered include: Recognition of several newly independent republics in South America, acquisition of East and West Florida (Adams-Onis Treaty, and the Monroe Doctrine (policy, message, and long-term implications) Key people: John Quincy Adams For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" series, please visit https://www.presidentialchronicles.c...

James Monroe #8: Tough Times, Too (1817-1825); Topics covered include: Era of Good Feelings, Panic of 1819, protective tariffs, Bank of the United States, slavery expansion into Louisiana Territory, Missouri Compromise, strict constructionist, and evolving views on federally-funded internal improvements Key people: John Tallmadge, Jesse Thomas, Henry Clay, and Thomas Jefferson For more information...

James Monroe #7: Dealing with Jackson (1817-1831); Topics covered include: Presidency of James Monroe, Seminole War, instructions to generals (Gaines and Jackson), capture of St. Marks and Pensacola, execution of British citizens, Monroe holds Jackson accountable for exceeding his authority, following correspondence, issue re-emerges in late 1820s, and Monroe counters Jackson with a public stateme...

James Monroe #6: Era of Good Feelings (1817-1820); Topics covered include: Elected President of the United States, Virginia Dynasty, Cabinet, tour of New England, Era of Good Feelings, economy flourishing, reduced partisan political strife, improved foreign relations, family in the White House, wedding for daughter Maria (first WH wedding), and nearly unanimously re-elected Key people: Rufus King,...

James Monroe #5: Madison's Cabinet and War (1809-1817); Topics covered include: Presidency of James Madison (initially estranged with Monroe), Governor of Virginia, depredations by Britain and France, impressment (Britain), appointed Secretary of State, War of 1812, burning of York (by U.S.), burning of Washington, D.C. (by British), Acting Secretary of War, Treaty of Ghent, status quo ante bellum...