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Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Andrew Jackson?
Controversial in his day and still controversial now, President Andrew Jackson left his mark on American history.
Seventh President Andrew Jackson was a man of contradictions: quick tempered and brash, he often seemed to look for fights, but he was so devoted to his wife, he quit Congress twice to be by her side. He was a celebrated war hero who nevertheless most enjoyed his serene life in Tennessee. Although he saw himself as a champion of the poor, he grew to be a rich plantation owner owning many slaves. He adopted a young Native American as his son despite ordering the expulsion of tribes --hundreds of thousands of people--from their homeland in the Southeast. Douglas Yacka captures the many sides of Andrew Jackson, whose life began just before the Revolution and ended not long before the Civil War.
This book in the New York Times best-selling series contains eighty illustrations that help bring the story to life.
Seventh President Andrew Jackson was a man of contradictions: quick tempered and brash, he often seemed to look for fights, but he was so devoted to his wife, he quit Congress twice to be by her side. He was a celebrated war hero who nevertheless most enjoyed his serene life in Tennessee. Although he saw himself as a champion of the poor, he grew to be a rich plantation owner owning many slaves. He adopted a young Native American as his son despite ordering the expulsion of tribes --hundreds of thousands of people--from their homeland in the Southeast. Douglas Yacka captures the many sides of Andrew Jackson, whose life began just before the Revolution and ended not long before the Civil War.
This book in the New York Times best-selling series contains eighty illustrations that help bring the story to life.
112 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2017
24 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 29, 2018
This is yet another interesting book. I didn't know too much about him before reading this book. I knew that because of him the Trail of Tears happened. I knew he was an owner of Slaves but that was about it. I learned a ton of things about him. But I was glad that the author didn't gloss over the bad parts and focus on only the good things about him.
This is another book I would say would be great for kids into history, or wanting to learn more about our country.
This was an interesting read for me. I learned a lot about him. For one thing, his dad died before he was born. His mom became the head of the family and had to work hard on the farm to raise him and his brothers. He got to read the Declaration of Independence out loud to his town when a copy of it arrived. When he was 14 he found himself with no brothers or a mother. Sadly, him and his wife couldn't have children but they ended up adopting a total of three kids. I loved that he was loyal to his wife.
But I will say he had a temper when it came to people and disrespecting him. I think he challenged three people to a duel. Then he got into a political battle with John Quincy Adams. But at least he didn't challenge him to a duel.
But he made good choices and bad choices. He was well loved. He worked his way up in the Army. He had a past that made him dislike the Indians. But all together he tried to make the right choices for his time and for the people he was leading in our early country.
This is another book I would say would be great for kids into history, or wanting to learn more about our country.
This was an interesting read for me. I learned a lot about him. For one thing, his dad died before he was born. His mom became the head of the family and had to work hard on the farm to raise him and his brothers. He got to read the Declaration of Independence out loud to his town when a copy of it arrived. When he was 14 he found himself with no brothers or a mother. Sadly, him and his wife couldn't have children but they ended up adopting a total of three kids. I loved that he was loyal to his wife.
But I will say he had a temper when it came to people and disrespecting him. I think he challenged three people to a duel. Then he got into a political battle with John Quincy Adams. But at least he didn't challenge him to a duel.
But he made good choices and bad choices. He was well loved. He worked his way up in the Army. He had a past that made him dislike the Indians. But all together he tried to make the right choices for his time and for the people he was leading in our early country.
April 22, 2020
Who Was Andrew Jackson? by Douglas Yacka is part of the New York Times award-winning series of Who Was books. The subject of this book is Andrew Jackson, our seventh president who had major victories and accomplishments as well as being one of our more controversial presidents. He was known for his brashness and short temper, he was a recognized war hero, especially for his decisive victory over a much larger British invasion force in New Orleans during the War of 1812. He was a champion for the poor and common man who also owned slaves as was common in the south back then. He ordered the expulsion of Native American tribes to the west to open areas for settlers while he also adopted a Native American son and treated him as one of his own. The author portrays him as the complex man that is difficult to put in just one box. He was a devoted husband to his wife and he even quit congress twice to be by her side. Relatively short overview loaded with facts about a life spanning from before the American Revolution to just before the Civil War.
October 2, 2019
This book details the life of Andrew Jackson. I do not care for him as a person, he was ready for a fight with the slightest indignation of another human being. He treated his slaves badly when they escaped and were brought back to his plantation. One time while working as a judge he even went as far as following an escaped criminal who had made his way out of the court room and shouted "Surrender you infernal villain, this very instant, or I will blow you through." He was also the person who chose to re-settle the native Americans to the territory of Oklahoma resulting in the deaths of one out of every three people not surviving the trip. Thousands of people died because of this decision and it is known as one of the worst presidential decisions in American history.
October 22, 2019
Very good book. I find myself to be very interested and conflicted about Jackson's life. I think Andrew Jackson's life is a great story of right and wrong. He was a great military general. He supported slavery whole-heartedly. He helped the "common (white) man". He did it at the expense of native Americans. He helped improve the United States' economic power. He did it at the expense of America's vast and beautiful wildlife and landscapes.
I'm glad Harriet Tubman will be replacing him on the $20 dollar bill. While the good that Jackson did should be celebrated, his wrongs should also be remembered and condemned. Replacing him with Tubman will be a great metaphor of coping with our past and hoping for our future.
Again, wonderful starting point to study Jackson.
I'm glad Harriet Tubman will be replacing him on the $20 dollar bill. While the good that Jackson did should be celebrated, his wrongs should also be remembered and condemned. Replacing him with Tubman will be a great metaphor of coping with our past and hoping for our future.
Again, wonderful starting point to study Jackson.
July 6, 2021
As much as I hate giving a high rating to something with Andrew Jackson's face on it, this book did a decent job of portraying Jackson's life and belief system. It doesn't ignore or downplay Jackson's atrocities towards the various Native Nations he interacted with over the course of his career, or his status as an enslaver. The portrayal of his explosive personality was well done and added a few points of levity to an overall bleak history. There are places where the author and illustrator could have been a bit more adamant in denouncing his actions and viewpoints, but in the main i was impressed with this book. Would recommend to homeschooling parents or those with history-oriented kids.
April 30, 2019
This book doesn't sugarcoat the kind of person Andrew Jackson was - his accomplishments and his flaws are equally addressed: "...Andrew Jackson represented some of the best and worst qualities of Americans in the 1800s..."
On his plus side: he represented ordinary people, tried to prevent the wealthy politicians from instituting laws that caused the poor to suffer, and managed to pay back foreign debts (for the only time US was debt-free). Bad side: treatment of minorities (pro-slavery, Trail of Tears).
On his plus side: he represented ordinary people, tried to prevent the wealthy politicians from instituting laws that caused the poor to suffer, and managed to pay back foreign debts (for the only time US was debt-free). Bad side: treatment of minorities (pro-slavery, Trail of Tears).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2018
I love these “Who was” books! Quick easy read with lots of information. This book was especially interesting because the first half talks about Jackson’s early years as a messenger boy in the American Revolution, lost all his family before the age of 14, and how he became a young lawyer in Tennessee. Jackson did some great things as “The People’s President” but he also did some horrific things like The Trail of Tears and promoting slavery.
September 5, 2022
The best book I've read on Jackson so far. This was an extremely interesting read that addressed much of the complexity of the seventh president of the United States. While never excusing his behavior, the book also shows a bit of why he might have been the way that he was, and provided many fascinating stories and anecdotes to keep young readers engaged.
March 20, 2018
This book is a fascinating biography of the 7th president of the United States or you should say the man who beat the Brtish inthe bloody war. He was a feircwe young child who always takes things so seriously. Read about Andrew Jackson.
July 13, 2024
Read with the kids as we prepared to visit the Hermitage. My husband said it wasn’t 100% accurate but for a very simplified history it was fine. This book is no longer in print and I had a hard time finding it.
October 13, 2017
i liked it. . . . . . . .
October 29, 2017
Glad to read in this book that US Treasury Department announced that the 20$ bill would replace the portrait of President Jackson to honer African American woman Harriet Tubman.
November 15, 2017
i liked it
January 20, 2018
A great children's book for understanding this president.
April 11, 2018
Indian Removal Act, not okay.
May 7, 2018
I've always been fascinated by Andrew Jackson. This juvenile-aged biography does a wonderful job at outlining his life, the good along with the bad and controversial.
February 21, 2019
This book had a good representation of the good and the bad sides of Andrew Jackson. I liked that it was stated so plainly. Good overview of his life.
March 5, 2020
I love these books to get basic information on something you are not familiar with. In doing so, I found that Andrew Jackson was a fascinating character and I plan to read an adult bio of him
March 25, 2023
This book was awsome to read and fun 😂😂
April 18, 2023
Lots of information, easy to read and lots of additional information to help understand what was happening at the time.
December 6, 2021
I've read a few of the Who? What? Where? and found some of them very political, pushing their own agendas, but this one was pretty good. I appreciated Douglas Yacka for saying the good and bad about Andrew Jackson.
December 3, 2017
Blech! I guess the book was good because I was disgusted with the subject. The man was a bully and would never get away with his antics now. This guy was worse than our current head of state.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews