Andrew Jackson Vs. Henry Clay: Democracy and Development in Antebellum America (Bedford Series in History and Culture)

This dual biography with documents is the first book to explore the political conflict between Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay--two dynamic personalities whose contrasting visions of America's future shaped a generation of power struggle in the early Republic. In a clear, even narrative that outlines the fascinating economic, social, technological, and political dynamics of the early nineteenth century, Henry Watson examines how Jackson and Clay came to personify the choice between democracy and development. Following the biographies are 25 primary documents--including speeches from the Senate floor, letters to the new president, and Jackson's famous bank veto--that parallel the narrative's organization.

Harry L. Watson is Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.