Pulitzer Prize Biography Winner

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House

by Jon Meacham

Summary

Jon Meacham focuses on Andrew Jackson's turbulent years as president, when the frontier general redefined the office and rallied the common man. The book covers the nullification crisis, his war on the national bank, and the personal loyalties that drove his decisions. Meacham presents Jackson as a forceful and contradictory figure who expanded presidential power.

Historical Context & Significance

Jon Meacham won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Biography for this account of Andrew Jackson's presidency.