Biddle, Jackson, And A Nation In Turmoil by Cordelia Frances Biddle

• Author:
• Cordelia Frances Biddle

The first half of the 19th century was an era of upheaval. The United States nearly lost the War of 1812. Partisanship became endemic during violent clashes regarding States’ Rights and the abolition of slavery. The battle between Andrew Jackson and Nicholas Biddle over the Second Bank of the United States epitomized a nation in turmoil: Biddle, the erudite aristocrat versus Jackson, the plain-spoken warrior. The conflict altered America’s political arena. Jackson accused Biddle of treason; Biddle declared that the president promoted anarchy. The fight riveted the nation.

The United States is experiencing a reappearance of deep schisms within our population. They hearken back to the earliest debates about the federal government’s role regarding fiduciary responsibility and social welfare. The ideological descendants of Nicholas Biddle and Andrew Jackson are as polarized today as they were during the nineteenth century.

Author Cordelia Frances Biddle gained access to hitherto undiscovered documents that alter Nicholas Biddle’s place in history. In addition to editing the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Biddle performed confidential work at the behest of President James Monroe.