Description
Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1973. Professor Nathans illuminates the changes wrought by Jacksonian democracy on the career of Daniel Webster, a major political figure, and on the destiny of a major political party, the Whigs. Daniel Webster was a creative anachronism in the Jacksonian era. His career illustrates the fate of a generation of American politicians, reared to rule in a traditional world of defined social classes where gentlemen led and the masses followed. With extensive research into primary sources, Nathans interprets Webster as a leader in the older political tradition, hostile to permanent organized political parties and fearful of social strife that party conflict seemed to promote. He focuses on Webster's response to the rise of entrenchment of voter-oriented partisan politics. He analyzes Webster's struggle to survive, comprehend, and finally manipulate the new politics during his early opposition to Jackson; his roles in the Bank War and the nullification crisis; and the
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Introduction
Prologue. "Character is Power"
Chapter 1. A Gentlemen's Opposition
Chapter 2. The Politics of Patriotism
Chapter 3. Why Not Webster?
Chapter 4. The Dispensable Men
Chapter 5. Huzzah!
Chapter 6. High Tide
Chapter 7. The Road to Disruption
Chapter 8. Outcast
Chapter 9. No Exit
epilogue. Daniel Webster, Massachusetts Man
Bibliographical Essay
Index
