America's Jubilee

In America's Jubilee distinguished historian Andrew Burstein presents an engrossing narrative that takes us back to a pivotal year in American history, 1826, when the reins of democracy were being passed from the last Revolutionary War heroes to a new generation of leaders.

Through brilliant sketches of selected individuals and events, Burstein creates an evocative portrait of the hopes and fears of Americans fifty years after the Revolution. We follow an aged Marquis de Lafayette on his triumphant tour of the country; and learn of the nearly simultaneous deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on the 4th of July. We meet the ornery President John Quincy Adams, the controversial Secretary of State Henry Clay, and the notorious hot-tempered General Andrew Jackson. We also see the year through the eyes of a minister's wife, a romantic novelist, and even an intrepid wheel of cheese. Insightful and lively, America's Jubilee captures an unforgettable time in the republic’s history, when a generation embraced the legacy of its predecessors and sought to enlarge its role in America’s story.“A colorful and panoramic portrait of the memories and prophecies swirling about at a truly propitious moment in American history.” –Joseph J. Ellis, author of Founding Brothers

"A masterful feat."–Douglas L. Wilson, author of Honor's Voice

"Fascinating. . . . A felicitous writer gives us the American Jubilee year as it was experienced."–The Wall Street Journal

"A captivating book about how the people of 1826 marked that 50th Fourth of July." -Dallas Morning NewsAndrew Burstein is a professor of history and co-holder of the Mary Francis Barnard Chair at the University of Tulsa.