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Andrew Jackson and the Politics of Martial Law: Nationalism, Civil Liberties, and Partisanship. By Matthew Warshauer. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-57233-548-6. Illustrations. Notes. Index. Pp. 314. $39.95.
In his provocative examination of the implications of Andrew Jackson's 1814 declaration of martial law in New Orleans, Matthew Warshauer analyzes the political and military results of Jackson's actions over the following two generations. Not only did Jackson's questionable act influence his own political career but also provided a useful precedent cited by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War for his and his officers' use of martial law.
Faced with an impending British invasion and the uncertain loyalty of much of New Orleans' population, General Andrew Jackson declared martial law. After successfully repelling the British invasion on January 8,1815, Jackson kept martial law in place until news of the peace treaty arrived in New Orleans on March 13, 1815. After all, the British were still in...