The Coming of Democracy

"It would be difficult to overstate how much I enjoyed this book. Cheathem's clear, cogent prose made it a pleasure to read. The clarity of the writing and the admirable simplicity of its organization make it ideal for students."—Robert M. Owens, Wichita State University, author of Mr. Jefferson's Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American Indian Policy

"Students and scholars owe Mark R. Cheathem a debt of gratitude for authoring this informative and engaging volume on the changing nature of political culture. His analysis of the evolution of campaign organizations, as well as the print and material aspects of that culture, provides a welcome and necessary perspective on contemporary politics."—John M. Belohlavek, University of South Florida, author of "Let the Eagle Soar!": The Foreign Policy of Andrew Jackson

"Success in modern politics hinges on building a cultural connection, however superficial, between candidates and voters. In The Coming of Democracy, Mark R. Cheathem systematically describes the forging of this American cultural politics of 'electioneering' over the four presidential cycles leading up to the legendary Log Cabin campaign of 1840. Cheathem's work is an essential review for political and cultural historians, but will also prove accessible and entertaining for undergraduates."—John L. Brooke, Ohio State University, author of Columbia Rising: Civil Life on the Upper Hudson from the Revolution to the Age of Jackson

"Mark R. Cheathem's fusion of formal and cultural politics provides an intriguing and useful lens for understanding voter engagement in early republican presidential elections. This engaging, lucid synthesis will appeal not only to scholars of the early republic, but also to students and general readers eager to understand the Jacksonian origins of our modern presidential politics."—Kirsten E. Wood, Florida International University, author of Masterful Women: Slaveholding Widows from the American Revolution through the Civil War

"For so slim a volume, there is much to admire. Perfectly balancing evidence with exposition and nicely illustrating the visual texture of the era through images, The Coming of Democracy is a welcomed contribution to the study of American political culture in its formative years."—Thomas J. Balcerski Jr., Associate professor Eastern Connecticut State University. Author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World ofJames Buchanan and William Rufus King (2019), New York History