Biddle, Jackson, and a Nation in Turmoil: The Infamous Bank War

The first half of the 19^th 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.

In 1832, President Andrew Jackson v...