Fathers and Children; Andrew Jackson and the Subjugation of the American Indian

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1975. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. Hardcover. Good/poor. 25 cm. [22], 373, [1], xii, [8] pages. Illustrations. References. Index. DJ worn, soiled, and large tears. Inscribed by the author ("Mike"). Michael Paul Rogin (June 29, 1937 - November 25, 2001) was an American political scientist who taught at the University of California, Berkeley. His intellectual interests included American literature and cinema. His work is notable for its critique of American imperialism, and he was viewed as one of the members of the Berkeley school of political theory. Derived from a Kirkus review: Rogin attempts to examine the qualitative, psychological dimensions behind the rational self-interest of oppression. The book is hung on a specific peg--the Indian-fighting, land-grabbing and self-boosting Andrew Jackson. Rogin views Jackson's on-and-off paternalism toward the Indians as not simply a ploy for purposes of negotiations, but part of his military and presidential character; this paternalism makes an intriguing contrast to Jackson's egalitarian populist image. The book provides an extended scrutiny of Southern frontier life and its clan structure. It also compiles an intricate account of land speculation maneuvers and the national debate over debt. This extension of Rogin's inquiry into the early American character reaches beyond the Indian question to discuss Jackson's war against the Big Bank as something other than old-fashioned agrarianism. Everywhere Rogin has assembled a good deal of useful material which shows the Indian/frontier theme to be less worn out than one had thought.