Eli Lake

As historian Michael Kazin explains.

As historian Michael Kazin explains.

As historian Michael Kazin explains.

In this sense, populism can be necessary by keeping the parties that actually know how to govern in touch with the people.

In this sense, populism can be necessary by keeping the parties that actually know how to govern in touch with the people.

In this sense, populism can be necessary by keeping the parties that actually know how to govern in touch with the people.

So you could say populism is a little bit like poison. Its toxicity is determined by the dose. Some popular exasperation at the political elites can be a healthy corrective to the inevitable corruption of bureaucracies and oligarchies. Too much can lead to a constitutional crisis, as seen in Jackson's defiance of the Supreme Court in the Cherokee Nation decision.

So you could say populism is a little bit like poison. Its toxicity is determined by the dose. Some popular exasperation at the political elites can be a healthy corrective to the inevitable corruption of bureaucracies and oligarchies. Too much can lead to a constitutional crisis, as seen in Jackson's defiance of the Supreme Court in the Cherokee Nation decision.

So you could say populism is a little bit like poison. Its toxicity is determined by the dose. Some popular exasperation at the political elites can be a healthy corrective to the inevitable corruption of bureaucracies and oligarchies. Too much can lead to a constitutional crisis, as seen in Jackson's defiance of the Supreme Court in the Cherokee Nation decision.

For all the unrest it inspires, populism has ironically helped preserve our union. Our system has survived nearly 250 years, despite a civil war, presidential assassinations, the Great Depression, two world wars, and a host of other catastrophes, great and small. And that is remarkable, considering that our nation was founded in revolution.

For all the unrest it inspires, populism has ironically helped preserve our union. Our system has survived nearly 250 years, despite a civil war, presidential assassinations, the Great Depression, two world wars, and a host of other catastrophes, great and small. And that is remarkable, considering that our nation was founded in revolution.

For all the unrest it inspires, populism has ironically helped preserve our union. Our system has survived nearly 250 years, despite a civil war, presidential assassinations, the Great Depression, two world wars, and a host of other catastrophes, great and small. And that is remarkable, considering that our nation was founded in revolution.

In this respect, American populism has been an escape valve for the boiling rage of voters when the system has failed them. Our republic has endured because it can accommodate movements and leaders that seek to overturn elites. Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson are as much a part of our national story as its heroes. Jackson's legacy is not as pristine as Abraham Lincoln's or Martin Luther King's.

In this respect, American populism has been an escape valve for the boiling rage of voters when the system has failed them. Our republic has endured because it can accommodate movements and leaders that seek to overturn elites. Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson are as much a part of our national story as its heroes. Jackson's legacy is not as pristine as Abraham Lincoln's or Martin Luther King's.

In this respect, American populism has been an escape valve for the boiling rage of voters when the system has failed them. Our republic has endured because it can accommodate movements and leaders that seek to overturn elites. Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson are as much a part of our national story as its heroes. Jackson's legacy is not as pristine as Abraham Lincoln's or Martin Luther King's.

But he helped forge our nation nonetheless by reflecting who we were, even if parts of that image are grotesque. Donald Trump's legacy has not yet been written. He has a second administration in front of him. But it's worth remembering that even Andrew Jackson's insurgents eventually became their own establishment.

But he helped forge our nation nonetheless by reflecting who we were, even if parts of that image are grotesque. Donald Trump's legacy has not yet been written. He has a second administration in front of him. But it's worth remembering that even Andrew Jackson's insurgents eventually became their own establishment.

But he helped forge our nation nonetheless by reflecting who we were, even if parts of that image are grotesque. Donald Trump's legacy has not yet been written. He has a second administration in front of him. But it's worth remembering that even Andrew Jackson's insurgents eventually became their own establishment.

And in the election of 1840, the Jacksonians lost the White House to the Whigs, a party comprised of the old elite politicians that Jackson once defeated. The voters had had enough of populism and wanted a change. Thanks for listening to Breaking History. If you learned something, if you agreed with something, if you disagreed with something, please share it with your friends.

And in the election of 1840, the Jacksonians lost the White House to the Whigs, a party comprised of the old elite politicians that Jackson once defeated. The voters had had enough of populism and wanted a change. Thanks for listening to Breaking History. If you learned something, if you agreed with something, if you disagreed with something, please share it with your friends.