Part 5/8:
Bradley discusses the contentious environment of Van Buren's presidency, particularly how the contentious debate over tariffs mirrored the partisanship of modern political discourse. He highlights Van Buren's struggles against the backdrop of falling economies and a divided nation, tracing the connections to current political strategies, suggesting that many tactics we recognize today have their roots in the systems forged by politicians like Van Buren.
Transformation of American Politics
Through reconstruction of historical narratives, Bradley aims to illuminate how Van Buren's political innovations laid the groundwork for the modern party system, emphasizing the expectations placed on coalition-building and campaign strategies among politicians.