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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell) (1782-1850) to S.L. Gouverneur

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01118 Author/Creator: Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell) (1782-1850) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 June 1832 Pagination: 4 p. ; 26 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Vice President Calhoun wrote this letter after his falling out with President Andrew Jackson over Jackson's pursuit of the Seminole Indians into Florida during the first Seminole War. Discusses the Seminole Affair and questions a recently published article that claims Jackson had invaded Florida on secret orders from President Monroe. Calhoun had disapproved of Jackson's actions and considers this a "wicked attempt top transfer the odium from where it ought to rest & to place it on the memory of Mr. Monroe."

Calhoun, John Caldwell, 1782-1850
Gouverneur, S.L., fl. 1832
Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

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