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Secondary sourceBook1835

The Life and Political Opinions of Martin Van Buren

William M. Holland · 1835

William M. Holland's 1835 campaign biography presenting Van Buren favorably ahead of the 1836 presidential election.

This campaign biography was written to promote Van Buren's political image before the 1836 presidential election.

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Plain dark red cloth book cover with a slightly darker spine strip along the left edge. No title, text, or ornament is visible.
William M. Holland, The Life and Political Opinions of Martin Van Buren, 1835 (Belknap).

About this source

What it is

This is a book written by William M. Holland in 1835, titled The Life and Political Opinions of Martin Van Buren, Vice President of the United States. It describes his public career, including his work in the New York Senate and United States Senate.

Why it matters

Published the year before Van Buren's successful 1836 presidential campaign, this biography reflects the political image that his Democratic supporters wanted voters to see. It shows how campaign literature was used to shape public opinion long before mass media existed, highlighting Van Buren's legislative efforts such as his push to limit imprisonment for debt.

Look closer

  • Why might a biography published during an election year present its subject in a favorable light?
  • What political causes does the book highlight, and what might that tell you about what voters cared about at the time?
  • What kinds of information might a campaign biography leave out?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Van Buren on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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