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Van Buren, Martin, entry in The American Cyclopaedia

1879

An 1879 encyclopedia entry summarizing Martin Van Buren's life and political career.

This reference entry summarizes Van Buren's life and political rise for 19th-century readers.

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About this source

What it is

This is an entry on Martin Van Buren from The American Cyclopaedia, published in 1879. It gives a factual overview of his birth, legal training, and early political offices in New York.

Why it matters

The entry traces Van Buren's rise through New York state politics, including his role in the "Albany regency," a group of politicians who controlled the state's Democratic party for decades. It shows how reference works of the later 19th century summarized his career for general readers.

Look closer

  • What details does the entry choose to include about his early life and education?
  • How does it describe his rise within the Democratic party?
  • What might a short encyclopedia entry leave out about a long political career?

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