Martin Van Buren in the POTUS KO ringMartin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren: the record and the legends

The Little Magician. The 8th president, 1837-1841, from New York. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President
8th
In office
1837-1841
Home state
New York
Party
Democratic
Height
5'6"

The record

  • RecordTwice Van Buren had a border crisis with Britain that could have turned into war, in 1837 and again in 1838. Both times he sent General Winfield Scott to cool things down and chose to negotiate.Source: Miller Center, Van Buren: Foreign Affairs
  • RecordIn 1839 Van Buren's administration tried to send the Africans who had taken over the slave ship Amistad back to Cuba, and had a ship ready before the courts could rule. The Supreme Court freed them anyway.Source: National Park Service, Martin Van Buren and the Amistad
  • RecordVan Buren took office just as the Panic of 1837 hit. His answer was an independent treasury to keep federal money out of private banks, but Congress didn't pass it until 1840, too late to help him.Source: Miller Center, Van Buren: Domestic Affairs
  • RecordVan Buren is credited with building the first modern American political party, with its own newspapers, conventions and get-out-the-vote machine.Source: Miller Center, Van Buren: Impact and Legacy

The legends

  • LegendThe 1840 campaign painted William Henry Harrison as a humble log-cabin man and Van Buren as a rich snob. It was backward. Van Buren was the tavern keeper's son, and Harrison came from a wealthy planter family.Source: Miller Center, Van Buren: Campaigns and Elections

What he cared about

  • Carrying on Andrew Jackson's program, including Cherokee removal and the Seminole war.
  • Separating the government from the banks with an independent treasury.
  • Keeping slavery out of national politics to hold his party together, which is why he opposed annexing Texas.

The full record

As president he sent about 7,000 soldiers to force the remaining Cherokee west on the Trail of Tears, where an estimated 4,000 people lost their lives. He had also bought and owned an enslaved man named Tom.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Out-schemed bigger, louder rivals

Van Buren never fought anyone with his fists. He beat bigger rivals by waiting, reading them, and moving at the right moment. In the ring he's quick, tricky and hard to pin down.

See POTUS KO

Questions about Martin Van Buren

Was Martin Van Buren born rich?

The 1840 campaign painted William Henry Harrison as a humble log-cabin man and Van Buren as a rich snob. It was backward. Van Buren was the tavern keeper's son, and Harrison came from a wealthy planter family.

What was the Panic of 1837?

Van Buren took office just as the Panic of 1837 hit. His answer was an independent treasury to keep federal money out of private banks, but Congress didn't pass it until 1840, too late to help him.

Did Martin Van Buren build the Democratic Party?

Van Buren is credited with building the first modern American political party, with its own newspapers, conventions and get-out-the-vote machine.