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Bradley, who co-edited the Martin Van Buren papers and teaches at the State University of New York at Albany, embarked on the project after noting a significant gap in the scholarship surrounding Van Buren. Teaming up with Mark Cheatham, a history professor, their collaboration aimed to reclaim Van Buren's legacy by publishing a comprehensive collection of his correspondence, featuring around 14,000 documents ranging from 1798 to 1862.
The Political Climate
Bradley details how Van Buren's savvy governance tactics were vital to crafting the United States' party system. Through his efforts, he transformed politics from an elite pastime into a system accessible to the masses—an innovation that continues to influence American political structure today.