Jacksonian Democracy DBQ Jacksonian democracy was a time of mass democracy. Government was beginning to shift towards a government run by the people, and represented by the people. In the election of 1824 all the candidates ran as Democratic-Republicans (PK). Andrew Jackson would lose to John Q. Adams due to the “corrupt bargain” and the new political party the democrats would emerge. Jacksonian democrats were only guardians of political democracy, individual liberty and equality of economic opportunity, and the United States Constitution when it benefitted them.
But Andrew Jackson thought that voting rights should be given to all white males. Also Jefferson thought only educated political elite could run for office but Jackson thought that any white male could run for office. Another thing that the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democracy disagreed on was on economic problems. For example, Jefferson thought the Yeomen farmers were the “chosen
The strength of the economy encouraged Americans to take out more loans and buy more stocks, making them susceptible to future changes in the economy. The freedom caused financial markets to crash globally which helped power the Great Depression. Another example of lack of government intervention was the robber barons, a term referring to the wealthy and powerful businessmen in the 18th century. They were also known as “pure capitalists”, because they believed in an economic system that involved minimal interference from the government. Those working for robber barons were beaten and threatened, and the working conditions were terrible.
But the basics of their philosophies were the same. The Jacksonian Democracy during 1820s to the 1840s was the way America was ran by President Thomas Jefferson. Being a former common man, Jefferson gave more power to those in his former position and limited the power of the aristocracies which created a balance. Jackson believed in the power of the president and the constitution that gives him the presidential power. This power caused principles in Jacksonian Democracy including Manifest Destiny.
How far do you agree with the view that in the years from 1829-37, Andrew Jackson democratised American politics? Elected in 1829, Andrew Jackson ultimately became known as the “People’s president”, and is known to have democratised America during his presidency. Jackson founded the democratic party and developed its party politics, following this he attempted to end bureaucracy in Congress with the rotation of office, and can often be seen to put the needs of the country above his own views such as during the 1832 Nullification Crisis. However other aspects of his presidency may show Jackson to have been largely undemocratic in his personality and politics, such as his personal rivalry and feuds taking priority over his politics, his common disregard for the Constitution, linking to his oppression shown to certain social groups such as blacks, Indian tribes and women. This lack of democracy and in many cases, violence, towards the mentioned groups leads me to the overall conclusion that whilst Jackson may have attempted and possibly succeeded in democratising politics, at the same time he failed to democratise American society.
Jackson exercised the full extent of his presidential power during his presidency, which turned out to be a decisive tool in controlling congressional power. To increase trade within the country, Congress passed various tariffs on exports. The high tariff of manufactured goods reduced British exports to the U.S., which resulted in Britain buying less cotton. With the lack of British goods, the South was forced to buy more expensive products from the North. Because the South felt that the North was getting richer at their expense, John C. Calhoun, the vice-president and South Carolina native, created a nullification theory that argued for the states’ right to nullify a federal law it found unconstitutional.
Jackson had also received a large number of the votes in Missouri which in turn gave many of Jackson’s supporters the majority in the General Assembly. Jackson and his supporters believed that the U.S. Supreme Court was a tool used in creating a strong federal government which took away powers from the states, an ideology that Adams and his supporters fully supported. This was unacceptable according to President Jackson and the Jacksonians which called for judiciary reform. With President Jackson firmly positioned in the White House this gave the Jacksonians the opportunity to seek such reforms. The Jacksonians first political action in Missouri was to limit federal judges’ terms in office and to make it harder for them to overturn state and congressional legislation.
Traditionally Black Americans had voted for the Republican Party. President Truman was able to win considerable black support for the Democratic Party by endorsing civil rights during his presidency. Truman was motivated by his experience of segregation in his home state of Missouri. Truman used his powers as president to implement reforms such as: Executive order’s to outlaw racial discrimination in civil service employment; The CGCC was established to ensure that government contracts did not go to employers that had segregation in the work place, Truman also appointed black Americans to high-profile
A Democracy is a form of government in which eligible citizens may participate equally either directly by voting for the passing or rejecting of laws or running for office themselves, or indirectly through elected representatives. The United States has become more democratic from 1607-1900. The Democratic Party was formed in 1792, when supporters of Thomas Jefferson began using the name Republicans, or Jeffersonian Republicans, to emphasize its anti-aristocratic policies. It adopted its present name during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson in the 1830s. In the 1840s and '50s, the party was in conflict over extending slavery to the Western territories.
This included women’s suffrage, the direct election of senators, the availability of the referendum, and the right to recall representatives whose behavior in office did not satisfy their constituents. There were also progressives who hoped to increase efficiency in governments there by eliminating the power of elected officials by choosing to use “experts” in their place, thereby putting the progressives at odds with one another. . (www.u-s-history.com/pages/h106.html) Retrieved 11/2008 Throughout the Progressive Movement there were several accomplishments. For example, Teddy Roosevelt ended the 1902 coal mine strike, used the Sherman Antitrust Act to attack a railroad monopoly (known as the Northern Securities Case), and added Departments of Labor and Commerce to the cabinet.