After the decline of the Era of Good Feelings, Andrew Jackson emerged as an advocate for the common man. His following known as the Jacksonian Democrats, gained large popularity in the 1820s; with his growing support, Jackson won the 1828 election therefore securing political power for the Jacksonian Democrats. During Jackson’s time in office, the Jacksonian Democrats were guardians of the Constitution due to the use of veto power in order to preserve the values of the nation. The Jacksonian Democrats were also guardians of the American ideal of political democracy; they took efforts to provide equal power in politics for a larger population of Americans. Jackson and the rest of his party were guardians of the right for equal economic opportunity …show more content…
In order to provide better lives for his fellow common Americans, Jackson and his Jacksonian Democrats were strict guardians of the Constitution. After campaigning to protect the equality of all men and the values of the nation, it was necessary for Jackson to continually resort to the Constitution as the rule book for presidential actions. To uphold the rights stated in the Constitution, Jackson used his veto power more frequently than past presidents Following the Era of Good Feelings, the nation saw a large increase in the establishment of internal transportation improvements. In 1830 Jackson vetoed one specific installment of these advancements known as Maysville Road Bill, that was to receive federal funds for the building of internal improvements in the state of Kentucky. In a letter to the House of Representatives regarding the recent veto of the bill, Jackson supported his actions writing, “the general principle [is] that [...] works which might thus be aided should be ‘of general, not local, national, not state’ character” (Doc A). By quoting the Spending Clause of the Constitution, Jackson firmly defends his position to veto the bill in order to protect the words of the nation. In Jackson’s eyes, the Maysville Road Bill was “exclusively …show more content…
As Jackson once said, “Democracy shows not only its power in reforming governments but in regenerating a race of men.” Jackson shows by this that he was a large supporter of his nation’s government and wished to preserve and strengthen democracy. Starting with his campaign for presidency, Jackson encouraged men to take active roles in their governing politics; Jackson’s impact was seen in 1828 when voter turnout doubled for his election. As president, one of Jackson’s major projects during his presidency was to provide universal manhood suffrage, now extending voting rights non-property owning males. Jackson also protected the interests of farmers, mechanics and laborers who had been otherwise neglected when it came to political decisions. Overall, Jackson established a growing sense of political democracy, including a larger demographic in decision makings for their nation. This sense of democracy is reflected upon in a report made by a British author, Harriet Martineau, on her 1834 visit to the United States. As Martineau wrote of her observations of the states she detailed, “I had witnessed the controversies between candidates for office on some difficult subjects, of which the people were to be the judges” (Doc D). By including this information, Martineau shows
One of the Jacksonian Democrats’ attempts to reduce the influence of the rich was by vetoing the charter to the Bank of the United States. Jackson stated his reasons in Document B mainly as a precaution of...
Throughout his presidency, Andrew Jackson was regarded as both a tyrant (Document E) as well a democratic rembrandt. However, by the conclusion of his rule, Andrew Jackson’s America had emerged as a pseudo democracy, strongly supported and advocated for, but falling short and ultimately failing. The drastic reforms during the Age of Jackson brought about radical changes to the young nation that would be felt throughout the country and would set the foundation for politics today. President Andrew Jackson reformed the American voting system, made significant moves against the National Bank, sparked the beginning of democratic reform movements, and most importantly gave the Common Man a voice in the government. These democratic initiatives, however, were not seen everywhere as America was slowly divided by differing views on contentious topics and individualistic ideals. Jacksonian America, did not promote the democratic
Andrew Jackson, revered as the first common man to become President, symbolized the average citizen having the opportunity to climb the ranks within America 's democratic system. However, the profits of Jackson 's administration succeed in concealing his immoral procedures and behavior. Jackson 's methods worked accordingly to the reasoning of the father of political science, Machiavelli, who said, “The end justifies the means”. He achiev...
Jackson was a strong opponent of the unequal and aristocrat dominated economic structure of most of America. He was very against the Bank of America because he believed it to have a monopoly on banking and felt that it was owned and run unjustly by wealthy aristocrats who were not always Americans (B). It must also be noted however, that while the Bank of America was undoubtedly corrupt (Nicholas Biddle is known to have given sums of money to close friends, and was also known to regularly bribe newspapers and similar media.) it also did what it was supposed to do very well. It provided money and credit to many of the lower classes that Jackson defended, and also was the source of much economic growth. As a result of this veto Jackson established pet banks in many Western areas to try to appease his main group of supporters and build up the rivalry between the agrarian South and West and the industrial North (C). Many immigrants found that one of the first things they discovered upon entering America was a sense of economic equality and lack of poverty, which are exactly the things Jackson was working towards (D). The case Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge decided that a charter given a person or group to do a service does not allow that group to have complete rights over this service. This decision supports the Jacksonian Democracy ideas that the rights of the community are more important than the rights of business (H).
Before Andrew Jackson became president, he had a rough life. His parents died when he was young so he grew up without guidance. Jackson was in all the fights he could pick and to many, a wild child. By age 17, he calmed down and began planning his life. It wasn’t until after he had enrolled in the war of 1813 and showed great leadership and strength, that he was in the spot for presidency. (BG Essay) Many people believe in a Democratic nation. Not everyone follows one though. In a democratic nation, the voices of the people are heard. The leader(s) listen and make changes the people want done. Throughout Andrew Jackson’s time in office, he showed his country many undemocratic actions. He made some great changes and some not so great friendships. How democratic was Andrew Jackson? In the eyes of some, Jackson was not democratic. In many of his actions, he is shown to take one side of two things and do anything to make sure that side
During The Jacksonian Era many different views and ideas were predominant about the United States. The Jacksonian Democrats were a loose coalition of different peoples and interests pulled together by a common practical idea. That idea was that they all were followers of President Andrew Jackson. Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as guardians of the Constitution when in fact they were not. When dealing with politics and ideas within the Democratic Party of the time the Jacksonians proved to be both guardians and violators of the Constitution. Individual liberty is another area in which the Jacksonians were advocates to different sides of the topic at different times. The Jacksonians also proved to be champions for equality of economic opportunity. The Jacksonians demonstrated themselves to be, not the proponents they thought they were, but instead violators of the US Constitution.
The election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 brought a new wave of political ideas, especially since he created the Democratic party and their symbol. Jacksonian Democrats saw themselves as guardians of the Constitution, political democracy and individual liberty (aka social freedoms). I believe that this was not the case for the decisions made in Jackson’s presidency, and he was more of a “King Andrew” than a man of the common people.
He was democratic in economic ways because the policy of the agreements made peace with Great Britain . Also because Andrew Jackson made transporting goods stronger so it was easier to trade across rivers and along states and cities. Lastly , Andrew Jackson was democratic in economic ways because of the spoil system the Native Americans had to leave their land so that the Indian Tribe can take over while they take over the Native Americans will build factories and cities . As according to Document letter F facts prove that Andrew Jackson is a democratic man. Andrew Jackson wanted to have a domestic chance were he didn’t want the bank to have a law with Congress. WIthin the domestic change he wanted to have a presentation to the bank. An example of this is that the Treaty bank by some stockholders have no longer danger to liberty. Although this document supports the Andrew Jackson was democratic he could be undemocratic becuase the people must pay their crops to other sinless as a way of kind taxes. Lastly, Andrew Jackson was democratic, and this can be proven in geographic evidence . Andrew Jackson was economic in democratic ways because turnpikes were made to be able to travel to land to lands. This turnpike helped the travelers a lot easier to transport goods and communicate better with others. The turnpikes happened and occurred because of Andrew Jackson that wanted to
From 1812-1828, the political parties (Democrat and Republican) did not matter, because presidential elections were chosen by congress, without consulting the popular opinion. At this time, rapid expansion caused the banks to loan lots of money, and the banks hurt many people who were unable to pay their debt. People got involved in politics to fight the banks. Due to the banks hurting people, Jackson, too, wanted to fight them in politics. Striving for an end to corruption, in the famous “Jacksonian Democracy”, he became president in
Earle, Johnathan H. Jacksonian Antislavery and the Politics of Free Soil 1824-1854. The University of North Carolina Press, 2004.
In closing this is what Jacksonian democracy incorporated; pretty much any reform that happened within the country during Andrew Jackson’s presidency.
Throughout the Jacksonian era the Jacksonians proved to be violators of the United States Constitution and not the guardians they believed themselves to be. Both the Jacksonians and President Jackson went against the Supreme Courts regarding cases that were said to be constitutional. An instance in which the Jacksonian Democrats violated the Constitution was in the "Trail of Tears". The Supreme Court stated that the Jacksonian Democrats' actions were unconstitutional because they had issued the "Indian Removal Act". By doing this, they were in violation of the treaty of New Echota. In the 1832 decision Worcester v. Georgia, Chief Justice Marshall ruled that the Cherokees had their own land and that they did not need to follow Georgia law in their own territory. This ruling of the Supreme Court did not stop Jacksonians from driving the Cherokees off of their land. Jackson used the Constitution to benefit himself when he vetoed the national bank, even after the Supreme Court had already ruled that the bank was constitutional. When South Carolina declared a reduced tariff void and threatened to secede, President Jackson responded in an unconstitutionally. He threatened to send militia to enforce the tariff and the Jacksonian Congress passed a bill approving this military force, if necessary. This was in direct violation of the Constitution. They continued to violate the Constitution by placing censors on the mail and intercepting abolitionist literature or mail into or from the south. This was an infringement on the Constitution because it violated the first amendment.
However, critics of Jackson and democracy called him “King Andrew I” because of his apparent abuse of presidential power [vetoing]. These critics believed he favored the majority so much that it violated the U.S. constitution, and they stated he was straying too far away from the plan originally set for the United States. Because of the extreme shift of power to the majority, the limiting of rights of the few [merchants, industrialists] and the abuse of power under Jackson’s democracy, the foundational documents set in the constitution was violated, and the work of the preceding presidents were all but lost. During the construction of the new Constitution, many of the most prominent and experienced political members of America’s society provided a framework on the future of the new country; they had in mind, because of the failures of the Articles of Confederation, a new kind of government where the national or Federal government would be the sovereign power, not the states. Because of the increased power of the national government over the individual states, many Americans feared it would hinder their ability to exercise their individual freedoms.
Topic: Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity.
Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democracy Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracy are the same in just about every regard. Their views and goals as presidents are the same. Both are in favor of the common man and feel that it is the common people who should have the biggest influence on government, not the wealthy aristocrats. They also support states rights and feel that the federal government should not get involved with the state affairs. Both men's actions clearly show that the common man does not include minorities.