Essay On Jeffersonian Democracy

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How did the Shift from Jeffersonian to Jacksonian Democracy change American Values?
All of the values that we have as Americans have stemmed from the founding of our country and have evolved with the growth and expansion of our nation. In the election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson was elected, which started a period that was known as Jeffersonian Democracy. This was the term used to express the influence of Jefferson on American politicians; however it also outlines the political culture from 1800 to the late 1820’s. In the same sense Jacksonian Democracy does the same. Andrew Jackson was elected in 1828 and his influence lasted into the Mexican War through President Polk. During these early periods the United States developed and grew into what we understand it as today. American values expanded with the country and the shift from Jeffersonian to Jacksonian Democracy produced new values.
American Values in the 1800’s
In early United States, during the 1800's American values revolved around the new national experiment of democracy and the open land found in America. The revolution of 1800 was a significant success in the new political system because of the peaceful change from Federalist to Anti-Federalist power. Thomas Jefferson valued the success of the country and leaned towards states' rights as a president. And as one of the founders of our country his ideas were incorporated into many parts of the government. One of his most prominent suggestions for society was through his belief that the nation should be led by the educated elite, leading to the fact that there should be educated voters, which appears in the electoral college and his support of public schools. This influenced states to put property requirements in their sta...

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...ues very slightly. They were molded rather than changed. Racism, ethnocentrism, or supremacy, though not good, was present from the beginning of America with slavery. It grew and shaped itself to include Mexicans as well as African Americans, and it blended with nationalism through ethnocentric ability. The strong national identity, created by our new government and shaped by democracy and war, strengthened as the country expanded. Representation in the government expanded with the incorporations of mass democracy. As the country expanded, land became more available to common people who wished for the American Dream. Opportunity became more available for dreams of Americans and Immigrants. America progressed along its path expanding and changing the values of the people, until mass democracy of the Jacksonian era allowed the people to mold the values for themselves.

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