Evolution of Democracy_JCR

.docx

School

Grand Canyon University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

HIS 144

Subject

History

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by MagistrateButterfly10720

Name: ____John Roper__________________ HIS-144-ONL: Evolution of Democracy Directions: Respond to the three question prompts below using resources from the Topic 3 Readings, including your textbook, materials provided by your instructor through class discussion, and materials from the GCU Library Guide for HIS-144 U.S. History Themes. Please note that the minimum word count varies for each of the questions. While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. The overall assignment must include three to five relevant scholarly sources in support of your content. 1. Compare and contrast the nation’s government from Jefferson’s era with Jackson’s era. Who was eligible to participate in the democratic processes when each was elected? How did that impact who was represented in the federal government? (200-350 words) “When Jefferson was elected in 1800 it marked a reversal in American politics. Jefferson feared an overly strong central government which led him to advocate for a vison of farmers republic led by the agrarian upper class” (Shutlz, 2018). He had a vision of self-sufficient small farmers that were personally independent and beholden to no one. Jefferson attempted to do away with several Federalist polices and continue expansion west. Jefferson sought to make the farmer the true symbol of the American democracy. Jefferson sought to make the federal government smaller, he was able to do so by cutting many of the taxes that Hamilton imposed as well as making tariffs from trade the primary source of funding for the government. While Jefferson was in office only white men who owned property were allowed to vote. Jefferson sought the advice of the upper elite when it came to decision making. When Andrew Jackson ran for office, he was viewed as a hero because of the role he played in winning the War of 1812. When he was elected, all white males were allowed to vote regardless of property ownership. Jackson helped develop the “spoils system” or patronage in which you got a government job for helping the campaign. When he was elected in 1828, he fired many federal workers replacing them with committed Jacksonians. Neither of the two men favored a National Bank, Jefferson left it alone while Jackson set out to close the Bank in which he eventually did. 2. Explain three ways the federal government changed or expanded from the time of Jefferson to Jackson. (200- 350 words) When Jefferson was in office, only the rich educated elite had a say in what went on rather than those who the policies would affect in the end. When Jackson took office, his goal was to give the “common man” a voice in what was happening because after all that’s who the policies going to affect. When Jefferson ran for office those who held a political office nominated who they though should be President with the free white male property owners over 21 able to vote. By the time that Jackson ran for President the conventions were around and they nominated who they thought would best represent their party in the Presidential election and all white males over 21 were able to vote regardless of land ownership. When Jefferson was in office, he sought well educated white males who came from money and owned lots of property to hold public office. When Jackson was in office, he desired every white man regardless of upbringing, educational background to hold a political office. Jackson was

self-made and believed in working for what you had and that every person was capable of holding an office. Another difference was that Jackson used patronage to select who would hold political office, meaning he chose likeminded men who had the same values that he did. 3. Identify one way that democracy can be improved or continue to grow today. How can it be done? (350-500 words) Democracy is defined a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation, or to choose governing officials to do so. There are many ways that democracy can be improved or grow today. One way that I think we can improve and grow our democracy is by balance access and integrity in our poll systems. What I mean by this is make it easier for everyone to vote, right now there have been states creating laws that make it harder for people to vote. That is driving people who are willing to vote away because they say why bother I am being targeted because I cannot do this or do not have this. As many as nineteen states in 2021 have passed laws that make it harder for people to vote. For example, seven states have passed laws that impose tougher identification requirements to vote. Then when it comes to the integrity of our elections, we have to look at this last election regardless of what side you were on there was something sketchy happening. There were votes casted by people who had died during the year. Then when you look at what happened in Wisconsin, they had 169,000 absentee ballots roll in from Milwaukee all at once after the polls had closed. Biden’s vote count continued to grow while Trumps stayed the same. I am not one to really get involved in politics. However, this to me was interesting. To me we must first look at the election process and go from there. We have to make it easier for everyone to vote and not restrict voters, while making it easier for voters to access polls there must also be some integrity in the election process, whether that means votes are counted at the poll itself then again at a central location in that state to ensure that there is not voter fraud going on. This just one of the ways that I think we can improve or democracy, after this past election I am unsure how the voting turn out will be next election, but I think people will be leerier of voting and how they cast their vote. References Lynn, J. A., & Watson, H. L. (2019). Introduction: Race, Politics, and Culture in the Age of Jacksonian “Democracy.” Journal of the Early Republic , 39 (1), 81–87. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/jer.2019.0006 Schouten, Fredreka. (2021). 19 state passed this year laws to restrict voting. https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/04/politics/voting-laws-restrictive-map-october/index.html Shutlz, K, (2018). Politics of the Market Revolution. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.) Hist5. https://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/cengage/2018/hist5_5e.php

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help