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Andrew Jackson DBQ

Decent Essays

Was 1824 to 1840 the Age of the Common Man?
Andrew Jackson did many things throughout his presidency and that includes blossoming forth the age of the common man. In the years 1824 to 1840 the world was filled to the brim with innovation and exploration. Those years were the “age of the common man” because of the economic westward expansion, the social impact of the Indian Removal Act, and political debate over Andrew Jackson and his Jacksonian Democracy.
The Indian Removal Act was an atrocity done in the name of the common man. The want of the land for agriculture by the common man and the discovery of gold on the same land caused the common man and Andrew Jackson to desire the land even more. According to Document C, Tecumseh questioned that …show more content…

Andrew Jackson and his Jacksonian Democracy had a huge part in the age of the common man. Before he was president of the United States, he first was a general in the War of 1812 and the First Seminole War among others. He grew up without a family and made himself not starting as an aristocrat and embodying the spirit of the common man, he was the common man, so when he became president he sought out to help his people and that’s what brought on the age of the common man. In Document A it shows Andrew Jackson’s First Inauguration Reception where he lets everyone (the common man) into the White House for the reception resulting in chaos and running the city out of whiskey. Showing that he is willing to do anything for the common man. In Document D, he is portrayed as a king/tyrant standing on top of the constitution and another document, and holding a paper in his hand marked “Veto.” Him being painted as a king shows that people think he can do whatever he wants like a king and there’s no controlling him. …show more content…

The westward expansion was caused by the idea that America should expand to the west to spread democracy and civilization called manifest destiny. During the westward expansion the following was gained: the Louisiana Purchase (bought from France for 15 million), Texas Annexation (rebellion from Mexico), Mexican Cession (went to war with Mexico and bought for 15 million dollars), Florida Cession (received from Spain), the Gadsden Purchase (bought from Mexico for 10 million to finish the transcontinental railroad), and the Oregon Treaty (treaty with Britain). Document B shows that there was a massive boom in voters (225%) from 1824 to 1828 due to the universal white suffrage allowing the common man to vote, and it steadily rose every four years from an original 356,038 in 1824 to 2,411,187 in 1840 as immigrants (new and old) and the common man could now vote. The biggest increase in voters by sheer numbers is from 1836 to 1840 it increased by 912,509 voters, more than any other increase allowing the common man to have even more political influence and power. Document E shows that population in the west boomed from 1810 (773,902) to 1840 (5,169,292) with an increase of 4,395,390 people of which the majority were common men giving them power in the political world. Compared to the slow growth of the south (+606,922) and steady growth of the north (+3,408,530) the west and in turn

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