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
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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
Andrew Jackson should be remembered as a president known for creating crises because he was the reason for the Trail of Tears and killing the B.U.S. In 1820 thousands of Native Americans were peacefully living east of the Mississippi River. That was until white settlers wanted to expand by taking over Native American land. The Worcester v. Georgia Supreme Court was a discussion of the Cherokee’s land. Andrew Jackson and the Supreme Court differed on the Cherokee’s claims of their lands. According to Document B; “John Marshall has made his decision… now let him enforce it”, John Marshall was supporting the Cherokees to keep their lands. This quote refers to Jackson ignoring John Marshall’s ruling and sending troops anyways. In 1830, Congress
The Westward expansion began for the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For $15 million dollars, President Thomas Jefferson purchased from France 828,000 square miles, including most of 14 current states, thus doubling the size of America. Jefferson now had the land, but how to populate it was another story. On a three year expedition, Lewis and Clark were sent by Jefferson to explore the lands to get a better understanding of the geography and resources of the West. During the 1830s to 1840s, to promote further territory expansion, the “manifest destiny” came into play – which was the idea that America was destined to expand across the entire country westward. Quickly, the nation expanded.
One of the ways Andrew Jackson was different than the previous presidents was he connected with the common people. During his second election Jackson won by speaking to the middle-
Andrew Jackson first got elected as the president of the United States in 1828, and this signaled a shift in the social and political powers of the government. During his presidency, he regarded himself as a representative of “the people” and his goal was to elevate the “laboring classes” of white men and regulate equal rights and laws. This was a change for Americans because before Jackson, the U.S. government was mainly made up of elitists; those who were the wealthy citizens of the nation. The years 1828-1836, the viewpoints of Andrew Jackson were focused on how he could be a democratic ruler rather than focusing on what would be best for the nation as a whole during his time.
The early activity of Andrew Jackson and his election of to the presidency in 1828 led to the new changes in the society and politics of the United States. Answer Jackson is known for:
The Jacksonian period of 1824-1848 can also be celebrated as the era of the “common man” because it lived up to its expectations due to the impact it had on America’s politics. Jackson put
Many people refer to Andrew Jackson has the “common man”. He grew up poor in the west, fought in the War of 1812, and later became a lawyer. His poor background helped him coin the nickname of "president for all the people”. I do believe that Andrew Jackson was was a president for the "common man".
The United States government needed to become more democratic during the Age of Jackson because of the type of president that Andrew Jackson was. Even though Andrew Jackson changed voting – in most states – to be more democratic (DBQ-document 1), he was responsible for the Trail of Tears in the late 1830s. The Trail of Tears was the removal of a great deal of Native Americans of differing tribes from the eastern part of America to the west, which was unfamiliar to these people. This harrowing presidential decision made by Andrew Jackson is just one of the many examples that gives historians a representation of how undemocratic Andrew Jackson was. Jackson also appointed an important government job to Samuel Swartwout, a corrupt and untrustworthy man, because Jackson was an early supporter of Swartwout. Jackson was advised to refuse Swartwout of the job; however, Jackson’s biased attitude towards Swartwout was the reason that “Swartwout absconded with $1,222,705.09” (DBQ-document 7). Andrew Jackson is depicted more as a dictator or a king rather than a president. The Library of Congress has a picture of Andrew Jackson that gives the viewer an idea of his character throughout his presidency. In this picture, he is dressed as a king and the picture is captioned as “King Andrew the First”; he
Andrew Jackson once said, “Democracy shows not only its power in reforming governments, but in regenerating a race of men and this is the greatest blessing of free governments” (BrainyQuotes). Andrew Jackson was very into getting the people involved. He wanted everyone to work and do things together and did not want to run the country himself or let Congress run the country. Andrew Jackson wanted the people to get involved in legislature and know what was going on. Andrew Jackson was a very democratic man because he was for the people and did things to support the oppressed.
Historians just can't seem to agree about Andrew Jackson. Some see him as a hero; others believed he was a villain. Some people view him as a supporter of the “common man” who backed citizens individual rights, promoted expanded suffrage and who fought to keep the union strong. Others view him as a tyrant who ignored the supreme court by signing the Indian removal act and who denied the people the laws passed by their representatives,vetoing more laws than any president before him. Did Andrew Jackson support the ideas of the people or was he a tyrant that was a cruel and oppressive ruler? Andrew Jackson is a democratic supporter of the people because he had respect for the people, supported expanded suffrage, and gave the people power and wealth.
“You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing,” said Andrew Jackson. This quote reflects on the values and the type of man Andrew Jackson is. Never fearing consequences, Andrew Jackson hopped on every opportunity to develop the United States and made it clear that he was going to run the nation his way. Present Day, controversy has risen to whether this president was a national hero or someone to look down upon. Should the 7th President of the United States be represented on the US twenty dollar bill? Andrew Jackson served as the 7th president of the United States for 2 terms, 1829 to 1837. Jackson redeveloped the traditions of the presidency and made many controversial acts, such as the Trail of Tears and the destruction of the National Bank. Jackson was well-known serving as the general in the Battle of New Orleans, a battle won by the Americans in the War of 1812. Creating the new Democratic Party, Jackson ran for presidency and focused on votes from farmers. In his 2 terms, Jackson ended lifetime official terms, created a
Westward expansion was a new thing and time in our country and had many impacts on the American people and ways of life. The government made it available to buy a lot more of land in the West. Our government gave opportunities for people to move west for a better life or more land in the west. The government gave opportunities like the homestead act where the government would give families 160 acres of land if they moved west at the time this deal was going on. This act was signed into law by President Lincoln in 1862. People moved west for any opportunity they could. People moved for a new life, more land, and more opportunities in
The Jacksonian Period, which lasted from 1824-1848, was known as the “common man” in terms of politics and economic development. The people of the United States were indeed middle class citizens and proclaimed themselves as the “common man”. However, this era gave power to most white male citizens leaving out other types of people living in the United States. Although there is evidence that the period did not live up to the era, there is more evidence that the period did live up to the era. During this time period, three factors that showed how the period lived up to the era is the economic development, politics, and the reform movements.
The inauguration of Andrew Jackson marked a key transition in American politics. His election was viewed as the coming to power of the “common man.” The contentious Jacksonian Era was merely the ascendancy of Jackson along with the Democratic Party beginning in 1830. Jacksonianism politics appeared subjugate to Indians and increased racial division, while expanding white male power. Critics emerged in opposition believing the power and influence extended to Jackson was excessive. Although the Whig Party considered Jackson a tyrant, Jacksonian Democracy is a political impulse dedicated to powerful egalitarian ideals of expanded suffrage and the nation’s borders, though racial at times, mostly benefiting the white male population.
The Indian Removal Act was supposed to give Native Americans the option to stay on their sacred land, but they were driven out involuntarily anyway. Jackson did not abide by the Indian Removal Act passed through congress, which exemplified absolute abuse of his power as president. “ In both houses of Congress, a substantial block of legislators