The Jacksonian period is called the era of the “common man.” This is because during this period there were many economic developments that benefitted the common man. It also brought about changes in politics and the view from the public. During the Jacksonian period, many reforms were passed in order to help the common man. The Jacksonian period is deserving of its characterization as the era of the common man.
Economic developments were important to the period, such as in 1832 when Andrew Jackson vetoed the renewal of the Bank of the United States’ charter and the congress failed to overturn the veto. This led to Jackson successfully weakening the bank’s power. Jackson then won the next election, despite attempts from supporters of the bank.
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This allowed for more people to vote and have a say in the government, and because the other states didn’t want to lose population to the western states they also lowered their voting requirements, such as land owning and a poll tax. Despite the expansion of who could vote, it was still limited to only white men. This meant that Native Americans, slaves, free black people and women still couldn’t vote. The way presidential candidates were selected also went through changes until in 1828 when in every state except for South Carolina electors were chosen by a popular vote. In 1838 the group that disagreed with Andrew Jackson and his politics officially became the Whigs while Jackson’s supporters called themselves the Democrats thus creating the party system. This would benefit the voters by causing the parties to compete for votes, which would lead to the parties being more inclined to follow the will of the people. Proponents argued that this would benefit the voters by giving them power over how the country would be
The Age of Jackson, from the 1820 's to the 1830 's, was a period of American history full of contradictions, especially in regard to democracy. The period saw an immense increase in voter participation, nominating committees replaced caucuses, and electors began to be popularly elected. Yet, all of these voting changes affected only a minority of the American people: White, Anglo-Saxon males. So, though one can easily tell that White, Anglo-Saxon males were gaining
For the first time a common man, a non-aristocratic leader was elected, this would set the stage for more democratic presidents to follow. This meant that Andrew Jackson was not an upper class man instead he helped the common men get lower taxes, and receive a voice in government. This matters because it shows that the Jacksonian Democracy was democratic since it helped the common people have a voice in
The Bank war started in 1832 when the congress, lead by Henry Clay, renewed the Second National Bank's charter even though it wasn't meant to expire till 1836. The Second Bank centralized financial might, jeopardizing economic stability, and it did not answer to anyone within the government. That partly concerned Jackson because he had no way to control it. Also because of his previous election experiences, he thought that a bank with that much power could not remain free from the electoral process. That was one of his reasons for wanting the bank gone, the other was that he saw the national bank system as corrupt and unjust because it only benefited the elites and was suspected to favor the wealthy. Jackson knew that if the bank was not shut down the gap between the rich and poor would keep growing, resulting in an unstable economy. By vetoing the bank’s charter, withdrawing the federal government's deposits from the Bank of the United States, and placing it in state banks called pet banks he was helping then general people and working for the good of the nation. Taking out money from the Second National Bank was a clever way to get what he wanted, but he was simply looking out for the common man. Because the bank only helped the wealthy, a small percentage of the population, he was taking care of the general people and not letting the priority fall to a minority who was
A democratic society was on the rise and many Americans believed in equality but ignored enslaved African Americans. Government moved out of the houses of rich men and into the houses of the middle and lower- classes; education improved, suffrage laws were enacted, and newspapers were increasingly circulated. The political parties greatly changed; third parties began to rise, four candidates were chosen for one party, and Andrew Jackson lost his first election to John Adams. Adams lost his reelection to Jackson; both of whom created smear campaigns for each other, this improved voter turnout. Jackson represented the common man, throughout his presidency he served
In Chapter 10 the book discussed about the Jacksonian Era. During the Jacksonian Era there were several events and policies that occurred that lad the United States to major changes in our government and economics. The Jacksonians wanted to democratize the United States political procedure and try to grow the U.S. economic opportunity for those that would be seen as the “common man.” One of the events to have occurred during the Jacksonian Era was the Second Bank of the United States. The Second Bank of the United Sates was a national bank authorized by Congress, which became the largest business in the nation, which produced a stable currency. During the Jacksonian Era not only was there economic change, but there was territorial change.
Jacksonian democrats were not guardians of the constitution with the three main goals of life, liberty, and equality. With property qualifications gone, reforms started to be heard, women's voices were listened only to an extent, abolitionist started to try to repel slavery but were cut down, and native americans were forced off of their land. These are some of the things that appeared during his administration but, he did nothing about them causing him to not succeed in many presidential
Also, the Democratic Party allowed for a more representative government and indicated a shift in power to the West to farmers, shopkeepers, and small-business owners who supported Jackson (Hart et al 260). Jacksonian democracy―the idea that common people should control the government―was also a result of the creation of the Democratic Party. Andrew Jackson’s decision to abolish the bank of the United States benefitted and changed the U.S. Jackson believed that the national bank was to the benefit of the rich, at the expense of farmers, workers, and smaller state banks (Hart et al 263). The bank also did not provide an opportunity for capitalists in the West and other regions (Hart et al 263). In 1832, Henry Clay pushed a bill through Congress to recharter the bank four years earlier than its expiration in 1836. Jackson vetoed the bill, claiming that the bank was an unconstitutional monopoly that existed to make the rich richer (Hart et al 263). Jackson
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
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 changing nation reflected a growing sense of national pride and identity by introducing many different acts and rights. After the War of 1812, there was a growing surge of nationalism all throughout the United States. This feeling of happiness originated from the United States recent victory of the War. The Era of Good Feelings, The Age of Jackson, and changing the states’ rights and the economy were all huge factors in the changing nation, and it all reflected from the nation's previous victory. With the new found sense of nationalism and pride, the government took advantage of the states’ and the people. They did this by putting tariffs on imported goods, separating the natives from their homeland, and setting many other
Less than a quarter of a decade after the United States’ succession from their mother country, eager “war hawks,” frustrated with economic conditions and impressment, embroiled the country once again in conflict with Britain. With the nationalistically pivotal battle of New Orleans at the close of the War of 1812, the victorious General Andrew Jackson rose to fame as an esteemed war hero and was launched into his political career. After the relatively unpopular aristocrat, John Quincy Adams, finished his first term of presidency, Jackson usurped the position with promises of improved life for the average American, not just the upper echelon of the nation. During the Jacksonian Era, the quality of life for the Indian minority declined while that of black slaves and women stayed the same. Additionally, political campaigns and reforms shifted their focus to the average person, rather than only a select
The Jacksonian Democrats were very important in the revolutions in political democracy that took place during this period. During this period universal white male suffrage took place and was the first step towards the revolution of the common man in politics. Also, Jackson's acceptance and support of the two-party system helped create a more democratic America in which people with similar views could unite in their support of a singular candidate. Many "working men" of this time period had felt they had been taken advantage of and misrepresented by tyrannical aristocrats who treated them poorly (A). Jackson used this to his advantage with emotionalized speeches exploiting class differences. However, it should be said that during this time period the amount of voters increased dramatically which means that more Americans were involved in American politics (D). Jackson's use of the "Kitchen Cabinet" kept his knowledge of critics and the wants and needs of the people up
The documents in “The Age of Jackson”, fall into two themes, government development and territory advancement. The government development is the theme of “John C. Calhoun Argues for the Right of States,1828” in document one, “Daniel Webster Lays Out His Nationalist Vision,1830” in the second document, “Andrew Jackson Condemns the Right of Nullification and Secession, 1832” in the third document, “Historian George Bancroft Assert His faith in the Wisdom of the people, 1835” in the fourth document, “John L. O’Sullivan, a Democratic Newspaperman, Venerates Democracy and the “Democratic Principle” in the sixth document, and “Michel Chevelier, a French Visitor, Marvels at the pageantry of Policies, 1839” in the seventh document. Moreover, the territory advance is the theme of “Lieutenant-Colonial Jose Enrique de la Pena Defends Mexico’s Actions against the Texans” in the fifth document, “John L. O’ Sullivan Defines “Manifest Destiny” in the eighth document, “Senator Thomas Hart Benton Justifies White Supremacy” in the ninth document, and “Senator John Dix, Advance into Mexico” in the tenth document.
Although the “Age of Jackson” wasn’t a time era, which brought forth a great political, social, or economic freedom and equality to the U.S., it did in fact put our country through a metamorphosis in our political lives of the nation. The start of a new presidency (Jackson’s presidency) was accompanied by huge numbers of Hickoryites (Jacksonian supporters) and official hopefuls. Many of these hopefuls were granted their desire of holding office, which is one of the changes brought into Washington by Andrew Jackson.
Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States, elected in eighteen twenty-eight. Prior to his presidency Andrew Jackson was well known and favored for his success against the British in the war of eighteen-twelve. Upon election, Andrew Jackson became known as the people’s president gaining the majority of electoral votes over his opponent John quincy Adams.Throughout his presidency many events occurred that would shape America as a nation. During his time as President Andrew Jackson was both favored and hated by many individuals. His actions pleased certain groups of people, but would also cause for a loss of support amongst Americans. Jackson’s legacy would leave behind a strong willed group of supporters, known as the Democrat party, and the creation of opposed individuals known as the Whig party as well. His presidency would be viewed as time of improvements to some, but to others who strongly opposed his presidency, it would be seen as a time for unjust tariffs and conflict. Jackson’s presidency would be characterized by key events such as the Indian removal act, the nullification crisis, and the dispute known as the war against the bank, that would alter the nation forever.