The Jacksonian Era Of The Common Man

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

Andrew Jackson was a very controversial President, and had a large impact on our country which shaped it to what it is today. He was loved by many Americans, yet some despised him and his ideas, which was largely due to their race or belief. Despite the hatred that Jackson received, he should be recognized for the enormous impacts he made for our country in its early years.

In 1828, otherwise known as “The Age of Jackson”, America was a country on its way to the West. America’s revolutionary generation was quickly fading, making room for a new balance of political power. As the class systems were breaking down, the “common man” was better able to cast his vote for the new President. Jackson was glorified by his impressive war accomplishments and humble background of the frontier. This made him the main target for presidency in election 1824. Once coming to power, Jackson no longer portrayed humble beginnings, but became a conundrum to the people he was leading by removing indians from their homeland and forcing them West. His use of power can be debated based on the state of the country thereafter. Although Andrew Jackson was dubbed “The People 's President”, his time in office reflected a very different outcome.

Andrew Jackson won the presidential election in 1828 to the horror of Thomas Jefferson, who said, “He is one of the most unfit men I know” (George Brown Tindall 431). Jackson was a very popular general who marched to the tune of his own drum (George Brown Tindall 443). “I was born for a storm,’ the fearless Jackson boasted; ‘a calm dose not suit me” (George Brown Tindall 442). His two terms in office was called the age of the common man. However, the Jacksonian democracy was actually the era of growing economic and social inequality. The growing gap between the wealthy and the poor and open racial behavior are two points that demonstrate how the age of the common man became instead the age of inequality. “While men of moderate means could sometimes turn an inheritance into a fortune by good management and prudent speculation, those who started out poor seldom made it to the top” (George Brown Tindall 407). Jackson often spoke of equal opportunities for all Americans, yet the growing gap between the poor and the wealthy was never resolved.

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.

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

Jacksonian Democrats help create a more democratic America and because of this, believed themselves to be many things, real and fictional. In most cases they perceived themselves as defenders of equal economic opportunity, even though they sometimes put their own interests before those of the people. They also thought of themselves as guardians of political democracy, while at the same time using class differences to their advantage and emotionalized speeches, lacking real intellectual merit, to stir support. Jacksonian Democrats felt that they were the protectors of the Constitution and of individual liberties but many times they put their rivalry with the Northeastern industry and Whig politics before these things. While Jacksonians

The Jacksonian democracy of the 1820s-1830s is often associated with an expansion of the political influence, economic opportunities, and social equality available to “the common man,” a concept of the masses which President Andrew Jackson and his newly founded Democratic party came to represent. The new administration certainly saw gains for the majority; namely, public participation in government increased to unprecedented levels, and several economic decisions were made to favor the people over monopolies. Beginning with their exaggerated portrayal of the “corrupt” 1824 election however, the Jacksonian democrats also left a legacy of substantial miscalculations

Imagine if we didn’t win the War of 1812 or if the common people felt unwanted? Where would we be without Andrew Jackson? Andrew Jackson’s presidency should be admired because he supported the common man and thought the rich were overrated, he also a well-known war hero.This topic is relevant because Andrew Jackson made it so the people were treated as equals, and how different “groups” shouldn’t be treated better just because of their money status. It also is relevant because our country wouldn’t have double without the War of 182 or our success during the Revolutionary. Andrew Jackson wasn’t born into the richest family, in fact he lived out most of his life an orphan. President Jackson always thought that the rich were over privileged or didn’t deserve what they were given. Andrew Jackson wanted to make sure the common people felt just as equal as the rich. Jackson also was a well renowned war hero for his victory during the War of 1812 which gave the United States the ability to double in size or it wouldn’t have given us the social status that was desired.Because Andrew Jackson was a common man himself, how did he put towards that part of his life into his acts as president?

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.

There are many presidents that are considered to be more popular among the people and their popularity comes from the things that they have done for the nation. George Washington, for instance, helped to start the country off, while also setting admirable precedents for the presidents to come. Abraham Lincoln, or “Honest Abe”, worked to free the slaves, helping to brighten one of America’s darker actions. But then there’s Andrew Jackson, who is one of the more well-known presidents, although his popularity doesn’t come entirely from good acts. He was considered to be the nation’s first “common man” president. Although, many people argue whether or not it is a fitting title for President Jackson, a common man has certain qualities. A

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.

Topic: Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity.

     Jacksonian (Democracy, Society, etc.) is a term used to describe reform during the time of Andrew Jackson’s Presidency. Specifically Jacksonian Democracy refers to “the general extension of democracy that characterized U.S. politics from 1824 to 1828.” Jacksonian Democracy and its support came primarily from the lower classes as a rebellion of sorts apposing the aristocracy. Even though it stressed equality, it was pro-slavery and anti-Indian (not unlike Andrew Jackson). Also there was change in both the political parties and the social reforms. Jackson was seen as a westerner (even though he was from Tennessee) and a president of the common man. This we can see when he married women