How democratic was Andrew Jackson? Andrew Jackson was more democratic than not, due to his full support of the lower classes, his desire for new voting laws, and his veto of the banks. Although he was democratic in those ways, he also showed non-democratic qualities in his time in office, including events like the Native American Removal. Since he showed both qualities of a democrat, and a non-democrat, it is not easy to argue a certain side. Andrew Jackson himself, was once a man of the lower class. His family was poor, since his mom was the only provider when he was young. “ His father died a few days before his birth, and Andrew was not an easy child for his mother to raise.” (Background Essay). He would go on to enlist for the …show more content…
By 1836, all of the 12 states were voting by people, except for South Carolina. In Document D, it states how Jackson wants all elections to be elected by people, so that all people living in the United States are having their voice heard. “Elected offices must be filled directly by the people.” (Document D). Jackson, stating how he thinks it is important for the people to have a say in their government officials. Andrew Jackson also demonstrated democratic qualities through his bank veto message. This was a very important subject at the time, since slave owners were making a great deal of profit. The banks were making a lot of money, and so were the wealthy. Slaves were becoming more and more popular, and if the bank veto had gone the other way, it would have changed the economy at that time. Since slave owners were already making a lot of money, Jackson knew that if he did not veto the bank message, the wealthy people of the country would only become wealthier. “ It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes.” (Document F). In Document F, he is explaining that idea of rich people becoming richer, and that the men of the banks cannot be trusted for the sake of the people of the country. In Document G, Daniel Webster states that Jackson’s move only turned the social classes against each other, since he is claiming the wealthy men are only looking to benefit themselves. “ It manifestly seeks to
true liberty and equality, the millions of women. Blacks, Native Americans, immigrants, and other minorities in America continued to languish in a society that ignored their rights. Furthermore, during the Age of Jackson, enslavement of Blacks, the ultimate form of inequality, was at a new high in America. At the same time, enormous disparities of wealth existed between rich merchants, industrialists and planters, and their lowly workers: immigrants. Blacks, and the common man. While these contradictions typified America, Jacksonian democrats viewed themselves as guardians of the Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of opportunity. But how could anyone be a successful guardian of these ideals while contradictions such as those previously mentioned exist? The answer is that Jackson and his followers must have been what they said they were only to a certain extent. The Jacksonian Democrats were, to some extent, champions of the Constitution, democracy, liberty, and equality.
In the span of 20 years, 42 states elected by the people, and 27 states elected by the legislature. (Document 1). The election of Jackson was considered a “revolution,” because of its peaceful transfer of power. This revolution was different from any other, because it was achieved by ballots rather than bullets. Jacksonians cried, “Shall the people rule?” and the answer was, “The people shall rule!” Andrew Jackson was so notable that people have come 500 miles to see him and think that the country is rescued from some dreadful danger. It is said Jackson’s victory accelerated the transfer of national power from the country-house to the farmhouse, from the East to the West, and from the snobs to the mobs. If Jackson was a hero of the gentleman farmer, he was surely a hero of the dirt farmer. Jackson was democratic because he granted all men equal rights, and believed that the common man is just as good as the wealthy. This is how he got all his support, most of which came from the common man. We must also consider that he was a common man who became successful as president. He disagreed with the wealthy, who tried to empower the common man/farmers, and was a large supporter of wester farmers, low tariffs, and pet banks, rather than a national bank. (Document 2).
Jackson’s version of democracy was in fact a democracy. He was not a very wealthy man, he owned a home and some land. Which was more than could be said about most Americans at the time. About ten percent of the Americans living there at that time owned enough land to vote. There was a law, stating that only white males with a good portion of land could vote in the presidential election. Andrew Jackson thought this system was so unfair, he created a new way to govern the citizens of the newly formed United States.
Did Andrew Jackson support the people and their rights? Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States. He vetoed the National Bank because he said that it only supported the rich and was unconstitutional. Also Andrew Jackson set a land territory west of the Mississippi River for the Indian tribes and adopted a little Native American boy who was left from his tribe. How democratic was Andrew Jackson? Democracy is a form of government where the people have a right to assist in the law making process. Andrew Jackson was democratic in many political, economic, and geographic ways.
“It sows...the seeds of jealousy and ill-will against the government of which its author is the official head” (Daniel Webster’s Reply to Jackson’s Bank Veto Message - July 11, 1832). He is refusing to acknowledge that the government can do any good, and that the power comes from the people; however, the government officials have been elected by the people. “consequence of denying the government the service of an elite bureaucracy in order to serve some idealistic democratic principle” (excerpt from The Life of Andrew Jackson). Democracy is when all people have a fair and equal say in government. In Jackson’s attempts to fulfill his idea of democracy, he was ignoring the peoples representation in government, which was how he got elected in the first
President Jackson acted undemocratically because of his actions against the national bank. On July 10th, 1832, Jackson sent a bank veto message to congress. The message was sent to remove the US National Bank because it was only helpful for a wealthier class for things like investments. Citizens from wealthier classes were outraged by Jackson’s actions. Former senator Daniel Webster replied to Jackson message saying, “It manifestly seeks to
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
Jacksonian Democrats believed that any American was capable of holding government office. Jackson also said that if a man were to hold office for a lengthy period of time, he would be capable of "tolerating conduct from which an unpracticed man would revolt".
Jackson also gave government jobs to regular people. This was called the spoils system. He appointed people to federal jobs depending on whether they had campaigned for the Democratic Party. Anyone currently in office who was not a democratic was replaced with a democrat. This was called the spoils system because it promoted a corrupt government. He also believed in rotation in office. He wanted to make it possible for more democrats to have government jobs, so he limited a person's time in office to one term. The spoils system showed how one man was no better than another and helped build a strong two-party system.
To begin, Andrew Jackson was determined to get the people more representation in all branches of government. This was most likely because of the corrupt bargain that had so angered him due to the lack of democracy in the presidential election.
During the administration of Andrew Jackson, the United States was a nation of change both politically and socially. American society was a society of opportunity. Americans felt that, given a chance, they could make a better life for themselves. This was the era of the common people, the era of democracy. Andrew Jackson appealed to the American people because he stood for values many regarded with favor. However democratic Jackson may seem, he was more tyrant-like than any of his predecessors. His major offerings to the nation included majority rule and a popular presidency, however offered no benefits to women, African Americans, nor Native Americans. Jacksonian Democracy was
Jackson was a supporter of the working class; he was viewed as a true liberal democratic. The Second Bank appeared to be monopolistic and aristocratic. This did not coincide with Jackson’s views on politics, economics, and society. Jackson did not
Jackson was the most democratic of any president at that time to come to power. In practically all areas of political application there was the existence of liberal thinking. This was especially apparent in his previously mentioned appointment of officials. Jackson considered the roles of officials fairly simple and could and should be carried out by all people not just the members of the socially and intellectually elite. The belief of complete equality is with out a doubt Jacksonian. Despite this already democratic view, Jackson took it one step further and appointed the illiterate and plain incompetent members of society to office.
Jackson’s first term shows that in only two states were the Presidential electors by state legislatures and in his second term only one state
The Democratic Party began with the election of Andrew Jackson as our 7th president in 1828. Jacksonian Democracy changed politics in America and led to the modern day Democratic Party. Jackson’s Democratic Party had 3 man principles. First, it was a party that represented the working class, the laborers and farmers of America. Second, the party opposed the economically elite or wealthy class. Third, the party pushed for westward expansion to give Americans new land. During Jackson’s administration, he had some accomplishments. He brought more rights to the Common Man allowing those without property to vote. He handled the conflict over the Tariff of Abomination by using compromise to lower the tariffs. These tariffs on foreign Goods helped