Jacksonian Democracy
An Indian fighter and triumphant general of the war of 1812, Andrew Jackson was the people' man. He was their hero. The first president to have risen from common roots, he was celebrated and lionized. His name was put on to the suffrage of white males and the expansion of democracy that occurred during his time. Jackson himself may not be responsible for everything that is considered to be part of Jacksonian democracy, but the era did have a lasting impact on the United States economically, politically, and socially. In general, the whole era was detrimental, but some suffered less than others, and benefited more than others. Jacksonian democracy glorified the equality of all adult white males, or the common man. Schleissenger calls it, "A second American phase of that enduring struggle between business community and the rest of the society." It did not like other men who had advantages such as the rich and the elite. Jacksonians democracy was a revival of Jeffersonianism with modifications from new influences. The agricultural aspect was moderated to because of heavy industrialization but the economic aspect regarding the laboring classes, human rights and control of industrialism was expanded.
Jacksonian democracy did extend suffrage to include more white males, providing "equal opportunity in regards to votes, but it did not give him any real influence or power. Pessen states that the "system for nominating candidates changed during the era but thought the change was a significant one, it did not give power over nominations to Tom, Dick and Harry," (159). It actually the power to "the shrewd, ambitious, wealthy, and the able politicians who knew how to flatter them," (347). In the sense that the common man did not really get any real influence in government , there was no real winner in the Jacksonian democracy. Jackson's Specie Circular hindered the people from buying land and was a detriment to the growth of land settlement in the west. The 1836 Specie Circular declared by Jackson required that federal lands be bought with gold or silver only. Many of the settlers moving west did not have the gold or silver and because the government no longer accepted bank notes was unable to buy land. The Specie Circular in 1836 broke the speculation boom in Western lands, cast suspicion on many of the bank notes in circulation, and added to causes of the depression of 1837 The common man was supposed to benefit from Jacksonian democracy. These included the farmer, the settlers, those who did not have much going for them and the only way was up. They got voting rights because many states had abolished property requirements. The common people were mostly settlers of the west and southwest. The land was cheap and many banks would loan the
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1049
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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