Jacksonian America Andrew Jackson rose into a self made man and was president for two terms. He ran on the platform of being a common man and his opening the White House to every man seemed to symbolize the era of the Common Man. He and his followers claimed to be guardians of the constitution, and held a fixed position, meaning that they believed the constitution should not change. He also claimed to be a guardian of political democracy, although during his years as president, he did not expand the franchise to vote. Jackson believed in a democracy that would not be corrupted by “special privilege” and ruled by the eastern elitists. Andrew Jackson, being himself a self made man, also said he was a guardian of equal opportunity. Andrew Jackson …show more content…
He also did not actively promote equality of economic opportunity and instead helped the western elites grow wealthier. Andrew Jackson claimed to be a guardian of the constitution. Jackson and his followers believed in a fixed constitution, which means that it will not change. When Andrew Jackson vetoed the Bank of The United States, he could have claimed that since he believed in a fixed constitution and this “bank monopoly’ was not included in the constitution it should not be allowed. Instead, he vetoed it on the grounds that he did not like it because it was helpful to the eastern elites which seemed inconsistent. This veto caused the panic of 1837, which did not help the common man. When the Supreme Court reaches a decision, it becomes the …show more content…
By the time he became president, the majority of the states has removed their property and tax requirements expanding the franchise to vote to all white makes. Andrew Jackson benefited from this decision with his platform of the common man and received 70% of the electoral votes when he ran for president. Once he became president, the property requirements were taken away throughout the entire country, making it seem as though he had expanded political democracy. When he was president, women, African-Americans free or slave and foreigners did not have the right to vote. Andrew Jackson did not enfranchise any of these
In the first half of the 180s, changes occurred in the American government as well as in its economy and society. These includes the creation of the two national parties recognized by the States in present day, the Louisiana Purchase and the Transportation Revolution, etc. This period of time is known as the age of democratic growth throughout the United States of America, which was molded and exemplified by two prominent leaders. These are known as the 3rd and 7th president of the US, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) and Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). Jefferson is considered one of the most relevant Founding Father, who wrote the Declaration of Independence and proceeded to be (thought by many) an outstanding president.
Andrew Jackson was a president that considered a democratic because he gives the rights to people, elected by people and saw everyone equal. First most important reason Andrew Jackson was president that considered a democratic because he was elected by people and everyone supported him. According to “Document A”, it shows the Methods of Electing Presidential Electors: 1816 to 1836. In Document A, it shows Andrew Jackson was elected by people and 13 states already allowed the people to elect the electors by 1816.
During Andrew Jackson’s presidency, the Antebellum reform was in full swing. While that particular movement was a display of true Mass Democracy, what Andrew Jackson’s presidency stood for was not. He spread his imperialist, oppressive ideals, and passed one of the most egregious acts in America’s history, The Indian Removal Act. He also abused excessive presidential power over the courts and foreign nation he was meant to serve. Lastly, his irrational fiscal policy lead to a massive economic depression, further marginalizing the population he was supposed to serve.
He made the debt of the nation worse, yet he started the Indian removal allowing the country to expand even more. He also pushed equality among Americans by allowing them to vote and have the opportunity to get into office. Jackson supported the ordinary people by giving them more of a chance in the government. He extended the right to vote to many new people also allowing them to be able to run for office; therefore the government did not favor the wealthy and powerful anymore. Jackson's supporters disliked and did not trust the government and banks.
All of the past presidents were high ranking politicians and considered elitists, and Andrew Jackson was the exact opposite. Everyone referred to Jackson as the ‘common man’. He wanted to decrease government and have the power be in the people's hands not just the politicians (Mckeown, 2016). Jackson prided himself in being the people's president, which before Jackson there was no one who won over the people with their personality as much as him. Andrew Jackson had the reputation of coming from nothing and building himself up and also being a military hero.
The founders of the United States did their best to create a government that would not allow erroneous decisions to greatly harm the nation. They set a percent of presidents being politically sound and well-known; their beliefs for how the nation should be handled were essential to their campaign. President Andrew Jackson, however, did not follow this system, instead winning primarily by his personality and popularity amongst the common American. While his actions in office often appeared to be for the people, most had a hidden selfish side to them that he easily covered up. With the election of 1828, Jackson radically changed American politics, focusing them more on public appearance and personal character than on intelligence and political views, making personality just as, if not more important than the actual politics of a political term.
Andrew Jackson was from the west, and not a politician making him more of a common man than previous presidents. Serving in the military, being manly, and having a nickname “Old Hickory” made him relatable to the people. Presidents like George Washington, in contrast, came across as other worldly with their wealth, and education. The similarities to Jackson encouraged civilian participation in government. Coinciding with universal white male suffrage that came about in the 1820’s, the percentage of eligible voters that cast a ballot was higher in the 1828 election than any previous election.
March 4, of 1829 was the day Andrew Jackson was inaugurated as president of the United States. People had high expectations for Jackson to meet throughout his presidency. Did Jackson do a good job of changing the type of people who participated in the country 's economy and politics? His presidency certainly increased equality throughout social classes. Jackson gained himself and his years as president the title of "the era of the common man" due to his efforts at making politics and the economy more accessible to white men with fewer opportunities.
How Democratic Was Andrew Jackson? Jackson was born in the year 1767 to a poor family. When he was only 13 years old he was captured from the British during the revolutionary war. As he got older he found himself in the military and he was called a national hero when he fought in the battle of 1812. He served for two terms as president and Jacksonian or is followers say that he was democratic where the people are heard.
Andrew Jackson was one of the greatest presidents who made very difficult decisions for our country. Although his choices were not always the popular decision, he made choices that were always promoting democracy. The things that make a good democracy are: giving people a say in government, having a good leader that you can trust to make wise decisions, peace and stability between each country and other states, and having equal power in the government (checks and balances). Andrew Jackson came into office with a popular vote and great support. His supporters viewed him as a man of the people.
Brittany Randall-Neppl APUSH Period 6 Mr. Kloster 12/19/2014 Andrew Jackson: Champion of the Common Man or Tyrant Andrew Jackson was born into a common life but overcame his mediocre beginnings to become a powerful politician; in 1828 he was elected president of the United States. However, he abused this position of power and made several choices that were detrimental to the welfare and rights of the American people. Jackson implemented the spoils system on a national scale and had unofficial members of his cabinet who did not have to answer to Congress. After South Carolinians were upset by the Tariff of 1832 he was angry toward those who did not agree with it. He also destroyed the National Bank and authorized the Specie Circular.
Andrew Jackson, being a tyrant, abused his power in his time of presidency. He was the 7th president, but before Jackson’s presidency, he had no political experience. One of the only things that really qualified him was the hardships he went through when he was younger. His father had died while Jackson was young and Jackson received the reputation as a “self-made man”, or an independent man.
Also he wanted the offices that are solely to benefit the people so that no man has more rights than another. Finally, Jackson was not democratic because he wanted the Indians to move out of his land. So he decided to have the U.S. Soldiers move them west into the Indian territory.
The Jacksonian Era was the time period of Andrew Jackson’s presidency. This began in 1828 when Jackson was elected president. The era is sometimes described as a time when the United States experienced the “democratization of politics.” In a democracy every citizen has an equal say in the government's decisions and actions. Some people of this time period believed that Jackson is notable for democratizing the United States during the Jacksonian Era.
Andrew Jackson was not democratic in today's standards because he ignored the rich, killed thousands of Native Americans by forcing them off their land, and he built his own government to please