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Jacksonian Democracy

Jacksonian Democracy. The Growth of Democracy. <50 % of white men. Suffrage in US: Pre-1800: Most states – property owners &/or taxpayers By 1840: Most white men US – International exception.

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Jacksonian Democracy

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  1. Jacksonian Democracy

  2. The Growth of Democracy <50% of white men • Suffrage in US: • Pre-1800: • Most states – property owners &/or taxpayers • By 1840: • Most white men • US – International exception This increase in “democracy” was major shift from Jefferson & Hamilton’s “virtuous republic” • 90% of all adult white men: Universal [white] ManhoodSuffrage

  3. The Growth of Democracy Growing % of US owned no land White males seen as equal before the law & voting  industrialization –  low-paid laborer population • Democracy v. Republic • “Self-made” men could attain power • US valued equal opportunities among white men • Not economic equality  requirements for licensed professions Division between commercial & yeoman farmers

  4. Why did this unprecedented growth in democracy occur? W expansion –  “common man” suffrage in new states – Didn’t qualify in older states W states extended “universal suffrage” so E states felt pressure

  5. Universal Manhood Suffrage • Party conventions replaced state legislature selection: • County officials • State judges • Governors • Public now allowed to vote directly: • Presidential electors

  6. Universal Manhood Suffrage • Political campaigns • Campaigns, parades, slogans to appeal to masses • Well-organized, statewide “political machines” developed • Party loyalty expected • Partisan newspapers boomed

  7. Universal Manhood Suffrage Partisan newspapers played an important role in early American politics

  8. Democratic Culture • Highliteracy • Cheap printing allowed artists & writers to work for a “mass” audience: • Popular genres include romanticism, gothic horror, & landscape paintings

  9. Kindred Spirits, by Asher Durand

  10. Politics:The Elections of 1824 & 1828

  11. The Election of 1824 Sec of State under Monroe Sec of Treasury under Monroe • The election of 1824 was a 4-way race among Dem-Republicans: • John Quincy Adams represented New England • William Crawford represented the South • Henry Clay & Andrew Jackson represented the West • Jackson won the popular vote but not a majority of electoral votes Not taken seriously at first; but “war hero” status made Jackson a nat’l candidate Speaker of the House; author of American System

  12. But, because no one candidate received 51% of the electoral votes, the House of Reps had to determine the presidential winner JQ Adams won NE Adams won when Henry Clay threw his support behind him Led to charges that Adams had "bought" the presidency (Corrupt Bargain!!) Crawford won VA but few other Southern states Clay’s influence was limited to a few western states Jackson did well in the South & the West

  13. J. Q. Adams' Administration • Adams had a difficult presidency: • JQ Adams wanted to continue the nationalist programs of the “Era of Good Feelings” • The depression of 1819 limited the nationalist agenda & few of Adams’ policies became law • A protective tariff was passed to help farmers & industry, but this angered the South One exception: the National Road

  14. Jackson Comes to Power • “Jacksonians” prepared for the election of 1828 by creating a well-organized, national campaign • Jackson (TN) formed a coalition with Adams’ VP Calhoun (SC), Van Buren (NY), & 2 newspaper editors (KY) to rival JQ Adams • Formed the basis of 1st modern politicalparty,callingthemselves the “Democrats” “Democrats” distinguished themselves as different from the “Nationalist Republicans” who has strayed from the Jeffersonian ideal But, these “Jacksonian Democrats” are not going to mirror the “Jeffersonian Republicans”

  15. Jackson Comes to Power Democrats presented Jackson as “Old Hickory,” uneducated, a hero, a dueler & a man of the people Democrats painted Adams as an out-of-touch aristocrat • The election of 1828 changed American politics: • Showed the effectiveness of political parties in elections • It was the 1st election with overt mudslinging & propaganda • Exciting appeals to average the man (public rallies & barbeques) • Jackson won the election as a “common man of the people” “Ms. Jackson is a bigamist” & “Mrs. Adams is a bastard”

  16. Jackson’s wild & rowdy inauguration Who is Andrew Jackson?

  17. Jackson Comes to Power • Jackson was a popular candidate but it was not clear what type of president Jackson would be: • Jackson’s supporters wanted states’ rights & limited gov’t • During the campaign, Jackson never clarified his stand on major issues: banks, tariffs, etc. • Only stood for Indian removal

  18. Conclusions • In the 1820s & 1830s, America became more democratic: • Westward expansion facilitated the expansion of suffrage for common white men • Led to unprecedented voter participation by citizens • Allowed for a new breed of “common man” politicians to come to power

  19. Review Questions: • What did the term common man mean in the early 19th century? • In what ways were Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe different from the “common man”?

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