Democracy 1820-1840

Analyze the extent to which two of the following influenced the development of democracy between 1820 and 1840:

·         Jacksonian economic policy

·         Changes in electoral politics

·         Second great awakening

·         Westward movement

  

  Prior to the 1820s and 1830s democracy in America was slow going and hard to define. When Jackson took office in 1829 his economic policy would be one to help shape American democracy into what it is today. The Jacksonian economic system affected American democracy to such an extent that by the election of 1840 electoral politics had formed into a two-party system that is now the basis of American democracy.
    
     The Jacksonian economic system had three major stages that contribute to the formation and development of American democracy. First, The Maysville Road veto in 1830 discouraged national economic policy. This discouragement of national economic policy put a limit on the federal power that is known today. While it limited federal power, it opened up the President's. This was the first time that any president had vetoed something because they didn't agree with it, not because it was unconstitutional.             

     Frequent attacks on the Bank of the United States were the second part of his economic policy. Jackson ousted the banks to decrease the aristocratic powers. The Bank of the United States was controlled by the wealthy, elite class. By destroying the bank, Jackson opened the door for the "common people" to rule. The young democracy outstretched its boundaries to the common folk; something that had never been considered in the Old World.
    
     The third part of the policy was ignorance to economics. Jackson had no idea what he was doing would cause the Panic of 1837, and yet it did. The ignorance of making major economic decisions without thinking of the consequences first created a new expectation of the president for years to come.

     The two-party system that is known in America today was first developed during the early-1800s. This was the first time that American people could get involved in the campaigning and stick with their party no matter what happened. The development of the two-party system was an important contributor to "common people" suffrage. Democracy once again outstreched its young boundaries to the common folk through creating an easy-to-support system of political parties.

     The Jacksonian economic policy and  the change in electoral politics led to a broad, wider ranged democracy between 1820 and 1840.  The economic policy helped to jump start a ruling of people of every type. The new two-party system allowed for those who hadn't backed a political figure before to be completely involved in politics and the US government by giving them a precedent to follow and back up through thick and through thin.

The 1st 9 weeeks

I quite enjoy this class. The lectures are interesting and the assignments are helpful. The only thing is that I am really behind on my reading. I think that if I did the reading I would be well equipped and prepared for the AP test. I think we should do a brief overview of the chapters as we go, or maybe even an assignment based on the readings. I would be more encouraged to read if there was a grade involved.

Dixon,
You are the man.



Thanks,
Ayla

Jefferson Essay

By 1809, which party's goals had prevailed in American politics: the federalists or the Democratic Republicans?

The goals of the political parties of 1809 were very much divided by Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. The Federalists wanted rule by the aristocratic, well educated, wealthy man, while the Democratic-Republicans supported the small time farmer and the poor man. The Jeffersonian era started in 1801 and ended in 1812, by 1809 the Democratic-Republicans' goals had prevailed in American politics and the Federalists views eventually mellowed down.

By the 1809 immigrants were coming from all over Europe in search of political and religious freedom, as well as the prospect of future for their family. When the immigrants came over they had to start from scratch, leaving them with no money, and often no land. By standing for people such as these poverty stricken immigrants, the Democratic-Republican politicians gained support of many Americans. As the Democratic-Republican's views of the poor man being equal to the wealthy, educated man, the Federalist views started to grow less and less popular.

At the end of the 18th century President John Adams sealed the fate of the Federalist party. After Adams presidency, not even the Federalists wanted to be associated with the Federalist party. Adams issued the XYZ affair with the French as an attempt to calm the waters. This made a lot the Federalist supporters decide not to support the Federalist party anymore because the Federalist leader, John Adams, did something that went completely against Federalist views. He tried to make things easier with the French. The Federalist party disliked the French at this time and detested President Adams for making an attempt to calm the waters. This opened the door for the views of the Democratic-Republican party to shine. The Democratic-Republican views stood for alliance with the French, and when Adams issued the XYZ affair he proved that the Democratic-Republican views were becoming prominant, even in the Federalist party.

After the election of 1800, the weakness within the Federalist party was revealed. Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton's arguement during the 1800 election of Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, shows the weakness within the Federalist party that would surely prove fatal for both Hamilton and the Federalist party.

By 1809 the Democratic-Republican views of democracy for all and equality for the poor man, were the views that prevailed. Due to John Adams' support of the French, the Democratic-Republican decision to support the iimmigrants that were becoming more populated in the country, sealed the views of the Federalists  during the time of 1809.