Jacksonian Democracy

The Growth of DemocracySuffrage in US:

–Pre-1800:•Most states – property owners &/or taxpayers

–By 1840:•Most white men

US – International exception

<50% of white men

This increase in “democracy” was major shift from Jefferson &

Hamilton’s “virtuous republic”

90% of all adult white men: Universal [white] Manhood Suffrage

The Growth of DemocracyDemocracy v. Republic

–“Self-made” men could attain power

–US valued equal opportunities among white men

–Not economic equality

White males seen as equal before the law & voting

requirements for licensed professions

Growing % of US owned no land industrialization – low-paid

laborer populationDivision between commercial &

yeoman farmers

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

Universal Manhood SuffrageParty conventions replaced state

legislature selection:–County officials–State judges–Governors

Public now allowed to vote directly:–Presidential electors

Universal Manhood Suffrage Political campaigns

–Campaigns, parades, slogans to appeal to masses

–Well-organized, statewide “political machines” developed

–Party loyalty expected –Partisan newspapers boomed

Universal Manhood Suffrage Partisan newspapers played an important

role in early American politics

Democratic Culture–High literacy–Cheap printing allowed artists &

writers to work for a “mass” audience:

–Popular genres include romanticism, gothic horror, & landscape paintings

Kindred Spirits, by

Asher Durand

Politics:The Elections of

1824 & 1828

The Election of 1824The 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

Sec of State under Monroe

Speaker of the House; author of American System

Not taken seriously at first; but “war hero” status made Jackson a nat’l candidate

Sec of Treasury under Monroe

Jackson did well in the South & the West

Clay’s influence was limited to a few

western states

JQ Adams won NE

Crawford won VA but few other Southern states

But, because no one candidate received 51% of the electoral votes, the House of Reps had

to determine the presidential winnerAdams won when

Henry Clay threw his support behind him

Led to charges that Adams had "bought"

the presidency (Corrupt Bargain!!)

J. Q. Adams' AdministrationAdams 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

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 political party, calling themselves 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”

Jackson Comes to PowerThe 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”

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

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

Jackson Comes to PowerJackson 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

ConclusionsIn 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

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”?