Jacksonian Democracy

What Was Jacksonian Democracy?

Jacksonian Democracy was a political movement in the United States during the 1820s to 1840s that emphasized greater democracy for the "common man." It was led by President Andrew Jackson and his supporters, who believed that ordinary people should have more power in government.

Before Jacksonian Democracy, voting was mostly limited to wealthy white men who owned property. Jackson and his supporters worked to eliminate property requirements for voting, which allowed more white men to participate in elections regardless of how much money they had.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. He was born in 1767 in a log cabin on the frontier, which helped him connect with ordinary Americans. Jackson became a national hero after winning the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Jackson was nicknamed "Old Hickory" because he was as tough as hardwood. He was the first president who wasn't from a wealthy, established family from Massachusetts or Virginia. His background as a self-made man appealed to many Americans who felt that previous presidents were too aristocratic.

Era of the Common Man

The Era of the Common Man describes how Jacksonian Democracy made American politics more inclusive for ordinary white men. Before this period, many people believed that only the wealthy and well-educated should govern. Jackson and his supporters argued that common sense and practical experience were more important than formal education.

During this era, political parties began holding conventions to select candidates instead of having small groups of politicians make the decisions. Campaigns started using slogans, buttons, and rallies to appeal to voters. This was very different from earlier elections, which were more formal and reserved.

The Spoils System

The spoils system was the practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs. The name comes from the saying, "to the victor belong the spoils," meaning the winning side gets to enjoy the benefits. When Jackson became president, he replaced many government officials with people who had supported his campaign.

Jackson believed this system was more democratic because it prevented a small group of wealthy people from controlling government jobs for generations. He argued that ordinary Americans were capable of serving in government positions and that rotating jobs would prevent corruption.

While Jackson saw the spoils system as democratic, his critics worried that it put unqualified people in important positions. The spoils system remained common in American politics until the late 1800s, when civil service reforms created competitive exams for government jobs.

Bank of the United States

One of the biggest conflicts during Jackson's presidency was the Bank War - his battle against the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson believed the bank was unconstitutional and favored wealthy easterners over ordinary Americans and western farmers.

The Bank of the United States was a powerful institution that held government funds and could issue money. Jackson argued that it had too much power and wasn't accountable to the people. He vetoed a bill to renew the bank's charter in 1832 and eventually removed federal money from the bank.

Jackson's victory in the Bank War was popular with his supporters, who saw it as a triumph of the common people over powerful business interests. However, the elimination of the national bank contributed to economic instability in the years that followed.

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