Andrew Jackson

In 1829, a new kind of President elected to office was Andrew Jackson a Democrat, indeed his promises in office were to uphold the United States Constitution along with Political democracy being assured. Jackson promised individual liberty and economic opportunity. Yet, Jacksonians contradicted themselves with everything they claimed to be. Jacksonians even believed they where flawless.

In December of 1829, George Henry Evans wrote "The Working Men's Declaration of Independence"(Doc A). Under the portrayed image of Jackson at the expense of vested interest he rewrote the Declaration of Independence to establish a meaning of individual liberty among the people, the average man, and to give a feeling of security against the ill-treatment of the government. This document established that the citizens had a say in what the government does and that they may reform the abuses of such a government. To further enforce individual freedom, Jackson denies no free American. He follows the rule for equal opportunity, and allows any man to hold office by means of election rather than appointment. This was just a political pact to the people though. Jackson rotated federal jobholders using the spoil system, though only nine percent were replaced it was the most important nine percent.

During this era, the Jacksonian Democrats felt that there were equal economic opportunities for all Americans. Jackson felt that the Bank of the United States was mainly for the rich class and foreign countries rather than the country as a whole. He vetoed the national bank in favor of a sub-group of pet banks that would be friendlier to the classes of a lower standard (Doc B). Yet Before Jackson even vetoed the bank charter Daniel Webster already had a response ready for Jackson (Doc C). Webster claimed Jackson's veto of the charter was prejudice. He claimed the populace was being lied to and vetoing the charter was not democratic. Yet, Harriet Martineau, a British author in 1834, reported that she as an observer saw the intellectual ability of the citizens. She viewed every man in town an individual citizen and every man in the country a landowner. Martineau felt that her findings were an evident sign of prosperity when compared to British standards (Doc D).

Another instance of democracy at its finest is Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's opinion in the Supreme Court Case of Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (Doc. H). This decision stated that while the Charter of 1785 allowed the Charles River Bridge to be erected, it did not prohibit any other bridges from being constructed. Therefore, Taney exclaimed the economy of the regions along the Charles River would benefit from the bridge. In Taney's action, he was eliminating the monopolies of the elite and creating equal economic opportunities for all citizens who need to use the bridge. This prevented a paying of a toll straight into the owner's pocket. The owner of the bridge would visibly be part of the richer class. Thus, a show of democracy had been conceived.

The Jacksonians felt that they had a political democracy. Although, as president, Andrew Jackson took total advantage of his power. King Andrew vetoed dozens of bills for one reason or another. He kicked men out of the government that had done him wrong, although Adams agreed that some of these men deserved their fate. Although Jackson did not practice what he preached, he replaced the men that he relieved with men from the social and intellectual class. Although Jackson proclaimed about individual rights of the everyday citizen, his appointees were far from common men.

Jacksonian democrats where not always constructive, there were a few who took Jackson's ideas outlandishly to produce a period in American history with some low points. This holds true for the period of 1820 - 1830. A number of low-class citizens misinterpreted democratic reforms as an opportunity to disregard decorum and law. Philip Hone, a Whig politician, wrote descriptions of riots, which erupted in Philadelphia and large Eastern cities. " dreadful riots between the Irish and the Americans have again disturbed the peace (Doc. E)." These riots produced nothing but pain for storeowners and people who had property or lives stolen from them.

Acts and Resolutions of South Carolina in 1835 (Doc. F). While the Jacksonian Democrats believed that the only way to reform society was through constitutional means, South Carolina did not abide by the same convictions, full heartedly denying freedom of speech by threatening to sift threw mail weeding out anti-slave posters who where causing the slaves by giving them hope. The soon-to-secceed South Carolina decided not to collect taxes on imports and President Jackson decided they had crossed a boundary and threatened military action against South Carolina if they where not going to obey the federal government.

A tragic page in history of the Jacksononian era where military force was used is told by Cherokee Indians (Doc G) On the Trail of Tears, thousands of lives were senselessly ended en route from Georgia to the western reservations. There can be no justification for the terrible mistreatment the Indians had to endure. The only argument that can be made is the outlook on Indians at the time. Indians where looked upon as nothing more then expendable organisms not part of any class system to be considered equal. While inexcusable it is possible to see how Jackson could have view this action as Democratic.

The Jacksonian Democrats doings and influence while in office caused sum controversy and political and social turmoil. The Democrat's proclamation as "guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and economic equality" is quite applicable. Indeed, the Jacksonian Democrats succeed in the ambitions, and their avid social reforms helped make the United States a more liberated and democratic nation.

In 1824, there were four candidates for the President of the United States. At this time only one party existed, the Democratic-Republicans. This would soon change. The parties were soon to separate into the Whig Party and Jacksonian-Democratic Party, or Democratic Party. Northern industrialists and merchants supported the Whigs; and they were more in favor of federal government involvement in the national economy. The common people and machine politicians in the East supported the Democrats; and they believed in absolute political freedom. Some of the topics that contributed to the spilt into two parties were major political figures of that time period, the states' rights debate, and economic issues, policies, and problems. The factors that contributed the most to the reemergence of a two party system were the major political figures of that time period.The political figures