Andrew Jackson Dbq

In light of the following documents and your knowledge of the 1820’s and 1830’s, to what extent do you agree with the Jacksonian’s view of themselves? Andrew Jackson was a highly respected man of his time. He possessed loyal followers, the Jacksonian democrats, who championed Jackson’s constituency both before and during his presidency. The Jacksonians placed a high value on the common man and his worth to the American government, so they made a large effort to protect him. In the eyes of the Jacksonians, they fully worked towards guarding the constitution; however, although they made many successful progressions, there were certain shortcomings that couldn’t be overlooked. The fight for the common man and equal economic opportunities largely
influenced the authoring of George Henry Evan’s “The Working Men’s Declaration of Independence” as class distinctions continued to grow in the early nineteenth century. The Jacksonians rise to power was represented in Evan’s writings as the heroes of the common man, salvation from the abuse they had previously received from the government.
Jackson served to fight for the rights of the lower class when he vetoed the bill to recharter the bank because he believed that it only advantaged the upper class. This Bank War was supported by the Jacksonians as they felt that he was fighting the rich monopoly and supporting the underprivileged. The same went for the case of Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge. The interests of the common man were once again represented when the Charles River Bridge proprietors were rejected the right to a monopoly to have the only bridge spanning across the river. Free enterprise was to become an invaluable part of the American economy. The topic of political democracy continued to make a resurrection throughout Jackson’s presidency as well. As self-proclaimed guardians of the constitution, the Jacksonians’ effort did not go unnoticed. Their prevalence throughout the 1830’s was so well felt that even foreigners, like Harriet Martineau,
were able to take note of the American success. Such success being due to the influence of a strong democracy. Political democracy was much more varied during this time period, as well. Jackson’s spoils system allowed the common man to take office where he had not been able to before, which advanced the American systems in leaps as the government became diversified through class. However, the spoils system eventually led to an unequal representation in the government. With only the words of the common man to make the laws, not all of the American people are being represented. This leads into area where the Jacksonians were not quite as proficient in guarding their beheld values.
(Docs A, B, D, H) Individual liberties were not nearly as well guarded as the other Jacksonian values because of heavily racist undertones and discriminations against the both the Native Americans and the blacks.
If one did not have the same complexion as the Jacksonians, their liberties were not worth protecting and the law written in the constitution would not apply. However, the white man’s rights were very well respected. The attitude of the Jacksonians represented that of many people at the time. During the 1820’s and 1830’s, “indiscriminate persecution” ran rampant throughout the country. This was demonstrated by the volatile rioting occurring in Philadelphia, based only off the fact that the people under fire were those of color. The south was very possessive of their peculiar institution, which the Jacksonians stood behind in full. The legislature of South Carolina even went so far as to request that the governments of the non-slaveholding states “…effectually suppress… all those associations… purporting to be abolition societies.” Another glaring instance of individual liberties being violated is shown in the imagery depicted in the Trail of Tears. The Natives were forced off their land and made to trek a long journey off their homeland so that more room was created for the Americans to expand westwards. The Indian Removal act endorsed by Jackson and passed by congress allow such atrocities to
occur. The Jacksonian democrats served many aspects of the constitution very well and served the well-deserved justice to the common man. Equality of economic opportunity and political democracy were bolstered and protected during the era of Jackson, but the Jacksonians shortcomings were very apparent in their failure to protect individual liberties because of their stronger belief in racial superiority.
(Docs E, F, G)