Jacksonian Democracy DBQ

Jacksonian Democrats agreed with the common man’s pursuit for equality, liberty, and happiness, regardless of status or affiliation, as promised in the Constitution. (Doc A) The Democratic support of these basic rights was reflected in the countless actions taken during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. By implementing the spoils system, opposing the nullification crisis, and vetoing the bank, for the most part Jacksonian Democrats guarded American laws and liberties. Initially, Jacksonian Democrats did not guard political and individual democracy. While abolitionists were trying to do away with slavery, Jackson enforced the Gag Rule, which made abolishist petitions unable to be read in Congress. (Doc F) This shows how Jacksonian Democrats took
As shown by the enforcement of the Indian Removal Act during the Trail of Tears, President Jackson defied the Supreme Court ruling of John Marshal in the case of Worcester v. Georgia. (Doc G) However, this does not speak for the entirety of Jackson’s presidency. Jackson did uphold the constitution by opposing the nullification crisis. Jackson did this by passing the Supremacy Clause, which confirmed that every state needed to follow federal law. In doing so, this established that South Carolina would not be exempt from paying the tariff that every other state had to pay. Jackson insured dedication to the Constitution by opposing the nullification crisis and forcing South Carolina to pay the tariff. Another way Jacksonian Democrats guarded American laws and liberties were by vetoing the Second Bank of the United
His work in the Supreme Court showed great guardianship for equal economic opportunities. In a Supreme Court case, Taney ruled in favor of states rights’ and against bridge monopolies. While private enterprise is celebrated in America, Taney ruled that private monopolies did not serve for the betterment of the community and did not allow other companies to compete for wealth. (Doc H) This ruling created equal economic opportunities for all companies in the business of bridge building. Many great Jacksonian Democrats, such as Chief Justice Taney and Andrew Jackson himself, served as guardians for American laws and