Jeffersonian Democracy vs. Jacksonian Democracy

Jeffersonian Democracy vs. Jacksonian Democracy Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were both strong advocates of a democratic government in America, and both claimed to be for the “common man”. They did, however, have their differences on how they believed a democracy should be run in their respective eras. Even though they were both wealthy farmers, Jefferson appealed more to the upper class, while Jackson appealed more to the lower class. Thomas Jefferson had a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and strongly believed in education. He believed that the educated people should rule and that the central government should have less power. Jefferson was opposed to the opposed to the Bank of the US because he believed it was hurting the common man, but never did anything about it as president. While in office, he stopped internal taxes and shrunk the size of both the army and the navy in order to lessen the federal government. Jefferson was also a firm believer in the protection of civil liberties and the rights of minorities. In his Inaugural Address in 1801, Jefferson states, "…though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression." Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, advocated the strengthening of the presidency and the executive branch at the expense of Congress, while also seeking to broaden the public's participation in government. Jackson believed that ALL men should be able to rule and that education was unnecessary. While in office he adopted the spoils system in which political appointees were chosen by the president. This encouraged more people to participate in political affairs. He also believed that industrialization was necessary for America’s economy to flourish. Jackson was also opposed to the Bank of the US, but actually did something about it by using government money to