The Jacksonian Reform Movement

Andrew Jackson began a whole new era in American history. During the Jacksonian period, Andrew's greatest accomplishment was the development of the "common man". This development showed man's interest in government and tailoring democracy to satisfy the same ordinary mans wants. He practiced involving the “common man” in issues such as politics and reform movements. The Jacksonian period, in fact, did live up to its characterization of fulfilling the needs of the “common man”. Involving the “common man” in politics was a must in Jackson's eyes. His strong beliefs and participation in American politics later developed into “what we know now” as the Democratic Party. He believed that every man should have a say in how his country's government operates, no matter what his economic status is. Living out this theory, Andrew Jackson expanded voting from only white male land owners to any man. This gave the lower class a chance to participate in politics. After Jackson's victory of office in 1828, he created the spoils system. The spoils system replaced many
The reform movement during this era consisted of numerous events. Jackson put into action a new prison “correctional” system that helped young delinquents rather than punishing them which was created by Dorothea Dix. He also eliminated the elites in politics and this created a rise in the middle class. This rise of the middle class gave fair and equal opportunities to everyone and people were being elected by popular vote and not by being appointed. A veto from Jackson concerning the bank of the United States turned into the banks crashing and failure. He vetoed the bank because he felt as if it was a device to the wealthy and that it hurt the “common man”. Also, Jackson opened up expansion of the west which was a benefit to the farmers (aka the “common