The Pros And Cons Of Jacksonian Democracy

During the Jacksonian era there were many different views on the rights and wrongs of the presidential actions. The Jacksonians thought themselves to be guardians of individual liberty, political democracy, the United States Constitution and the equality of economic opportunity. This in many cases can be argued that the Jacksonians were successful guardians of these four things. During the presidency of Andrew Jackson do to his often radical was of thinking individual liberty was often not well preserved. In many cases Jackson's policy of guarding the Constitution often seemingly made it more difficult to at the same time protect individual liberty. During the period of the Indian Removal Act the individual liberties of the Native Americans were not with held. Even though when
tried in the Supreme Court, Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia, the Cherokee were given the rights to their land. Jackson overrode the decision by upholding the Constitution allowing majority rule, forcing the Indians to the west of the Mississippi River. More often then not Jackson's rulings ignored the individual liberties of the citizens by instead helping to uphold the Constitution. Through many of Jackson's vetos and highly discriminated decisions he was still able to maintain and protect the political democracy for the common man.
Though Daniel Webster criticized Jackson's veto of the Bank of the United States, it was able to satisfy many people who were weary of the banks control. The veto stated the "exclusive privilege of banking" showing how the rich were able to have the most control and in turn were able to have a larger say politically. Webster in his reply to the veto says that Jackson if trying to turn the rich against the poor. Because of the veto many of the common people believed that he was also saving democracy by keeping the power of the rich at bay. When Harriet Martineau visited the United States she was able to witness the fairness of voting on candidates and that " the people were the judges." Universal Manhood Suffrage was also an import factor in the political democracy of the United States. By giving all white men the right to vote also helped to lessen the power of the upper class to make the system more democratic. Political democracy was often an important topic for Jackson so he was able to keep the power in the hands of the common
man. Seemingly the most important thing to Jackson was to uphold and protect the United States Constitution. So much so that often individual liberty was at stake. During the Nullification Crisis, Jackson helped to uphold the Constitution by using force to stop South Carolina from seceding. This helped the federal government to regain power back from the states. George Henry Evans wrote the Declaration of Independence over as Jackson may have to help strengthen the common man. When South Carolina wrote its resolution to not distribute abolition pamphlets through out the state, Jackson would have deemed this unconstitutional. They state could not take away the freedom of press along with messing with the federal affairs of the Postal Service. While Jackson was President many false choices may have been made but Jackson made sure that the Constitution was strictly enforced. While in office the Jacksonian democracy helped to ensure the equality of economic opportunities for the citizens of the United States. Jackson was able to help strengthen the common man. When Harriet Martineau came to America she expressed great surprise at what she witnessed. She was able to see that anyone could own property if they wished and to have jobs and freely express themselves. Though in some areas as Philip Hone describes opportunities are not so readily available the vast majority was. Much of the success of the United States came from the work of the common people which they would have been unable to do if they could not own there own lands to farm on. Jackson's policy to ensure the equality of economic opportunity helped to strengthen the nation. Though the Jacksonian democracy had faults they were still able to build a successful nation and help to strengthen the common man. With out guarding the political democracy, individual liberty, the United States Constitution and the equality of economic opportunities the United States would not be what it is today.