РефератыИностранный языкAnAndrew Jackson Essay Research Paper Guardians of

Andrew Jackson Essay Research Paper Guardians of

Andrew Jackson Essay, Research Paper


Guardians of Freedom?


The first and truest ideals of democracy were embodied in the political


ideas of Andrew Jackson and the Jacksonian democrats. Calling themselves the


guardians of the United States Constitution, the Jacksonian politicians engendered


wide spread liberty under a government which represented all men, rather than only


the upper class. While some policies under the democrats had evident flaws, they


were, for the most part, eager social reformers who strived to put the power of


government into the hands of the common citizens.


The convictions and ideals of the Jacksonian Democrats can be best


illustrated through a passage written by George Henry Evans. Evans was an editor


with strong democratic principles who created ?The Working Men?s Declaration of


Independence? (Doc. A). Within the declaration, Evans stresses the importance of


establishing democracy. He uses words and phrases from Jefferson?s ?Declaration


of Independence? to clarify his points and stress his convictions. Stating the


absolute ?necessity of the organization of the party,? Evans explains that it will be


possible to prevent the upper class from subverting the ?indefeasible and


fundamental privilege? of liberty. And finally, Evans states that it is the common


citizen?s right to use every constitutional means necessary to ?reform the abuses?


and ?provide new guards for future security.? In doing so, he documented the


characteristic attitude of the majority of the country in the 1820?s and 1830?s.


Evans was only one of the many Jacksonian democrats to contribute to the


success of the party and to the reforms that they made. Chief Justice Roger B.


Taney?s opinion in the Supreme Court Case of Charles River Bridge v. Warren


Bridge was a capitalist decision which was a typical response for a Jacksonian


democrat (Doc. H). This decision stated that while the Charter of 1785 allowed the


Charles River Bridge to be constructed, it did not prohibit any other bridges from


being constructed. Therefore, Taney decided that the capitalistic competition


would be healthy for the economy of the regions along the Charles River. In doing


this, Taney was eliminating the monopolies of the elite and creating equal


economic opportunities for all citizens. As a result, Taney contributed to one of the


major achievements of the Jacksonian Democrats – to create economic equality.


The President of the United States of America and leader of the Democratic


party, Andrew Jackson, was perhaps the most outspoken democrat of the time. He


used his position as leader of the country to give more power to the common man.


Even before his election as president, he succeeded in having the property


qualification eliminated, therefore, increasing the voting population tremendously.


Jackson became the first president truly elected by the common man, rather than


only high society. For the first time in the history of the nation, the middle class


received the opportunity to participate in the government that ruled them.


Jackson did not stop with the reformation of the election process. Instead,


he attacked the Bank of the United States and vetoed the re-charter for the


institution. President Jackson explained that the bank?s stock was held by only


foreigners and a few hundred rich American citizens. As a result, the bank


maintained an ?exclusive privilege of banking…? – ?a monopoly? (Doc. B). The


Democrats believed the bank to be a tool of rich oppression and a dangerous


institution because the men in power were of the highest class and utterly


?irresponsible to the people.? So, President Jackson vetoed the re-charter and it


was closed. The money was dispersed into seve

ral state banks and the monopoly


was disintegrated.


Indeed, the Democrats succeeded in creating a new government for the rule


of a society of middle class citizens. And, the middle class began to prosper under


the struggle for economic equality. Visiting the United States in 1834, Harriet


Martineau reported the prosperity of the country (Doc. D). She discovered ?the


absence of poverty, gross ignorance, and insolence of manner? as well as towns


with newspapers and libraries. She also reported on political debated with


common citizens as judges. It is quite clear that the expansion of suffrage, support


for individual rights, and advances of democratic society were responsible for the


prosperity of the time.


However, it would be both irrational and naive to assume that the ideals of


Jacksonian democrats were without flaw. And it would be preposterous to


conceive a period in American history without its low points. This holds true for


the period of 1820 – 1830 as well. A number of middle class citizens


misinterpreted democratic reforms as an opportunity to disregard decorum and


law. Philip Hone, a Whig politician, wrote descriptions of riots which erupted in


Philadelphia and large Eastern cities (Doc. E). Middle class citizens who took


advantage of individual rights caused chaos and destruction. Yet, an understanding


of human nature is necessary to continue. It must be expected that some people are


unable to handle the privileges of individualism, and a crowded city is the most


likely place for a riot to break out. Such is the situation even presently. Especially


in large cities, violence and rioting is not uncommon. A political party aimed at


better the nation can not be justly held responsible for the terrible behavior of a


few.


The same principle holds true for the Acts and Resolutions of South


Carolina in 1835 (Doc. F). While the Jacksonian Democrats believed that the only


way to reform society was through constitutional means, South Carolina did not


abide by the same convictions. Instead, they used individual liberty to over-rule the


government. The South Carolina legislature decided to nullify the Post Office


Department (which violated the first amendment to the Constitution) and outlaw


abolition movements (thereby denying freedom of speech). Finally, the


soon-to-secceed South Carolina decided not to collect taxes on imports and


President Jackson decided they had gone too far. He threatened them with war in


order to restore rational behavior.


Although is possible to show all the positive and constructive reforms


initiated by the Jacksonian Democrats, it is impossible to ignore the tragic


oppression of the Native Americans by President Jackson. On the Trail of Tears,


thousands of lives were senselessly ended en route from Georgia to the western


reservations. There can be no justification for the terrible mistreatment the Indians


had to endure. However, it is necessary to look at the situation for that time period.


While all white man were now considered equal and the middle class was elevated,


the Blacks and Native Americans were not included. Even Thomas Jefferson did


not intend to include either race when drafting the Declaration of Independence.


So, while it can not be excused, it becomes possible to comprehend how such a


travesty might occur.


Despite several inevitable flaws in the time period, the Democrat?s


proclamation as ?guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy,


individual liberty, and economic equality? is quite valid. Indeed, the Jacksonian


Democrats succeed in the ambitions, and their avid social reforms helped make the


United States a more liberated and democratic nation.

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