History
The Jackson's presidency marked the era of the ‘Jacksonian democracy.' During his presidency, Jackson was interested in greater rights for all people and public participation in the government. Jackson was selected as the seventh president in 1828 and was inaugurated on March 4, 1829, which was followed by his speech[1]. The 19th-century novelists recognized Jackson, and some named him as a self-made man, a hero and a king who was anointed by God. Even though Jackson lacked education, he used his wealth and military power to bring liberty and democracy to America. He was a charismatic and a dynamic individual whom people perceived as a ‘common man' due to his efforts in creating a democratic system[2]. His presidency presented a break from the past in that he moved America toward democracy where he eliminated the propertied elite rule and emphasized the true majority rule. He was interested in creating a system where the president and other federal officials were responsive to the will of the people.
Americans experienced massive changed during Jackson's presidency. It is important to understand that during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, the rate of the slave population in America stood at 1.1 million to 2.5 million in 1845[3]. American become a peculiar institution, and the rise of slave population led to economic ramifications especially the southern economy. Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans and led the American forces from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The Atlas of Antebellum Southern Agriculture shows that in 1810, there were many American slaves in Tennessee, Mississippi and the New Orleans[4]. However, by 1840, there were few slaves in these States since they started growing cash crops such as tobacco and sugar and as a result, there was a redistribution of slaves in the south. The Jacksonian era expanded the planters' power and enslaved Americans and, African Americans enjoyed the kin relationship and property ownership. Moreover, Jackson's era established the Cotton Kingdom, and American South witnessed economic and political power. The Cotton Kingdom marked the age of cotton and gave rise to the industrial revolution and international trade networks between the United States and England[5]. Jackson was a great president who led to slave mobility, and slaves gained numerous opportunities to participate in the market economy. Many of the enslaved Americans participated in the southern political economy and the participation brought to new technology such as cotton gin technology that was used to separate seeds from the fiber. The new technology was associated with high productivity and profitability, and it marked the era of cotton boom. There was also a transportation technology such as railroads that was used to transport bales of cotton and other cash crops like tobacco and sugar[6].
The era of Andrew Jackson led to the extension of the area freedom. Jackson presidency accomplished many things in America, and the important accomplishment was the westward expansion or what was termed as the manifest destiny[7]. During his presidency, Texas become a slave state, and the president ended the Indian civilization program through supporting the Indian Removal Act of 1830. In 1824 election, Jackson received a popular vote but he could not become the president since John Quincy Adams had the largest number of popular votes[8]. The supporters of Jackson presented their grievances and showed their interest in the ‘manifest destiny' which was based on the U.S territorial expansion into Southwest and Northwest. The opponents of democratic views argued that Jackson's presidency would save the world by extending the area of freedom and bring American imperialism[9]. In extending the areas of freedom, Jackson focused on uniting democracy and expansion. Note that during the 18th century, there was no connection between the democracy and the United States government. The supporters of the manifest density believed that freedom in America could be achieved through the territorial extension[10]. Lack of territorial extension according to the Montesquieu's theory could lead to the disintegration of the large states. There was a need to develop a balance of power and an American providence where American could equate freedom with Texas and other republic States[11].
Lee Benson states that the concepts of Jacksonian democracy are apparent in voting behaviors especially in the New York. Jackson promised to bring a spirit of equality, and he achieved his goals in that in 1824 and 1828, those who did not vote the previous elections were allowed to vote[12]. There was a remarkable expansion of suffrage, and by 1840, the number of male voters increased 57.6% to 80%[13]. During 1816 and 1844, President Jackson eliminated the traditional distinctions that existed between the Whig Party and the Democratic Party. Before this period, people who were allowed to vote were the prosperous farmers, people from the business community and landowners[14]. On the other hand, the common men or small businessmen, rising entrepreneurs and poor farmers were not allowed to vote. Jackson believed that his presidency period marked the ‘Age of Egalitarianism' where all people were given the opportunity to participate in the election and political process[15].
Reference
Miller, N., 1963. The Concept of Jacksonian Democracy: New York as a Test Case. Political Science
quarterly 78(2).
Sean Patrick. 2013. A Companion to the Era of Andrew Jackson. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2014111918998.
Ward, John William. 1962. Andrew Jackson: Symbol for an Age. Oxford University Press, USA.
[1] Sean Patrick. 2013. A Companion to the Era of Andrew Jackson. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2014111918998. Chapter 9
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Ward, John William. 1962. Andrew Jackson: Symbol for an Age. Oxford University Press, USA. P. 103
[8] Ibid, 104
[9] Ibid, 104
[10] Ibid, 105
[11] Ibid, 111
[12] Miller, N., 1963. The Concept of Jacksonian Democracy: New York as a Test Case. Political Science quarterly 78(2).P. 140
[13] Ibid, 143
[14] Ibid, 145
[15] Ibid, 164
