In the early history of the United States, the position as president was greatly controlled by men with similar attributes. The first presidents of the United States came from wealthy backgrounds, were well educated and were from the east of the country. In addition, the political power of the country greatly belonged to the small portion of the nation who owned land and payed taxes. It wasn’t until the 1820’s when the country greatly shifted into what is known as the era of the “common man.” The Jacksonian period (1824-1848) resulted in the country experiencing changes regarding economic development, reform movements and politics.
During the Jacksonian Period, the advance for economic equality in the United States was only slightly changed. …show more content…
One reason in which the age of Jackson significantly marked a transformation in reform movements to benefit the “common man” would be the change from politics being restricted to property owners and tax payers to virtually the entire nation’s white male citizens. When new states of the West began adopting constitutions that guaranteed suffrage to all adult white males, older states began to drop the restrictions because of their concern for losing their population to the West. This extended suffrage to all white males greatly increased the electorate. Jackson believed that governments should offer equal protection as well as equal benefits to all its white male citizens and that they shouldn’t favor any region or class over another. Jackson also targeted the officeholders in the federal government. He said places in office belonged to the people rather than a self-serving bureaucracy. This lead to the spoils system which was when Jackson looked outside of the elite politicians when filling in positions in office. This meant that on a national level, the people were represented by Jackson’s choices, who were most often considered “common men.” This reform occurred because the question about how much power should be entitled to the central government rose and Jackson wanted to extend the power to the …show more content…
This alone was the first example of how the United States changed politically to benefit the “common man.” During this time period the nation’s oldest political party, which was led by Andrew Jackson, was born and they were called the Democrats. The Democrats believed that the federal government should be limited in power. This Jacksonian Democrat party bettered the life of the “common man” as it celebrated honest workers, simple farmers, and forthright businessmen as opposed to corrupt, aristocratic and wealthy forces. However, with the start of this new party followed the emergence of the Whigs, in opposition to the Democrats. This brought upon the nation yet another set of competing political parties. It wasn’t till the 1840 elections when the Whigs had a candidate as president, when they presented William Henry Harrison as a leader for the common people. This, in the eyes of the “common man,” was a win-win situation. Despite this victory, the Whigs were frustrated as their new president died of pneumonia a month after taking office. Vice President John Tyler, a former democrat, succeeded him. Although claiming to have been a Whig, his approach to public policy showed various signs of his Democratic past.
The age of Jackson, in an economic development, reform movement and political sense had much claim to the title that the years 1824 to
During the Jacksonian Period, the advance for economic equality in the United States was only slightly changed. …show more content…
One reason in which the age of Jackson significantly marked a transformation in reform movements to benefit the “common man” would be the change from politics being restricted to property owners and tax payers to virtually the entire nation’s white male citizens. When new states of the West began adopting constitutions that guaranteed suffrage to all adult white males, older states began to drop the restrictions because of their concern for losing their population to the West. This extended suffrage to all white males greatly increased the electorate. Jackson believed that governments should offer equal protection as well as equal benefits to all its white male citizens and that they shouldn’t favor any region or class over another. Jackson also targeted the officeholders in the federal government. He said places in office belonged to the people rather than a self-serving bureaucracy. This lead to the spoils system which was when Jackson looked outside of the elite politicians when filling in positions in office. This meant that on a national level, the people were represented by Jackson’s choices, who were most often considered “common men.” This reform occurred because the question about how much power should be entitled to the central government rose and Jackson wanted to extend the power to the …show more content…
This alone was the first example of how the United States changed politically to benefit the “common man.” During this time period the nation’s oldest political party, which was led by Andrew Jackson, was born and they were called the Democrats. The Democrats believed that the federal government should be limited in power. This Jacksonian Democrat party bettered the life of the “common man” as it celebrated honest workers, simple farmers, and forthright businessmen as opposed to corrupt, aristocratic and wealthy forces. However, with the start of this new party followed the emergence of the Whigs, in opposition to the Democrats. This brought upon the nation yet another set of competing political parties. It wasn’t till the 1840 elections when the Whigs had a candidate as president, when they presented William Henry Harrison as a leader for the common people. This, in the eyes of the “common man,” was a win-win situation. Despite this victory, the Whigs were frustrated as their new president died of pneumonia a month after taking office. Vice President John Tyler, a former democrat, succeeded him. Although claiming to have been a Whig, his approach to public policy showed various signs of his Democratic past.
The age of Jackson, in an economic development, reform movement and political sense had much claim to the title that the years 1824 to