Primary Source Analysis:
Jacksonian Democracy
Kylie Rogers
U.S. History
Mr. Foti
November 17, 2017
Rogers 1
Kylie Rogers
U.S. History
Mr. Foti
November 17, 2017
Primary Source Analysis: Jacksonian Democracy The men who founded the United States were cautious on the subject of democracy. They held the opinion that just men of education, wealth and importance should hold office in the government. These office holders were often asked to take office by other elite members of society, rather than be elected or voted into the position of power. A shift in this belief began to take hold during the Jacksonian Era. Jacksonian Democrats rallied behind the idea of voting expansion for the “common man.” This urgency for the expansion of …show more content…
Just as the Declaration of independence declared, “all men are created equal,” suffrage advocates were convinced that equality could be successfully brought about through democracy and changes in government policies. Citizens throughout the country were convinced that they needed equal representation in government, and that property owners should not be the only people allowed to vote. George Bancroft, ambassador to Great Britain, Germany and Secretary of the Navy supported expanding the right to vote to the “common man” too. Bancroft spoke in a 1835 speech at Williams College, “best government rests on the people and not on the few, on persons and not on property.” While many worked to fortify the argument for expansion of voting rights in the name of equality, there were others that were convinced only property owners should be allowed to …show more content…
de Tocqueville made a valid criticism about the expansion of American democracy when he stated, “democracy is not only deficient in that soundness of judgement which is necessary to select men really deserving of its confidence.”He felt that the most talented citizens were not heads of the government, and that democracy had overstepped its boundaries.
There were many accusations of voter fraud during this tumultuous period. The campaign between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams was notorious for “mudslinging.” Adultery, prostitution, and murder were only a few of the allegations thrown around by both sides. Andrew Jackson’s supporters even accused Adams and Henry Clay of collusion when Henry Clay was named Secretary of State. A painting by George Bingham in 1851, The County Election, captured the essence of negative voting practices during this transitional period of history. Bingham would have most certainly been labeled an opponent of the Jacksonian Age, based on the depictions in the painting. The painting shows voters being offered alcohol and drunk men being dragged to cast their votes. This practice was commonly called, “cooping.” People would be taken off the streets, put in a room, given excessive amounts of free alcoholic beverages, and then taken to vote for a particular
Jacksonian Democracy
Kylie Rogers
U.S. History
Mr. Foti
November 17, 2017
Rogers 1
Kylie Rogers
U.S. History
Mr. Foti
November 17, 2017
Primary Source Analysis: Jacksonian Democracy The men who founded the United States were cautious on the subject of democracy. They held the opinion that just men of education, wealth and importance should hold office in the government. These office holders were often asked to take office by other elite members of society, rather than be elected or voted into the position of power. A shift in this belief began to take hold during the Jacksonian Era. Jacksonian Democrats rallied behind the idea of voting expansion for the “common man.” This urgency for the expansion of …show more content…
Just as the Declaration of independence declared, “all men are created equal,” suffrage advocates were convinced that equality could be successfully brought about through democracy and changes in government policies. Citizens throughout the country were convinced that they needed equal representation in government, and that property owners should not be the only people allowed to vote. George Bancroft, ambassador to Great Britain, Germany and Secretary of the Navy supported expanding the right to vote to the “common man” too. Bancroft spoke in a 1835 speech at Williams College, “best government rests on the people and not on the few, on persons and not on property.” While many worked to fortify the argument for expansion of voting rights in the name of equality, there were others that were convinced only property owners should be allowed to …show more content…
de Tocqueville made a valid criticism about the expansion of American democracy when he stated, “democracy is not only deficient in that soundness of judgement which is necessary to select men really deserving of its confidence.”He felt that the most talented citizens were not heads of the government, and that democracy had overstepped its boundaries.
There were many accusations of voter fraud during this tumultuous period. The campaign between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams was notorious for “mudslinging.” Adultery, prostitution, and murder were only a few of the allegations thrown around by both sides. Andrew Jackson’s supporters even accused Adams and Henry Clay of collusion when Henry Clay was named Secretary of State. A painting by George Bingham in 1851, The County Election, captured the essence of negative voting practices during this transitional period of history. Bingham would have most certainly been labeled an opponent of the Jacksonian Age, based on the depictions in the painting. The painting shows voters being offered alcohol and drunk men being dragged to cast their votes. This practice was commonly called, “cooping.” People would be taken off the streets, put in a room, given excessive amounts of free alcoholic beverages, and then taken to vote for a particular